Dawn | Anwar Iqbal:�As Pakistan consults China, Russia and Iran to seek a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan, the United States too recognises that these three countries could play a key role in ending the Afghan conflict.

�China�s military, economic, and political engagements in Afghanistan are driven by domestic security concerns that terrorism will spread across the Afghan border into China, and also by China�s increasing desire to protect its regional economic investments,� says a report the US Department of Defence (DoD) sent to Congress this week.

�Iran seeks a stable Afghan government that is responsive to Iranian goals, the elimination of ISIS-K, the removal of the US/Nato presence, and the protection of Iranian concerns, such as water rights and border security,� the report adds.

�Russia is engaging a wide range of actors in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, to secure its interests in Central Asia and to expand its influence in the region,� the Pentagon tells US lawmakers.

The US report notes that Afghanistan �continues to seek Chinese pressure on Pakistan� to assist reconciliation efforts and eliminate insurgent sanctuaries.

Afghanistan to train a mountain brigade in China to patrol the Wakhan Cor�ridor, which borders China�s Xinjiang Province. China is concerned that Uighur militants transiting through the Wakhan Corri�dor could pose a threat to Chinese interests in the region.

The United States views China�s concern about the growth of militancy as a positive element, which could encourage Beijing to work with the international community to suppress terrorism in the South Asian region.

The Pentagon also recognises Iran�s influence in Afghanistan, claiming that Tehran pursues �a multitrack strategy� of engaging and trying to grow ties with the Afghan government, expanding trade and economic investments, and �providing calibrated support to the Taliban while trying not to alienate Kabul�.

Iranian involvement is most prominent in western, central, and northern Afghanistan, where local Afghans share common history, culture, religion, and language with Iran.

In its review of Russia�s Afghan policy, the Pentagon notes that Moscow seeks to renew arms sales, maintenance, and training to Kabul, which would provide influence with the Afghan government.

�Russia has long supported Afghan power brokers in order to establish a security buffer in northern Afghanistan,� the report adds, noting that Russia has also reinforced the 201st Military Base in Tajikistan to counter a growing ISIS-K threat in northern Afghanistan.