They want to get their nose in under the tent. Afghanistan has too many mineral resources for them to ignore.
From The Asia Today:
China will be our main partner, say Taliban
China will be the Taliban’s “main partner” and help rebuild Afghanistan, according to a spokesman for the group.
“China will be our main partner and represents a great opportunity for us because it is ready to invest in our country and support reconstruction efforts,” Zabihullah Mujahid said in an interview published by Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Wednesday.
He said the Taliban value China’s Belt and Road Initiative as the project will revive the ancient Silk Road.
He said China will also help Afghanistan fully utilize its rich copper resources and give the country a path into global markets.
Suckers... Could not be happening to a nicer bunch of thugs.
Belt and Road? China comes in and offers to build transportation and infrastructure. A new airport, a couple power plants, improve the rail system. All this gets built. And then, the bill comes due. The corrupt politicians who signed for this have since "retired from public service" and decamped with their cash to some other country (no extradition) leaving the nation's citizens holding the bag. China sighs and says, OK but we get to take xx% of your copper and REEs. Pennies on the dollar.
Interesting to watch - this is playing out right now in Tonga: Here, here, here and here The first link has a priceless headline: China aid to Tonga comes ‘with no string attached’, Chinese president told King Believe that and I have a bridge for sale in downtown Manhattan that you might be interested in looking at.
Makes me wonder if the Taliban have taken a close look at how China treats its own native Muslim population.
Have you seen this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xcvDMDg8TY