Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Asian energy grid

Pepe Escobar places the US involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan within the geopolitical and geoeconomic contexts of Eurasia's large energy reserves. In a nutshell, China and Russia are seeking to integrate the Eurasian continent and preserve its natural resources (natural gas, oil) for themselves. However, the US is seeking to get a foothold on the continent to prevent Russia and China, two emerging and challenging powers, from getting stronger. Putting governments friendly to the West/US in Afghanistan and Pakistan would go a long way towards accomplishing that goal--otherwise, the countries could be captured by Russia and China.