The New York Times - NOV. 5, 2014
KABUL, Afghanistan — Since the British first tried and failed to subdue Afghanistan
in the 19th century, stumbling into a costly Afghan war seems to have
become a mandatory step for global power players. The Soviet Union did
it in the 1980s, and the American battle here has passed the 13-year
mark.
Now, China seems to be taking its turn in coming to grips with Afghanistan’s role in its national security.
No
one expects China to be sending troops any time soon, even with the
United States and NATO pulling out the last of their combat forces at
year’s end. But China has taken a major step in formalizing closer
relations with the Afghan government: Last week, it said it planned to
provide billions of dollars in new economic and security assistance.
