Geo-Politics of Afghanistan under Taliban Regime:
Prospects for Regional Integration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54418/ca-91.181Keywords:
US Withdrawal, Taliban, Afghanistan, Economic Development, Regional, Central Asia, Pakistan, China, RussiaAbstract
Abstract
Taliban seized power in Kabul on 15th August 2021 after the abrupt pulling out of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Taliban assured international community about the human rights protection, women education, freedom of media, and no use of Afghan soil by terrorists against any other country. These assurances appraised international community not to oppose their regime. However, after more than a year has passed, future of Afghanistan is still uncertain. This study tries to analyse the geo-politics of Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul to Taliban. It tries to explore the reasons for non-confrontationist policies by the neighboring states as well as regional powers. Qualitative methodology with secondary sources has been used in this research. Findings of the research reveal that despite assurances by Taliban regime, Afghanistan is gradually plunging into the similar situation of 1990s. However, from regional integration perspective, there are high hopes that it can act as bridge between Central and South Asia and China with the Persian Gulf. Regional countries must contribute for the peace and development of Afghanistan by supporting the people of Afghanistan to decide their future. Afghanistan can either be a roundabout or a dead end street for the regional states that depends on the region’s policies towards it.
References
Akhtar, N. “Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Taliban”. International Journal on World Peace, December 2008. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20752859
Bashar, I. “Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan: Security Implications for Bangladesh.” International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research. September, 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/48618779
Boot, M. “Biden’s 9/11 Withdrawal from Afghanistan: What to Know”. Council on Foreign Relations, April 5, 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep31147
Brooking, E.T. “Before the Taliban took Afghanistan, it took the internet” New Atlanticist, August 26, 2021. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/before-the-taliban-took-afghanistan-it-took-the-internet/
Carll, E. “An Afghanistan at peace could connect South and Central Asia” Atlantic Council South Asia Center, May 18, 2021. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/an-afghanistan-at-peace-could-connect-south-and-central-asia/
Cho, S. & Chen Sarah. “China Gorges on Cheap, Sanctioned Oil from Iran, Venezuela”. Bloomberg, January 10, 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-10/china-buys-more-sanctioned-oil-from-iran-venezuela-at-a-bargain
Cordesman, A.H. and Hwang Grace, “Afghan National Defense and Security Forces That Are Not ready to Stand Alone- In War or Peace” CSIS, July 07, 2020. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep25320.9
Greenfield, C. “Analysis: As West ponders aid for Afghanistan, China and Pakistan quick to provide” Reuters, September 13, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/west-ponders-aid-afghanistan-china-pakistan-quick-provide-relief-2021-09-12/
Hettne, B. and Soderbaum,” Regional Cooperation: A Tool for Addressing Regional and Global Challenges” Goteborg University, Sweden, accessed on December 25, 2021. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fredrik-Soederbaum/publication/259702507_Regional_Cooperation_A_Tool_for_Addressing_Regional_and_Global_Challenges/links/0c96052d64488eb31c000000/Regional-Cooperation-A-Tool-for-Addressing-Regional-and-Global-Challenges.pdf
Hong, Z. “China’s Afghan Policy: The Forming of The “March West” Strategy?”, The Journal of East Asian Affairs, Fall/Winter 2013. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23722399
Huasheng, Z. “Afghanistan and China’s New Neighbourhood Diplomacy”, Royal Institute of International Affair, July 2016. http://ciss.tsinghua.edu.cn/upload_files/atta/1626330706550_FB.pdf
Human Rights Watch. Afghanistan Event of 2021. Assessed on August 23, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/afghanistan
Hurd, Ian. “Constructivism.” Oxford University Press, 2008. https://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/ihu355/Home_files/17-Smit-Snidal-c17.pdf
Hussain, F. “Implications of the Enigmatic Rise of Taliban: A Historical Perspective” Global Regional Review, 2021. https://www.grrjournal.com/jadmin/Auther/31rvIolA2LALJouq9hkR/9arnhiiFbU.pdf
Isiksal, H. To What Extend Interdependence Theorists Challenge to Structural Realist School of International Relations”, Alternatives, Summers & Falls 2004. https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/tjir/v3n2_3/tjir_v3n2_3ish01.html
Keohane, R.O. & Nye Joseph. “Power and Interdependence (Second Edition)”. Harper Collins Publishers New York, 1989.
Keohane, R.O.S, & Nye Joseph. “Power and Interdependence (Second Edition)”. New York: Harper Collins, 1989.
Khan, S.A. “The Emerging Regional Geo-Political and Geo-Economic Scenario in Central Asia”. National Herald Tribune, June 15, 2022. https://dailynht.com/news/story/94498
Khara, A. “Taliban Signs ‘Preliminary’ Deal with Russia for Oil, Gas, Wheat” Aljazeera, September 28, 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/28/taliban-signs-preliminary-deal-with-russia-to-buy-gas-wheat
Kunze, T. & Logvinov Michail. “Central Asia facing ISAF Withdrawal from Afghanistan”, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. 2013. https://www.kas.de/en/web/auslandsinformationen/artikel/detail/-/content/zentralasien-vor-dem-isaf-abzug-aus-afghanistan1
Maizland, L. “The Taliban in Afghanistan”. Council on Foreign Relations, August 17, 2022. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taliban-afghanistan
Maizland, L. “The Taliban in Afghanistan”. Council on Foreign Relations, September 15, 2021. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taliban-afghanistan
Majidyar, A. & Alfoneh Ali, “Iranian Influence in Afghanistan: Refugees as Political Instrument”, American Enterprise Institute, November 08, 2010. https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/iranian-influence-in-afghanistan-2/
Mariam S. “Afghanistan, US And The Peace Process: A Deal With The Taliban in 2014?”, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. January 28, 2014. http://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=4275
Masomy, M.J. “Afghanistan as a Land Bridge between Central Asia and South Asia for Economic Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities” Electronic Journal Of Social And Strategic Studies, May 2, 2021. https://www.ejsss.net.in/article_html.php?did=9710&issueno=0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47362/EJSSS.2021.2113
Mumtaz, K. “ISIS: Assessment of the Threat for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia”. Islamabad: Institute of Strategic Studies, 2016. http://issi.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1-kashfi_mumtaz_SS_Vol_36_No.1_2016.pdf
Naz, S. & Z.N. Jaspal “Afghanistan in The Snare of External Power Struggle”, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Autumn 2018. https://www.issi.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2-SS_Samra_naz_and_Zafar_Nawaz_Jaspal_No-3_2018.pdf
Nissenbaum, D. & G. Lubold, “Military Believes Trump’s Afghan War Plan Is Working but Spy Agencies Are Pessimistic” The Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2018. http://on.wsj.com/3xOoAHX
Pantucci, R. and Abdul Basit. “Post-Taliban Takeover: How the Global Jihadist Terror Threat May Evolve.” International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, September, 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48618776
Putz, C. “Taliban Takeover: World Bank and IMF Halt Aid; US Freezes Afghan Assets” The Diplomat, August 26, 2021. https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/taliban-takeover-world-bank-and-imf-halt-aid-us-freezes-afghan-assets/
Ruttig, T. “Have Taliban Changed?”Combating Terrorism Center, March 2021. https://www.ctc.usma.edu/have-the-taliban-changed/
Safranchuk, I. Security Threats For the Central Asian Neighbors of Afghanistan: A Reality Check”, Center for Strategic and International Studies. 2017. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep23168.6
Saxena, C. “The American Exit, the fall of Afghanistan and the Indian Dilemmas” International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, September, 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48618777
Sayed, A. “The Evolution and Future of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 21, 2021. https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/12/21/evolution-and-future-of-tehrik-e-taliban-pakistan-pub-86051
Schlein, L. & Besheer Margaret, “Donors Pledge $2.4 Billion for Afghan Relief” VOA News, March 31, 2022. https://www.voanews.com/a/donors-pledge-2-4-billion-for-afghan-relief-/6510150.html
Scobell, A. “China and the U.S Exit from Afghanistan: Not a Zero-Sum Outcome” United States Institute Of Peace, September 22, 2021. https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/09/china-and-us-exit-afghanistan-not-zero-sum-outcome
Shahrani, N. M. “The Impact of The 2014 U.S.-NATO Withdrawal on The Internal Politics of Afghanistan: Karzai-style Thugocracy or Taliban Theocracy?” Asian Survey, March/April 2015. https://online.ucpress.edu/as/article-abstract/55/2/273/24792/The-Impact-of-the-2014-U-S-NATO-Withdrawal-on-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Smith, B. and Thorp Arabella, “The legal basis for the invasion of Afghanistan” House of Commons Library, February 26, 2010. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05340/SN05340.pdf
Stronski P. “What Does the Kremlin Really Think About Afghanistan?” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, August 30, 2021. https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/08/30/forget-schadenfreude.-what-does-kremlin-really-think-about-afghanistan-pub-85230
Theys, S. “Introducing Constructivism in International Relations Theory”, E-International Relations, February 18, 2018. https://www.e-ir.info/2018/02/23/introducing-constructivism-in-international-relations-theory/
Thomas, C. “Taliban Government in Afghanistan: Background and Issues for Congress” Congressional Research Service, November 02, 2021. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46955
Threlkeld, E. and Easterly Grace, “Afghanistan-Pakistan Ties and Future Stability in Afghanistan”. US Institute Of Peace, August 01, 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep34025.7
Trenin, D. & M. Alexei. “Russia’s Policies in Support of its Own Interests”, Carnegie Moscow Center. 2010. https://carnegieendowment.org/files/trenin_afghan_final.pdf
Vatanka, A. “Iran’s Bottom Line in Afghanistan”, Atlantic Council, November 09, 2017. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/iran-s-bottom-line-in-afghanistan/
Verma, R. “Instability in Afghanistan and Non-Traditional Security Threats: A Public Good Problem?” Global Policy, March 11, 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-5899.13044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13044
Voje, J. “Afghanistan Geopolitical Hotspot”, Munich Security Conference, August 24, 2021. https://securityconference.org/en/media/msc-blog/article/afghanistan-geopolitical-hotspot/
Walkins, A. “One Year Later: Taliban Reprise Repressive Rule, but Struggle to Build a State”, United States Institute of Peace, August 17, 2022. https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/08/one-year-later-taliban-reprise-repressive-rule-struggle-build-state
Weinbaum, M. G. “Afghanistan and its Neighbors” United States Institute Of Peace, June 2006. https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/sr162.pdf
Yongbliao, Z. “China’s Afghanistan Policy Since 9/11”, Asian Survey, March/April 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26494047 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/as.2018.58.2.281
Yousaf, F. and J.Moheb. “US withdrawal and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan: Future Policy Directions”. Policy Brief, September 7, 2021.https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PB_5_2021_US-withdrawal-and-the-Taliban-regime-in-Afghanistan.pdf
Zucchino, D. “Kabul’s Sudden Fall to Taliban Ends U.S. Era in Afghanistan” The New York Times, August 15, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-surrender.html
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
