Feasibility assessment of political-security convergence Between Iran and Afghanistan during the Taliban Era

محورهای موضوعی : Middle East Political Review

Neda Hajivosough ¹

1 - Ph.D. in Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran. Iran.

تاریخ دریافت : 1402/07/03 تاریخ پذیرش : 1402/07/03 تاریخ انتشار : 1402/06/10

کلید واژه: Iran, Afghanistan, Middle East, political-security convergence, neighboring,

چکیده مقاله :

In today's world, convergence between countries, especially neighboring countries, is of fundamental importance. Iran and Afghanistan have long lived as a unified land under the name of "Greater Khorasan". These two neighboring Muslim countries have multiple cultural, religious, linguistic, historical, and racial ties with each other after independence, and these multiple commonalities have led the two countries to prioritize expanding their relations with each other and to constantly strive to improve and deepen their relations despite ups and downs. The main question of this research is to explore the potential convergence or divergence between Iran and Afghanistan during the Taliban era in the tumultuous Middle East region. By using the theory of convergence and focusing on political convergence, and drawing on the theories of thinkers in this field such as Jacob, Thuen, and Tuscany, and using the content analysis method, the research information has been analyzed. The results show that Iran and Afghanistan share a common border, language, and similar cultures, and have many common regional interests. However, the Taliban's control over the Afghan government in 2021 has created new challenges for these relations. These challenges include access to Afghan rivers, border issues, a large number of Afghan refugees in Iran, and the spread of illegal drugs to Iran.

منابع و مأخذ:

References

• Abdi, M. (2021). Can the IRGC-Taliban Honeymoon Continue? Part 1 (Place, Middle East Institute).


• Abbasi, I.; Ranjbardar, M. (2011). Iran’s Economic Aid to Afghanistan: Goals and Economic Impacts. Economic Relations Quarterly, 3 (11) (Fall), [in Persian].


• Akhbari, A.; Akhbari, M.; Poorroshan, A.; Rangbar, M.; Bahak, B. (2020). Hydropolitical analysis of the new structure of international relations (case study: Iran and Afghanistan). Geography Regional Planning Journal :2 (10) (Fall), [in Persian].


• Aman, F. (2021a). Iran-Taliban Growing Ties: What is Different This Time? (Washington C., Atlantic Council).


• Aman, F. (2021b). Traffickers find novel ways of smuggling drugs into Iran from Afghanistan. Washington D. C.


• Aman, F. (2015). The Islamic state and Afghanistan. Lob Log.


• Askari, N.; and Bashardost, N. (2021). Afghanistan No Longer Relinquishes Free Water: Ghani. Pajhwok Afghan News.


• Balland, (1 January 2000). Boundaries of Afghanistan. Retrieved on 12 April 2023, Encyclopedia Iranica: Available at: https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/boundaries-iii.


• Batmanghelidi, s. (2021). The Capture of Kabul: What the Taliban Takeover Will Mean for Iran’s Economy?. European Council on Foreign Relation.


• Bhatnagar, A. (2021). Iran: Understanding the Policy towards Afghan Refugees (India, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.


• Bijan, A.; Moulai, N., & quorishi, S.H. (2017). Iran's role in the process of state-building in Afghanistan and its impact on Iran's national security. Political Science Quarterly, 13(40), 71-95, [in Persian].


• Calabrise, J. (2007). Iran’s War on Drugs: Holding the Line? (Washington D. C. Middle East Institute.


• Dehbashi, A. (2000). Afghanistan days of fall. Tehran, Jahane honar [in Persian].


• Dougherty, J.; Pfaltzgraff, R. (2013). Contending Theories of International Relations. Vahid Bozorgi and Alireza Tayyeb. Tehran: Ghoomes Publishing Company, [in Persian].


• (2021). Shattered Afghan economy is Taliban’s biggest challenge. DW.


• (1 February 2021). Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: The Taliban Are Part of the Reality of Afghanistan,


• Eqbal, S. (2022, August 14). Surging Border Tensions; Iranian Delegation Arrives in Afghan Capital to Discuss Border Retrieved on 13 April 2023, The Khamma Press: Available at: https://www.khaama.com/surging-border-tensions-iranian- delegation-arrives-in-afghan-capital-to-discuss-border-issues-457584/


• Evangelista, J. (2017). Afghans in Iran: no SIM card, no house, no rights, Middle East eye.


• Farr, G. (23 August 2022). Iran and Afghanistan: Growing Tensions after the Return of the Taliban. Retrieved on 14 April 2023, E-International Relations, Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2022/08/23/iran-and-afghanistan-growing-tensions-after-the-return-of-the-taliban/


• Fathollah-Nejad, A.; Azizi, H. (2021). Iran and the Taliban after the US Fiasco in Afghanistan (Washington D. C., Middle East Institute, 2021).


• (9 March 2022). Freedom’s Choice for Afghans: Over the Wall or Through the Desert. Retrieved on 10 April 2023, France 24, Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220309-freedom-s-choice-for-afghans-over-the-wall-or- through-the-desert


• Gul, A. (2021). Afghan leader demands Iranian oil in exchange for river water. Germany.


• Hauch, L. (2019). Understanding the Fatemiyoun Division: Life through the Eyes of a Militia Member (Washington D. C., The Middle East Institute).


• Hassan, L. (2021). What is the Fatemiyoun Brigade and why does it make the Taliban nervus?, Frontline.


• Iran resumes fuel exports to neighboring Afghanistan”, (2021) Available: http://Nasdaq.com


• IRNA English. (23 July 2020). Around 70 Percent of Afghan Transit Trade Carried through Iran: ADB.


• Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). (9 June 2022). Sharp Rise in the Cost of Iranian Exports to Afghanistan [in Persian].


• Al-Jazeera, (2021, November 11). Iran Deporting Thousands of Afghan Refugees. Retrieved on 11 April 2023, Al Jazeera, Available at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/11/afghan-refugees-deported-from-iran-as-humanitarian-crisis-deepens


• (8 September 2021). Iran Will Not Play in America’s Court; All Afghan Ethnic Groups Should Have a Share in Government [in Persian].


• Kazemi, Ali Asghar (1991). Convergence theory in international relations; Third world experience. Tehran: Peik Iran.


• Khamenei, A. (28 August 2021). Speech during First Meeting with the President and Members of Cabinet [in Persian].


• Khan, (17 May 2022). For Desperate Afghans, Risky Crossings into Iran are worth chancing. Retrieved on 8 April 2023, The New Humanitarian, Available at https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/News-feature/2022/05/17/Afghans-risky-crossings-Iran


• Koepke, B. (September 2013). Iran’s Policy on Afghanistan: The Evolution of Strategic Pragmatism. Retrieved on 13 April 2023, SIPRI, Available at https://www.sipri.org/publications/2013/irans-policy-afghanistan-evolution-strategic-pragmatism


• Koolaee, E. (2000). Evolution in convergence theories. Law and Political Science, 48(778), 155-194, [in Persian].


• Setareh, j. Panahi,M. Sheykhi, A. Investigating border disputes between Iran and Afghanistan (case study: Hirmand River). Journal of Border Science and Technology. 2 (Fall) 2014.


• Laipson, E. (March 2012). Engaging Iran on Afghanistan. Retrieved on 14 April 2023, Stimson, https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/files/file- Available at attachments/Engaging_Iran_on_Afghanistan_1.pdf


• Mashal, M. (2012). Hekmaytar’s never-ending Afghan war, Aljazeera.


• Mehdi, Z. (2021). Iran slams Taliban government formation in Afghanistan. AA.


• Mir Baloch, S. (2021). Hazara Shias flee Afghanistan fearing Taliban persecution. The Guardian.


• Nadimi, F. (2021). Iran Sets Its Eyes on Afghanistan (Washington, DC, Washington Institute).


• (2021). Military support from Iran bolstered Taliban’s offensive in western Afghanistan. Salaam Times.


• Omid, K.A. (2021, December 16). Amid a crackdown, Afghan Refugees in Iran fear the ‘unthinkable’: Being sent Retrieved on 10 April 2023, Los Angeles Times, Available at: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-12-16/afghan-refugees- iran-crackdown-deportation-taliban


• Ramachandran, S. (2022, Feburary 15). Afghanistan-Iran Disquiet Over the Helmand River. Retrieved on 6 April 2023, The Diplomat, Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/afghanistan-iran-disquiet-over-the-helmand-river/


• (2022, July 31). At Least One Person Killed as Taliban, Iranian Border Forces Exchange fire. Retrieved on 9 April 2023, Radio Free Europe, Available at: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-taliban-border-clash-one-dead/31967695.html


• Rich, (2022). Refugees in Iran. Retrieved on 12 April 2023, UNHCR, Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/ir/refugees-in-iran/


• Sawhney, A.A. (2020, June 1). No Coungtry for Minorities: The Inequality of State Repression in Iran. Retrieved on 13 April 2023, Open Democracy, Available at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/no-country-minorities-inequality- state-repression-iran/


• Seifzadeh, H. (1995). Different theories in international relations. Tehran: Ghoomes Publishing Company, [in Persian].


• Sharan, T.; Watkins, A. (2021). All quiet on the eastern front? Iran’s evolving relationship with an Afghanistan in transition. Policy Brief, FES Afghanistan.


• Shavazi, A. (2008). Second Generation Afghans in Iran: Integration, Identity and Return (Afghanistan, Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit).


• Shuja, A. (2012). Iran bans Afghan and Iraqi refugees from moving to regions for employment. UN Dispatch.


• Tabatabaei, A. (12 October 2021). expert on Iran–Afghanistan relations, in discussion with the Maryam Jami.


• Takeyh, R. (2021). Where Iran Stands on the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan (New York, Council on Foreign Relations).


• Tookhy, F. (August 2022). Iran’s Response to the Taliban’s Comeback in Afghanistan. Retrieved on 14 April 2023, The United States Institute of Peace, Available at: https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/Afghanistan-Peace-Process_Irans-Response-Talibans-Comeback-Afghanistan.pdf


• VonHein, (2021, September 9). Iran-afghan Water Dispute to test Tehran’s ties to Taliban. Retrieved on 11 April 2023, DW: Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/iran-afghanistan-water-dispute-to-test-tehrans-ties-to-taliban/a-59112469


• Yazdan Panah, H. (2021). Baloch protests in Iran underscore repression against the ethnic minority. Global Voices.