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With the departure of the US and its allies there is speculation China can step in to help rebuild the war-torn country
But Chinese investors are likely to run into the same corruption problems as their American predecessors

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China’s meetings in July with Taliban leaders who now look set to rule in Afghanistan generated speculation that Chinese investment and influence would flow into the country after the departure of the US and its allies.

However, if China – as Afghanistan’s wealthiest and most powerful neighbour – sees opportunity as the US exits, reports by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) make for sobering reading.

SIGAR warned for years that corruption and crime networks were poisoning efforts to establish an Afghan national government, not least because the heads of the crime cartels were often part of the government, siphoning off billions of dollars in aid and undermining public support in the process.

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