1 - China's Strategic Integration of AI-Driven Surveillance in Taliban-Afghanistan

In authoritarian states, surveillance, bolstered by AI, has become a linchpin of the security apparatus. The Communist Party of China exemplifies this with its extensive use of AI-driven surveillance in Xinjiang. This region faces separatism and extremism, making robust surveillance a perceived necessity. The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan poses significant challenges for China, given its historical ties and proximity to Xinjiang. Security is now paramount, as the Taliban’s return may rekindle Islamic fundamentalism and embolden groups like IS-K and TTP. Beijing alleges anti-China terrorists find refuge in Afghanistan, heightening its security concerns. This paper investigates into China’s strategic response to perceived threats emanating from the Af-Pak region, focusing on security relationship with the Taliban. It highlights Xinjiang's AI security model and explores China’s efforts to introduce AI into the Taliban's emerging security framework. A robust security apparatus in Afghanistan would empower China to monitor and combat security challenges beyond its borders, especially Uyghur militants and anti-China elements. The research employs qualitative methods – content and discourse analysis of primary and secondary sources such as white papers, leaders’ speeches, experts’ interviews, journal papers, reports, and online resources. This paper concludes that China’s domestic imperatives are shaping Afghanistan's security and assisting the Taliban in consolidating an authoritarian regime. It further strengthens China's grip over tracking and monitoring of anti-China forces using the data gathered through AI instruments. Further, it posits that China's influence will extend to the Taliban's determination of security threats in Afghanistan, thereby shaping the region's security discourse.

Co-Author 1
Veena Ramachandran