China’s image and soft power in Afghanistan: frames of the belt and road initiative in Afghan elite press

Upon regaining power in Afghanistan, the Taliban administration acknowledged the importance of China as a crucial partner. By engaging in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) sought to enhance support for the nation’s economic and social advancement. This research aims at how the Afghan elite press framed China’s image concerning the BRI after the Taliban assumed power. The study has selected two English-language Newspapers, Khaama Press (KP) and Afghanistan’s Pajhwok News (PN). The data consists of 137 news stories from September 01, 2021, to September 01, 2023. The findings indicate that the Afghan elite press promotes a favorable image of China by extensively reporting on its culture, diplomatic assistance, and investments. This research posits that China’s frequent appearance in favorable news coverage in Afghanistan might be attributed to its soft power.