LOOMING DEPARTURE: U.S. President Obama delivers a speech at an air base in central Afghanistan during his visit to the country on May 25 (AFP)

In recent years, a string of deadly attacks against the U.S. and NATO military installations have been carried out by insiders in Afghan security forces. NATO officials estimated that about 25 percent of these attacks were the result of Taliban infiltration into the security forces, the BBC reported.

Furthermore, Afghanistan has not signed a bilateral security agreement with the United States. According to a previous agreement reached by the two countries, some foreign special forces would stay in Afghanistan to conduct counterterrorism operations in addition to the support and training of Afghan forces. President Obama warned that all U.S. troops would withdraw by the end of the year if the bilateral security agreement remains unsigned.

Chaos and disorder could once again plague Afghanistan if the United States and international community cannot provide adequate aid in security and development after the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, Karl W. Eikenberry, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, said in an interview with Beijing-based Caijing Magazine.

Despite challenges, Afghan Ambassador to China Qiamuddin Rai Barlas said, "With the support of the international community, Afghanistan has made achievements in political, economic and social issues in past years."

Examples of success noted by Barlas include the creation of a new constitution and the holding of three presidential and parliamentary elections after 2001. In addition, thousands of kilometers of asphalt roads have been built in Afghanistan, more than 11.5 million children and youth have been enrolled into schools and universities, and the government has provided healthcare services for more than 89 percent of the Afghan population. The nation's income per capita increased five times in the past decade.

China's role

China and Afghanistan share a border totaling 92 km. As Afghanistan's neighbor, China is willing to help reconstruct the country and develop its economy. In fact, China has always provided support in various forms for Afghanistan since the government led by Karzai took office.

On July 10, the Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was held in Beijing. By hosting the meeting, China demonstrated its willingness to play a constructive role in promoting Afghanistan's peace process, Hua said.

The Asia-Istanbul Process is an international cooperation mechanism consisting of 14 member states, including Afghanistan's neighbors and countries that are deeply concerned about its future, such as China, Russia and India. The mechanism is irreplaceable in promoting the Afghan peace process, said Qu Xing, President of the China Institute of International Studies.

Compared with other cooperation mechanisms dominated by big powers, the Asia-Istanbul Process provides a platform for regional countries and developing countries to discuss Afghan issues, Qu said.

War is not a universal solution to all issues; rather, economic development is a fundamental prerequisite for relieving poverty and preventing extremism, said Hua. He added that China has committed to supporting infrastructure construction in Afghanistan and expanding bilateral trade and investment links.

In recent years, China and Afghanistan have made frequent exchanges of high-level visits and further deepened mutual trust, said Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Deng Xijun. Today, the two countries have achieved remarkable strides in cooperation in trade, energy and resources, communication, agriculture and anti-drug operations.

China has provided much aid to facilitate economic development and improve people's livelihood in Afghanistan. In addition, China encourages her enterprises to invest in Afghanistan. For example, China's oil giant China National Petroleum Corp. won a bid to develop the Amu Darya oil field in north Afghanistan in 2011, and China Metallurgical Group has been permitted to mine copper in Aynak. China's huge investments in the two projects shows its resolution to support Afghanistan's economic development as well as its confidence in the political and security situation of Afghanistan after the 2014 transition, said Zhao Minghao, a researcher at the China Center for Contemporary World Studies.

Major Political Events in Afghanistan Since 2001

- October 2001, the United States carries out large-scale military strikes on the Taliban regime and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in retaliation for the September 11 terror attacks.

- December 2001, the Taliban gives up Kandahar and retreats to remote mountainous areas. The UN Security Council passes No.1386 resolution and deploys the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to secure the security of Kabul and other places and help train Afghanistan defense forces.

- Representatives of four major political forces of Afghanistan reach an agreement in Bonn, Germany, on establishing an interim government led by Hamid Karzai.

- June 2002, Karzai is elected president of the interim government by Afghanistan's National Assembly .

- August 2003, NATO forces undertake command of ISAF in Afghanistan.

- January 2004, Afghanistan passes a new constitution which marks the reconstruction of Afghanistan's national system.

- October 2004, Afghanistan holds its first direct presidential election in history. Karzai wins the election.

- November 2009, President Karzai is reelected to a second term.

- June 2011, U.S. President Obama announces the plan and timetable for military withdrawal. U.S. and NATO-led ISAF combat troops are due to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014.

- 2013, ISAF begins handing over combat duties to Afghan forces.

- 2014, Afghanistan holds its third presidential election as Karzai prepares to leave the post.

(Compiled by Beijing Review)

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