On the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, former US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad reminded Washington that Afghanistan's fate remains bound to American security — not through the idealism of nation-building, but through the cold logic of denial and competition. His argument is ancient in its structure: a vacuum will be filled, and the question is only by whom. In an era of great power rivalry, he suggests, the Afghan question has quietly transformed from a humanitarian mission into a geopolitical chessboard where China, Russia, and extremist networks all seek advantage.
Al Jazeera
· Sep 12, 2026
· security
· 1 min read
High
Sourcing: Verified
Stable Afghanistan key to US interests, says former diplomat Khalilzad
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World & Diplomacy
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Bias & Framing
⚖
Article presents one former diplomat's strategic perspective on Afghanistan without balancing alternative viewpoints or examining potential contradictions in US policy.
Bias Direction
center-left
Confidence
MED
Authority-based framing using a single expert source to legitimize a particular geopolitical narrative about US interests, without presenting counterarguments or alternative strategic assessments.
hub for anti-US groups
principal interest
countering China and Russia's influence
Afghan perspectives on US strategic interests versus Afghan sovereignty
Counterarguments from analysts questioning whether US military/diplomatic involvement serves stated stability goals
Chinese and Russian perspectives on their regional interests
Perspectives from those critical of Khalilzad's role in previous Afghanistan policy
Views from current Afghan government or Taliban representatives
Analysis of whether 'stability' framing obscures other US strategic objectives
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Former US diplomat argues stable Afghanistan is critical to prevent anti-US extremism and counter Chinese-Russian influence, signaling continued US strategic interest despite 2021 withdrawal.
Escalation Risk
moderate
Confidence
HIGH
Afghanistan
United States
China
Russia
Central Asia
South Asia
US attempting to maintain strategic relevance in Afghanistan post-withdrawal through diplomatic engagement; competition with China and Russia for regional influence; Taliban's role as de facto authority creates uncertainty in great power competition.
Cold War proxy competition in Afghanistan (1979-1989) now replaced by US-China-Russia triangular competition; parallels to post-Soviet Central Asian power vacuums.
Economic Lens
📈
Geopolitical stability in Afghanistan is framed as economically strategic for US interests, with implications for defense spending, regional trade, and great power competition costs.
Market Signal
neutral
Confidence
MED
Defense and military contracting
International trade and logistics
Energy and natural resources extraction
Telecommunications infrastructure
Private security services
Indirect effects on US consumers through potential defense budget allocation priorities and long-term foreign policy costs. Stability could reduce geopolitical risk premiums in commodity and energy markets.
Likely to influence US foreign aid allocation to Afghanistan, defense spending justifications, and strategic pivot toward countering Chinese/Russian regional influence. May affect sanctions policy and diplomatic engagement frameworks.