On July 10-11, 2019, representatives from China, Russia, and the United States convened in Beijing to discuss and coordinate their efforts in the Afghan Peace Process–the third such meeting between the three countries on the issue. The meeting also follows failed negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban hosted by Moscow in May, and a more successful meeting hosted by Germany and Qatar in Doha earlier this month. Notably, Pakistan was also invited to join this most recent round in Beijing, which prompted concerns that India was being purposefully snubbed from the process. The Afghanistan government itself sits precariously, waiting for the big powers to kickstart the intra-Afghan dialogue. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s outburst on July 22 that he could have Afghanistan “wiped off the face of the Earth” led to consternation in Kabul about US commitment to enduring peace in the country. Rising powers China and India had the most commentary on what the new equation of countries involved in the peace process means, with China ostensibly gaining ground. To read the full RPI Policy Alert, click here.
