Explaining the sources of tension in Iran-Afghanistan relations during the Taliban era based on the theory of Camp and Harkavy

Subject Areas : Geopolitic

mehdi  mousavi shidi ¹ (Member of the Faculty of Command and Staff University, Tehran, Iran)
بهادر  zarei ² (Associate Professor of Political Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2022-09-21 Accepted : 2023-01-31 Published : 2023-02-20

Keywords: geopolitics, Afghanistan, Iran, Tensions,

Abstract :

Afghanistan is a country located in the east of Iran and has had ups and downs with Iran throughout its history. An examination of Afghanistan's relations with Iran at a time when the Taliban have taken control of the country has shown strained relations and tensions between the two countries. Given the Taliban's dominance of most of Afghanistan, it is important to identify areas that could lead to conflict in Iran's relations with the country. Therefore, this descriptive-analytical study seeks to identify areas of conflict between Iran and Afghanistan at present using the theory of Jeffrey Camp and Robert Harkawy. The results of the study show that the most important areas of conflict in Iran-Afghanistan relations are currently in four dimensions: demographic trends and illegal migration from Afghanistan to Iran (more than two million illegal immigrants), religious conflicts and Ethnicity between the two countries (conflict between pro-Sunni terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Iranian Shiites), territorial disputes and the resulting disputes (dispute between the two countries over the Helmand River and the two countries' non-compliance with the 1973 agreement on it and differences between the two countries The country is about Islam Qala) and the dependence of Sistan and Baluchestan water on Afghan water (destructive economic, social and environmental consequences such as migration, rising unemployment and environmental degradation in Sistan and Baluchestan province due to water shortages).