This article analyzes the security interests of the People’s Republic of China in Afghanistan through the prism of the Xinjiang factor and transnational threats. The study examines the role of Afghanistan in China’s security strategy, the activities of extremist groups such as ETIM/TIP, the security commitments of the Taliban authorities, and the impact of transnational terrorist networks, including ISKP, Al-Qaeda, and TTP, on regional stability. The article argues that China’s policy toward Afghanistan is shaped by the interaction of cautious pragmatism, border security, counterterrorism priorities, and geoeconomic interests. The stability of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is interpreted as one of the key security determinants of China’s Afghan policy. The research applies historical-analytical, comparative, content analysis, discourse analysis, and systemic methods. The findings demonstrate that China’s interests in Afghanistan are closely connected with domestic security, regional stability, transport and communication projects, and the security of the Belt and Road Initiative. The article substantiates the need to examine China-Afghanistan relations in connection with the wider security environment of Central Asia.
The Xinjiang Factor in China’s Security Policy Toward Afghanistan
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