ISAS Insights

Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, known as South Asia's West Front, has opened a new phase in Chinese foreign policy through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI has tremendously helped China rise as a game changer in the global transition of power. What is important to highlight here is the importance of Afghanistan, as well as Iran and Pakistan due to the potential threats they pose to crucial Chinese initiatives in the region, namely, the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor, the Gwadar Port and the BRI. The social, cultural and political atmosphere within these three countries make them a potential source of insecurity in the region, with roots in extremism, terrorism and separatism. This cannot be ignored in Chinese foreign policy while it is investing huge amounts of capital in the region. It is important to note that the only state that could provide a common stage to facilitate opportunities for cooperation between China and the United States (US) in this region, is Afghanistan. US-China cooperation in Afghanistan could help create security and protect the region's major developmental initiatives at the same time.