China's Afghanistan politics in the post 9/11 period

In this study, China's post-9/11 Afghanistan policy is analyzed with a realist approach, focusing on its role as a regional power. In the context of regional security, China has played a key role in stabilizing Afghanistan for over a decade and has a significant influence in the country. It is evident that Afghanistan holds a crucial position in terms of energy security, particularly regarding access to the rich oil and gas reserves of Central Asia. Firstly, establishing a stable structure in this country is of great importance for China's national security. In addition, ensuring energy security will have positive effects on China's economic security. For China's national security to be maintained, a favorable economic environment is also necessary. In this context, it can be said that the economic dimension of relations between Kabul and Beijing is directly related to regional security. The positive development of these relations will foster cooperation between the two countries on security issues, and as a result, a partnership in energy security and energy transmission lines will positively impact the stability of both nations. Moreover, compared to the early 2000s, it can be argued that there has been a shift in the period in question, especially after NATO's decision to reduce its military capacity in Afghanistan and the conclusion of the ISAF mission in 2014, which led to the transfer of responsibilities to local security forces. Consequently, China has increased its presence in Afghanistan and the region as a whole. As one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (P5+1), after signing the nuclear agreement with the group of countries including the USA, Russia, the UK, and France, it is possible that China will shift its regional security priorities and alter its perspective on security sectors accordingly. Therefore, China-Afghanistan relations have the potential to undergo various changes under these new conditions. Additionally, it is likely that China's long-term security objectives will remain consistent, with Afghanistan policy being an integral part of this strategy. On the other hand, India's strong relations with Afghanistan, including investments and millions of dollars in aid, have had a negative impact on Afghanistan-China relations. In the future, the state of relations between the two countries will depend on time and the political situations in the region.