Afghanistan, its neighbours and non-NATO nations

[davidbfpo]

An update on China's role by Raffaello Pantucci (who has affection for the region), which IMHO ends rather optimistically:

China has set itself up to be a major player in Afghanistan’s future and expectations are being raised. It now needs to find ways of asserting itself both politically and economically to play the role that increasingly is being expected of it. Beijing may still shy from such ambitious aims, but at the same time, it is now too late to back away from them. China needs to find its feet and move forward in a more certain manner in Afghanistan.

Link:http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/can-c...n-afghanistan/

[omarali50]

China is still in the "1950s" phase of being big brother to Pakistan. Their strategy is likely to be to wait for their man in Islamabad to deliver the peace and strategic depth and free bauxite he promised.
It takes a while to get to to CSF suspension level. Sometimes it takes decades. (Chinese are fast learners though )

[davidbfpo]

Hat tip to WoTR for an article on:

Several weeks ago, amid little fanfare, India and Afghanistan concluded an arms deal. This was no run-of-the-mill transaction: It was a significant weapons transfer — perhaps one of the most consequential in the South Asia region in several years, thanks to the precedent it sets and the considerable implications it may have for regional stability.

Link:http://warontherocks.com/2015/12/the...ver-heard-of/?