Beside hidden US and the Afghanistan Taliban engagement in Doha from the last two years, the first ever direct encounter of a high powered US team with Taliban officials in Kabul seems to be initiatives of another round of politico-strategical battling going on in the region since early 70’s. 

The new multiple faced US-Afghan relationships might have bothered Islamabad political and military establishment towards new engagement in Kabul but the outcomes or purposes might be against its ambitions, which is forcing Taliban to toe its lines on both internal and external issues especially Durand Line and Kabul’s links with India. It was the first ever open direct talk between Washington and Kabul since August 15th 2021, when the latter fell into hands of Taliban in accordance with Doha Qatar agreement.

The day-long but highly secret visit of the US team headed by Ambassador Adam Boehlar concluded with release and air lifting of George Glezmann, an American airline mechanic to the United States via Qatar Doha. The meeting at Kabul is the outcome of the highest level contacts between the two countries mediated by no other than Qatar, UAE since the empowering of Donald Trump on January 20th 2025 last. Besides others, the famous Zalmay Khalilzad was part of the delegation. War times events since the 1970s reveals that whenever Zalmay Khalilzad appears on media and diplomatic fora’s, it leads to changes and reshuffling in Afghanistan.

Similarly with the return of Donald Trump into power after a break of four years, the hostilities between Washington and Moscow are also melting

Though the United States has been working on Afghan fronts since completion of Afghanistan’s second Presidential Polls in 2009 without Pakistan but the Thursday engaging Kabul seems much more ironic for the high ups at Rawalpindi-Islamabad looking after changes, reshuffling, violence, terror, internal rifts and hostilities amongst perks and power thirsty self styled amirs, leaders, generals and chieftains on west side of infamous Durand Line since a long. It is crystal clear that compared to the 60’s and 70’s when the US  was healing the wounds of Vietnam defeat, the present day situation is totally different. Earlier US lead allies had depended on all of its strategies and intentions in Pakistan’s immediate neighbouring country of Afghanistan which was under influence of the now disintegrated USSR. Now Pakistan has no role in Afghanistan due to its flopped policies. Similarly with the return of Donald Trump into US power corridors after a break of four years, the hostilities between Washington and Moscow are also melting. 

Prior to the release of Mr. Glezmann, after taking over from Donald Trump in January, two other Americans Ryan Corbett and William Wallace Mckenty were released from Afghanistan in exchange for an Afghan imprisoned in Kabul. The Afghan national Khan Muhammad was a lifetime convicted on drug trafficking charges and considered financer of Taliban during war on terror. The US Secretary of State’s Marco Rubio says, “Glezmann’s release was also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan.”

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry on its X page added the deal showed, “Afghanistan’s readiness to genuinely engage all sides, particularly the United States of America, on the basis of mutual respect and interests.” Similar scenes are intentions of the US high ups who visited Kabul along with their facilitators from Qatar have time and again thanked Taliban officials for ordering release of Mr. Glezmann.

Donald Trump’s changing ideas towards one time for the Russian Federation and Emirate Islami Afghanistan would pose both positive and negative impacts on global politics

No one can deny the fact that US President Donald Trump’s changing ideas towards one time for the Russian Federation and Emirate Islami Afghanistan would pose both positive and negative impacts on global politics, especially the Asian Region where the US is still working on multiple options for strengthening its influence. Earlier Pakistan remained compulsion of United States for tackling one-time considered bigger threats of Socialists and Communist ideologies. And now apparently US muscling to combat Chinese economic growth and influencing of world trade markets. Previous couple of decades strategic-diplomatic episodes are very clear where Chinese avoiding confrontations and preferring policies of reconciliations, dialogues and even give and takes.

Issue of Pakistan is quite different as its effective military establishment still following Bhutto-Zia inherited strategic depth policies. Pakistan’s relations with almost neighbouring countries are lacking trust and sincerity. Both India and Afghanistan have already been declared as “enemies” whereas Iran is on the list of GRAY neighbours. Due to long association and partnership with US lead allies, China is also lacking trust in Pakistan. Almost all think tanks in the United States and its allies are considering religious extremism and terrorist a serious threat to global peace. All are clear that religious terrorism and extremism has deep roots in border regions of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Zalmay Khalilzad is known for his secret extensions and designs therefore his brief but surprising tour to Kabul is generating stock of questions.

China is increasing state support for the exploration of domestic mines amid intensifying competition with the US.

According to an analysis by the Financial Times based on official announcements, at least half of China’s 34 provincial-level governments, including resource-rich regions such as Xinjiang, announced increased subsidies or expanded access for mineral exploration last year.

The increase in funding comes as control over the world’s strategic minerals emerges as a flashpoint between the US and China. The two superpowers are competing for resources needed for advanced technologies such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, robotics, and missiles.

“A series of major breakthroughs have been made in mineral exploration, significantly enhancing the ability to ensure the security of key industrial and supply chains and respond to external environmental uncertainties,” Xiong Zili, director of the geological exploration and management department of the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources, told reporters this year.

He added that the new mineral exploration plan focuses on increasing domestic energy resources and “strategic” minerals.

China is the world’s largest producer of 30 of the 44 critical minerals tracked by the US Geological Survey.

Seeking to break Beijing’s dominance over the sector, US President Donald Trump has prioritized domestic mining, as well as access to critical minerals abroad, including in Greenland, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, since returning to the White House in January.

Xi Jinping has focused on China’s self-reliance in science and technology and developing its ability to be self-sufficient since becoming the leader of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in 2012.

This effort has become even more imperative amid escalating tensions with the US, and Xi has turned to strengthening supply chains and prioritizing advanced manufacturing and newly emerging high technologies.

Beijing’s mineral supply chains are a critical geopolitical leverage point in the trade and technology war with the US. The government has allocated more than 100 billion RMB ($13.8 billion) annually to geological exploration investments since 2022, marking the highest three-year period in the last decade.

Last year, China also tightened controls over the export of strategic minerals, including gallium, germanium, antimony, graphite, and tungsten, many of which are vital for chip manufacturing, in response to US restrictions on technology exports to China.

Cory Combs, deputy director at the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China, said that China provides subsidies, tax incentives, and other forms of support to the domestic mining sector “independently” of commodity market cycles.

“From a market perspective, this is extravagance,” Combs told the Financial Times. “But in terms of political and economic security, it is not at all extravagant; it is worth the cost. According to Beijing, money is not the only goal.”

The Beijing administration is delaying approval for the electric vehicle manufacturer BYD to establish a factory in Mexico, over concerns that the smart car technology developed by China’s largest electric vehicle producer could leak across the border into the US.

BYD initially announced plans in 2023 to build a car factory in Mexico, with intentions to also produce vehicles in Brazil, Hungary, and Indonesia. The Mexico factory was projected to employ 10,000 people and produce 150,000 vehicles annually.

However, according to two individuals familiar with the matter, local car manufacturers require approval from China’s Ministry of Commerce to produce overseas, and the ministry has not yet granted this approval.

Officials fear that Mexico would grant unrestricted access to BYD’s advanced technology and know-how, potentially even allowing the US to access it. One of these individuals told the Financial Times, “The biggest concern for the Ministry of Commerce is Mexico’s proximity to the US.”

According to these individuals who spoke to the Financial Times, Beijing is also prioritizing projects in countries that are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure development program.

Changing geopolitical dynamics have also contributed to the cooling of relations with Mexico. Mexico attempted to maintain relations with Donald Trump, who threatened exports and employment by imposing customs duties on cross-border trade.

Trump also initiated a trade war with Beijing, imposing customs duties on imports from China. In retaliation, Beijing imposed customs duties on approximately $22 billion of US goods, primarily targeting America’s agricultural sector.

Trump’s team accused Mexico of being a “back door” for Chinese goods to enter the US duty-free through the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Mexican government denies this, but responded to US pressure by imposing customs duties on Chinese textile products and initiating anti-dumping investigations into steel and aluminum products originating from China.

The second individual stated, “The new government in Mexico has further complicated the situation for BYD by adopting a hostile stance towards Chinese companies.”

In November, shortly after Trump’s re-election, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that there had still been no “definite” investment offer from any Chinese company to establish operations in Mexico, despite BYD reaffirming its intention to invest $1 billion earlier that month.

Gregor Sebastian, a senior analyst at the US-based consulting firm Rhodium Group, noted, “The Mexican government clearly wants to receive some investment [from China], but its trade relations with the US are much more important.”

Sebastian stated that it would not be “commercially logical” for BYD to currently expedite the construction of a production facility in Mexico, noting that the absence of a robust automotive supply chain would force BYD to import numerous components from China, which would be subject to higher customs duties.

When asked whether US customs tariffs and Mexico’s tougher stance against China had halted the company’s plans, BYD Vice President Stella Li stated that “they had not yet made a decision regarding the Mexico plant.”

Last year in February, Li had said that they would choose a location for the factory by the end of 2024.

BYD reported selling over 40,000 vehicles in Mexico last year. The company stated that it aims to double its sales volume in 2025 and open 30 new dealerships in the country.

BYD sold 4.3 million electric and hybrid vehicles worldwide in 2024 and introduced the “God’s Eye” advanced driving system in February, planning to install this system in its entire model range.

Earlier this month, Tesla’s biggest competitor raised $5.6 billion from the sale of shares in Hong Kong, with the proceeds expected to support its overseas expansion.