KABUL (SW) – The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan authorities have reiterated the desire to join China’s belt and road initiative.
The “One Belt and One Road” project, or China’s ambitious economic initiative, which is also called the “New Silk Road”, has been undertaken by China for at least a decade.
Opponents of this project, most of which are Western countries led by the United States of America and Europe, see this plan as an excuse for China’s economic influence on less developed or developing countries.
However, at the same time as Nouruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade, visited China to participate in the two-day “One Belt and One Road” meeting, the officials of this ministry announced in a conversation with Salam Watandar that preparations have been made for Afghanistan to join this plan.
Akhundzada Abdusalam Javad, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, says that during his visit to China, the acting head of the ministry will try to get the consent of countries, especially China, to join Afghanistan in this plan.
In this regard, he adds: “In the export and import sector, he will talk about connecting us to this one belt and one road project, and the minister of trade took other such things with him to talk about it and be able to attract investment to Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, despite the fact that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce announces that it has taken important steps in order to solve the problems before Afghanistan joins this project, but experts believe that these challenges still exist.
Regarding this issue, Mazaher Raiszada, a researcher of regional strategic studies, told Salam Watandar: “Another issue in this project is the issue of insecurity, especially in the mountains of Wakhan and around it, if this line were to cross, extremist groups are a threat against it. Another problem that exists is that there is very little economic infrastructure in Afghanistan, which causes Afghanistan to have a problem.”
Others see Afghanistan’s accession to this plan as a major change in the country’s economy and emphasize the need to take more serious steps to include Afghanistan in this plan.
Zahir Behzad, an expert on economic issues, told Salaam Watandar about this: “In the current situation, if the Afghan government convinces China to implement a part of this project in Afghanistan, it will be very good. On the one hand, a transit and trade route will be opened to Afghanistan, and on the other hand, Afghanistan will have the right to transit through this route.”
Abdul Nasir Rashtia, another expert on economic issues, also told Salam Vatandar: “Since Afghanistan is the connecting point between the countries of Central and South Asia, it can play its essential role; especially through the Wakhan Corridor. If Afghanistan becomes a part of this project, it can greatly help Afghanistan in its economic growth and development.”
However, experts believe that the non-recognition of the Islamic Emirate by the countries of the world can be a new challenge to Afghanistan joining such important economic initiatives at the regional level, which are jointly launched by the countries.
The plan of One Belt and One Road or the new silk road was presented by Xi Jinping, the President of China, nearly a decade ago. This plan, with a cost of 1300 billion dollars from China, is intended to build thousands of kilometers of roads, railways, waterways and air routes that will cover the four continents of the world and the ancient Silk Road from to Europe and Africa.
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