Challenges and Opportunities in Iran's Foreign Policy Towards Afghanistan (Case Study: Taliban Regime)

Subject Areas : Geopolitics

Shaban Mahgol ¹ , Dr. Ghaffar Zarei ² , Dr. Amin Dr. Ravanbod ³

1 - Ph.D., Student, Department of Political Science, Lamard Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lamard, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Lamerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lamerd, Iran.
3 - َAssistant Professor,Department of Political Sciences,Lamerd Branch,Islamic Azad University,Lamerd,Iran

Received: 2024-09-06 Accepted : 2024-11-05 Published : 2025-03-22

Keywords: Challenges, opportunities, Taliban rule, Iran's foreign policy.,

Abstract :

 

The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its relations with Afghanistan, Iran's neighbor, are important both geopolitically and in terms of politics, also economics, and culture. Based on this, Afghanistan is a country that should be considered in Iran's foreign policy. Therefore, this study aims to examine the challenges and opportunities in Iran's foreign policy towards Afghanistan, especially considering the recent occurrences in this country. This article is a descriptive-analytical study. The research method and materials are qualitative, and also note-taking was used to gather information. The results show that among the challenges of Iran's foreign policy towards Afghanistan, we can mention insecurity and instability resulting from the Taliban's dominance, which causes events such as the increasing wave of Afghan migration, the presence of terrorist groups like ISIS, the need to manage relations with other regional leaders, and ethnic and religious issues. At the same time, there are opportunities such as the possibility of economic and commercial cooperation, playing a positive role in reducing tensions and peace processes, border management, expanding political influence, and strengthening regional cooperation. Therefore, to take advantage of these opportunities and address the challenges, Iran needs a comprehensive and balanced strategy in its foreign policy. In this regard, emphasis should be placed on important challenges such as the uncertain future of how the Taliban will deal with Afghan Shias and the tension over the hari rud River, as well as opportunities such as the Islamic Republic's cooperation with China and Russia in Afghanistan and economic relations with this country. Overall, it can be said that the history of relations between the Islamic Republic and Afghanistan can influence the foreign policies of both countries, considering the Taliban's regime in this country.

 

References:


1) آقاجری، محمدجواد، کریمی، مرتضی (1394). نقش بازیگران منطقه‌ای در فرایند دولت سازی افغانستان در دوران طالبان و پسا طالبان. فصلنامه علمی مطالعات روابط بین الملل، 8 (30)، 57-104.
2) بی‎نا (1387). استراتیژی همکاری‌های منطقه‌ای- 1378-1392، کابل: دارالانشای استراتیژی انکشاف ملی افغانستان.
3) داوودی، علی اصغر (1393). دیپلماسی علم و فناوری ایران در افغانستان، فصلنامه پژوهش های راهبردی سیاست، سال سوم، شماره 11.
4) داودی، مائده، کیانی، داود، برزگر، کیهان (1402). سیاست خارجی جمهوری اسلامی ایران در قبال تحولات افغانستان؛ مورد مطالعه: ظهور مجدد طالبان. مطالعات سیاسی جهان اسلام، 12(1)، 129-153.
5) رحیمی، حسین (1393). افغانستان و سازمان‌های همکاری منطقه‌ای، سیاست خارجی افغانستان در سپهر همکاری های منطقه‎ای، زیر نظر: دکتور فرامرز تمنا، کابل: مرکز مطالعات استراتیژیک وزارت امور خارجه.
6) رحیمی، سردار محمد (1391). ژئوپلیتیک افغانستان در قرن بیستم، کابل: انتشارات سعید.
7) عظیمی، محمد عظیم (1391). مدخلی بر جغرافیاي سیاسی افغانستان، کابل: انتشارات سعید.
8) غبار، میر غلام محمد (1399). افغانستان در میسر تاریخ، پیشاور: دارالسلام کتب خانه.
9) غیاثی، انجینیر توریالی (1383). ما و جامعه مدنی، مشهد: کانون فرهنگی میهن
10) فاطمی نژاد، سید احمد، محمدزاده، علیرضا (1397). بررسی جایگاه افغانستان جدید در مجموعه‌های امنیتی منطقه‌ای از آسیای مرکزی تا آسیای جنوبی. مطالعات اوراسیای مرکزی، 11(2)، 399-416.
11) فرزانه پور، حسین، یوسف زهی، ناصر (1396). تأملی انتقادی به چالش‌های امنیتیِ روابط اقتصادی ایران و افغانستان. دوفصلنامه سیاست و روابط بین الملل، 1(2).
12) کریمی‌فرد، حسین (1400). تبیین سیاست خارجی ایران در قبال طالبان (1996-2021). مطالعات خاورمیانه، 28(3)، 41-60.
13) مرتضوی امامی زواره، سیدعلی (1398). واکاوی سیاست خارجی ایران در برابر افغانستان. مطالعات روابط فرهنگی بین‌المللی، 5(12)، 81-106.
1‌س نوریان، سیدمحمدعلی (1394). ریشه‌ها و پیامدهای همسایگی با دولت‌های ورشکسته: افغانستان و شکست دولت- ملت‌سازی و صلح. فصلنامه تخصصی علوم سیاسی، 11(31), 115-136.

15) Akbarzadeh, S. (2014). Iran’s Policy towards Afghanistan: In the Shadow of the United States. Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 1(1), 63-78.
16) Al Jazeera. (2021, July 9). Taliban captures key Afghan border crossing with Iran: Officials. Taliban News | Al Jazeera. Retrieved May 2022.
17) Aman, F. (2021). The Afghan refugee crisis: What does it mean for Iran? Middle East Institute. Retrieved May 2022.
18) Ameri, N. S. (2020). The “Afghan Drugs' 'Problem – AChallenge to Iran and International Security. Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs, 1(2).
19) Amul, G. G., Ang, M.., Kraybill, D., Ong, S., Yoong, J. (2021). Responses to COVID‐19 in Southeast Asia: Diverse Paths and Ongoing Challenges. Asian Economic Policy Review , 17 , 90 - 110 .
20) Antonio, Giustozzi., Adam, Baczko. (2014). The Politics of the Taliban’s Shadow Judiciary, 2003–2013.
21) Baczko, A. (2023). A revolution in the juridical field', The Taliban Courts in Afghanistan: Waging War by Law (Oxford, 2023; online edn, Oxford Academic, 14 Dec. 2023).
22) Brenner, Claire & Matthew Wallin (2021) Preparing for the Consequences of Withdrawal from Afghanistan, American Security Project.
23) Boukas, N., Ziakas, V. (2013). Impacts of the global economic crisis on Cyprus tourism and policy responses. International Journal of Tourism Research , 15 , 329-345 .
24) Choksy, J. K., & Choksy, C. E. B. (2021, September). No friend of Iran: Tehran’s responses to the Taliban’s return to ... Retrieved April 4, 2022.
25) Darley, W. K. (2012). Increasing Sub-Saharan Africa's Share of Foreign Direct Investment: Public Policy Challenges, Strategies, and Implications. Journal of African Business , 13 , 62 - 69 .
26) Durrani, A. (2022). Iran’s Afghan policy after the U.S. withdrawal: Implications for Pakistan and the region. Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies. Retrieved 2022.
27) Feizi, H.(2018). Discourse, Affinity and Attraction: A Case Study of Iran's Soft Power Strategy in Afghanistan, Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
28) Faiz, M, Z. (2023). 2. The Conflicting Synthesis of the Taliban’s Religious and Cultural Identity. Review of Faith & International Affairs.
29) Hassan Zaidi, S.M., Manzoor, A. , Alamgir A. (2022). IRAN’S PRAGMATIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TALIBAN AFTER THE U.S EXIT CHALLENGES AND DETERMINANTS, Pakistan Journal of International Affairs.
30) Herranz‐Surrallés, A. (2014). The EU’s Multilevel Parliamentary (Battle)Field: Inter-parliamentary Cooperation and Conflict in Foreign and Security Policy. West European Politics , 37 , 957 - 975 .
31) Hussain, M. (2023). Challenges and Opportunities to the Foreign Policy of Pakistan in the Contemporary Era. Annals of Human and Social Sciences.
32) Ignatiev, P. (2015). Afghanistan: Balancing between Pakistan and Iran . Indian Journal of Asian Affairs, 27-28(1-2), 43–62.
33) IntelBrief. (2022, May 4). Intelbrief: Border clashes mar the Taliban's regional relationships. The Soufan Center. Retrieved June 2022.
34) Ishchenko. N. S. (2022). 1. Ethno-Political Structure of Taliban-led Afghanistan. Aziâ i Afrika segodnâ.
35) Khajehpour, B. (2021). Iran-afghan trade has murky future under Taliban. Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2022.
36) Kuhrt, N. (2012). The Russian Far East in Russia's Asia Policy: Dual Integration or Double Periphery?. Europe-Asia Studies , 64 , 471 - 493 .
37) Laletin. Yu. P., (2024). Formation of the Political System of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: Challenges and Limitations. Aziâ i Afrika segodnâ.
38) Lewis, D. (2018). Geopolitical Imaginaries in Russian Foreign Policy: The Evolution of ‘Greater Eurasia’. Europe-Asia Studies , 70 , 1612 - 1637 .
39) Mace, M., Fyson, C., Schaeffer, M., Hare, W. (2021). Large‐Scale Carbon Dioxide Removal to Meet the 1.5°C Limit: Key Governance Gaps, Challenges and Priority Responses. Global Policy .
40) Marjani, N. (2020). The US-taliban deal and its impact on Iran-Pakistan relations. The US-Taliban Deal and its Impact on Iran-Pakistan Relations. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
41) Mickler, D., Pijović, N. (2015). Engaging an Elephant in the Room? Locating Africa in Australian Foreign Policy. Australian Journal of Politics and History , 61 , 100-120 .
42) Michaud, J., Kates, J. (2013). Global health diplomacy: advancing foreign policy and global health interests. Global Health, Science and Practice , 1 , 24 - 28 .
43) Motamedi, M. (2021). Iran and Taliban forces clash in Border Area. Taliban News |Al Jazeera. Retrieved May 2022.
44) Rasanah Editorial Team. (2020). Trade between Iran and Afghanistan remains steady, despite US sanctions. International Institute for Iranian Studies. Retrieved May 2022.
45) Sawhney, A. (2019). Chabahar Port: Unlocking Afghanistan’s Potential. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 2022.
46) Tariq, Mumamad at al,(2020) US Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Latest Development and Security Situation (2020),SJESR JURNAL, Vol 3 No 2: April - June (Spring)
47) JAMES DOBBINS, JASON H. CAMPBELL, SEAN MANN and LAUREL E. MILLER , (2019) Consequences of a Precipitous U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan, RAND Corporation.