The term is used to criticize the United States for its haphazard exit from Afghanistan, but in truth it reflects the plight of U.S. allies — specifically, their inability to exercise their own strategic autonomy. America’s failure may present an opportunity for U.S. allies to cut the apron strings and start acting independently.

The future of the anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan rests both on the Taliban’s own endeavors and the support of the international community. If the lessons of the 20-year campaign against terror can be learned, there is reason to hope.

The notion that America can fight and win all over the world has proved false yet again. The display of panic was an embarrassment that undermined the U.S. military’s reputation for making and executing plans. It should have been clear that this war never was winnable.

By hastily withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has made a grave mistake, or so many argue. US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, for example, has called the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country an “even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975.” That sequel, top US generals, conservatives, and even some liberals predict, will be characterized by the resurgence of transnational terrorism.

Many challenges lie ahead in China-U.S. relations with regard to Afghanistan. The U.S. will most likely perceive any Chinese policies as an effort to gain the upper hand in geopolitical competition. Meanwhile, China is concerned that the chaos could spill over into Central Asia.

The withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan is not as much of a game-changer for China as some may think. The Afghan people ferociously defend their sovereignty against foreign incursions, and future complications cannot be ruled out.

How to deal with the fast-moving political changes is a shared challenge for China and the United States. But the Biden administration needs to learn one obvious lesson, and quickly: The world does not work the way America thinks it does.

Over the past 20 years, an over-reliance on military power has failed to bring the U.S. anywhere near resolving international conflicts. Now, with the U.S. defeat in Afghanistan, counterterrorism thinking has been defeated as well. Diplomacy must take its place.

The fears are not baseless. For a century, Afghanistan has had deep connections with various transnational jihadist forces. One noted scholar calculates that some 100,000 extremists have connected with Pakistan alone and formed a vast international network.

Reaching out to improve the lives of minority groups has proved effective in China’s fight against terrorism. That might be a good place to start for France, which continues to suffer at the hands of vengeful radicals.