Geopolitics and the Manifestations of Strategic Rivalry between Iran and Pakistan over Afghanistan (2001-2022)

Taheri, Ebrahim

doi:10.22124/wp.2023.24328.3179

Geopolitics and the Manifestations of Strategic Rivalry between Iran and Pakistan over Afghanistan (2001-2022)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Ebrahim Taheri

Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

10.22124/wp.2023.24328.3179

Abstract

Iran and Pakistan's foreign policies toward Afghanistan are significantly influenced by the geopolitics of this country. As a result, the research question will be: how has Geopolitics influenced Iran's and Pakistan's foreign policies toward Afghanistan between 2001 and 2022? From the Geopolitics perspective, Pakistan, concerned about India's control over its strategic depth after the Taliban's removal at 2001. Iran, attempted to reduce the influence of its international adversary, the United States of America, in Afghanistan. It was natural that the competition of geostrategy entered other fields, including geoeconomics, in which Pakistan, in the form of a "greater Central Asia" concept, and Iran, in the form of a "North-South Corridor", were trying to connect Afghanistan to the outside world. In terms of geoculture, both countries tried to increase their influence by supporting Afghan groups. This research uses the comparative qualitative analysis method. The purpose of the research is to investigate the role of geopolitics on the foreign policy of Iran and Pakistan towards Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021

Introduction

Nations’ foreign policy fluctuates over time and is influenced by various factors. Political geography is a variable that can alter the direction and objectives of a country's foreign policy toward the rest of the world. Afghanistan is located in southwest Asia and possesses unique geographical characteristics. Consequently, it appears that the majority of changes in Afghanistan are anchored in its political geography, which has allowed nearby countries and even nations around the world to influence its political system. Iran and Pakistan, as two notable neighbors of Afghanistan, have always sought to influence the political context of this country. And perhaps this is why, despite the differences in how former Afghan presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai defined their foreign policies, nobody disagrees that both of them viewed Iran and Pakistan as their most important neighbors. Iran and Pakistan's foreign policies toward Afghanistan are significantly influenced by the political geography of this country. As a result, the research question will be: how has political geography influenced Iran's and Pakistan's foreign policies toward Afghanistan between 2001 and 2022?

Theoretical Framework

In light of Sir Halford Mackinder's “heartland theory” and Karl Haushofer's “living space theory”, academicians paid more attention to the significance of political geography in the twentieth century. Although there are many definitions of political geography, it can be argued that understanding political geography requires comprehension of the mutual influence of geography and politics. Therefore, dimensions of political geography make sense as a result of the interaction between power, geography, and territoriality (Kaviyani Rad, 2015: 543). In contemporary political science, political geography is comprised of geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geocultural factors that influence the foreign policy of countries.

Methodology

The present study employs a qualitative comparative analysis method. The data has been gathered from library sources. A comparative approach is used to attain the research's objectives, with an emphasis on the geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geocultural factors that shape Iran's and Pakistan's foreign policy.

Results and Discussion

With their geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geocultural capabilities, Iran and Pakistan have always sought to attain their foreign policy objectives in Afghanistan. Pakistan, concerned about India's control over its strategic depth after the Taliban's removal, has concentrated all of its efforts on this issue. Iran, which no longer faced the Taliban as an ideological adversary, attempted to reduce the influence of its international adversary, the United States of America, in Afghanistan. It is noteworthy that geopolitical competition led to other categories, such as geoeconomics, in which the two countries sought to use Afghanistan's landlocked status to further their foreign policy objectives. Pakistan, under the pretense of “Greater South Asia”, and Iran, in an effort to connect Afghanistan via Chābahār, were operating in accordance with their respective objectives. In this regard, China was allied with Pakistan, while India sided with Iran. The final sphere of influence of the two nations in Afghanistan was the geocultural influence. Both countries sought to accomplish their goals by supporting Afghanistan groups with political influence.

Conclusion

Political geography is an essential factor in all countries’ foreign policy. Iran and Pakistan were both competing in various spheres in Afghanistan. In this context, Iran was geopolitically concerned about America's actions against it and was attempting to provide grounds for America's exit from this country. Meanwhile, Pakistan was more concerned about India's strategic depth, so it utilized all of its resources to minimize this country's influence in Afghanistan. Pakistan was attempting to preserve its crucial position in linking Afghanistan to the world outside by using the capabilities of Karachi port and the “Greater South Asia” plan, while Iran, together with India, was aiming at supporting Afghanistan through Chābahār port. From a geocultural standpoint, it seemed that Iran was attempting to influence the Afghan government via political parties under its control, while Pakistan was trying to bring extremist groups opposing the government to the peace negotiations in Afghanistan.

Keywords

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