Khurram: US Eyes Afghanistan as Geopolitical Tool to Contain China

DID Press: Abdul Karim Khurram, former minister and chief of staff to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, commented on the new U.S. security strategy, saying that the absence of Afghanistan’s name in the document does not mean the country is unimportant.

Reacting to reports that the U.S. strategic doctrine—described by some as a modern “Monroe Doctrine” focused on the American continent—no longer explicitly mentions Afghanistan, Khurram wrote on his X page that the U.S. strategy still emphasizes maintaining global dominance “from east to west and north to south.”

Khorram added that US focus has shifted from the “war on terrorism” to “great-power competition,” with China identified as the main rival. He said the critical zones of East Asia are now the highest priority for military and economic confrontation, yet Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia still hold a key role in containing China and controlling strategic routes and resources.

According to him, Afghanistan’s importance to the U.S. is not inherent, but tied to its geopolitical location and its rare mineral resources. He added that Washington does not wish to station large military forces in Afghanistan, but rather views the country as a strategic point for encirclement and containment of China.