Afghanistan in the Arms of the East

Mohsen Pakaeen: One important factor, and perhaps the most important one in the region which has affected Afghanistan's relations with its neighbors, is the presence of world powers in Afghanistan. In the past and present, these powers have interfered in Afghan affairs. The US and Britain consider Afghanistan as a passage to Central Asia, to encircle China, to control Russia and to threaten Pakistan. On the other hand, they find Afghanistan as a neighbor to Iran, and which can be used as a pressure tool against revolutionary Iran. While being directly involved in Afghanistan, these powers have also brought in their regional agents. From a national security point of view, Russia and China are concerned about the presence of rival world powers, especially the US and Britain, in the geo-strategic atmosphere of the southern borders of Russia and the western borders of China. Therefore, these two countries are not neutral regarding developments in Afghanistan and are concerned about the emergence of political phenomena in Afghanistan which could lead to the opening of US influence in Central Asia, and they at times react to these developments.

Today, one of the concerns Afghanistan's neighbors have is Kabul's move to implement Washington's agenda and the consequent institutionalization of a continued US political and military presence in this country. This situation entails some concerns for Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan has historical territorial and border differences with India and, with the present situation in Afghanistan and with the friendship between that country and India, Pakistan considers its national interests to be in danger. Bearing in mind the US' anti-peace spirit, the presence of foreign forces under US command has raised some concerns in Iran, too. The policy of the Afghan government is to allay these concerns in negotiations with Iran and Pakistan and assure its neighbors that Afghanistan is not a center to threaten neighboring countries.

ID: The foreign ministers of the so-called "Heart of Asia" countries gathered in Kabul in the past few days. What was the main aim of this meeting, and to what extent was it able to reduce concerns and help to improve relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors?

MP: The main goal of the meeting of foreign ministers in Kabul was to strengthen regional cooperation, and Iran naturally welcomes these types of initiatives and it values efforts to develop regional cooperation in order to achieve security, stability, and development in Afghanistan. However, the role of neighboring countries, especially Afghanistan's immediate neighbors, in shaping the security future of this country is more important than that of regional countries. This means that there must be a difference between regional and neighboring countries. For example, the role of countries such as Turkey and Qatar can never be as vital as the role of countries such as Iran and Pakistan. In reality, it is under the shadow of cooperation with regional countries, especially Afghanistan's neighbors, that security and development can be achieved in this country. Among Afghanistan's neighbors, Iran and Pakistan have had more contact with this country's domestic issues. This is because, first of all, both countries have cultural similarities and sympathies with parts of the Afghan nation, therefore cultural, historical, lingual, tribal, and religious co-dependences create a higher level of mutual and peaceful activity between the nations. Secondly, the wave of immigration by Afghans has hit Iran and Pakistan the hardest, and part of the national resources of these two countries has been used for issues related to Afghan refugees. The situation of these refugees has naturally led to economic, social, cultural, and political problems inside Iran and Pakistan. Thirdly, due to the vulnerability of Iran’s and Pakistan's national security with respect to Afghan developments, these two countries cannot be indifferent to political and security changes inside Afghanistan. Due to international and regional competition, the country's other neighbor, China, cannot be indifferent either, because the activity of Chinese rivals, such as the US, Russia, and India in the region renders Afghanistan that much more important from a national security point of view.

ID: You mentioned the presence of global powers in Afghanistan's future. In order to improve Afghanistan's security situation, NATO needs to gain the cooperation of Afghanistan's neighbors on this issue. In your opinion, how much influence does this issue have on relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors?

MP: Analysis of the region's realities shows that the US and NATO's current strategies will not lead to the establishment of stability and security in Afghanistan in the long run. The US strategy is to intensify tensions and strengthen differences between regional countries and Afghanistan and even inside these countries, and this is why it does not move in the direction of cooperation and stability in the region. In Afghanistan, apart from making use of NATO military facilities, the US tries to set a model of unilateral action as the basis of its power and it shows its opposition to certain countries in this framework. The result of 10 years of a US presence in Afghanistan has been nothing but an increase in insecurity and in the drug trade. The illegal actions of NATO, and especially of US soldiers mentioned in this article are only small samples of the crimes they have committed against the people of Afghanistan in the last 10 years. It is clear that these types of US policies in the region have led to the reaction of its global rivals, such as China and Russia, and these countries have gradually taken on a more aggressive and confrontational style in facing the US, and they will tend more towards regional strategies. Due to these points, it seems that, in the future, especially after the exit of foreign troops, Afghanistan will have no choice but to strengthen its relations with its neighbors.

ID: What can Iran do to help strengthen relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors?

MP: If continuous communication between neighboring countries, especially Pakistan and Iran, is also supported by peripheral countries such as China and Russia, it can be effective in reducing the crisis. If Tehran, Kabul, and Islamabad can reach important agreements, these agreements can surely be helpful in providing security, establishing order and stability, and improving Afghanistan's reconstruction and its economy. In recent months, and following Iranian efforts, the presidents of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan met in Tehran and Islamabad and agreed on the importance of the continuation of friendship between the countries and in finding a way to solve existing problems in Afghanistan. The continuation of this cooperation and the presence of China and Russia alongside Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan can make the role of regional countries in solving Afghanistan's crisis bolder.

ID: It seems that Afghanistan's neighbors are not well aligned regarding this country's problems. How do you think regional countries should deal with the issue of Afghanistan?

MP: These countries should be more sensitive regarding developments in Afghanistan, especially the future of the presence of extra-regional countries, the presence of US military bases, and the violation of human rights in Afghanistan. They have mentioned these points in issued statements. We must be careful that the dependency of certain members of this group on NATO and the US does not prevent other countries from working towards the development of regional cooperation in order to establish security and stability in Afghanistan. These countries must be careful not to unconsciously become a way for countries, which after 10 years, have failed to establish security in Afghanistan to reach their goals.