Iran should reboot relationship with Afghanistan
By Jafar Haghpanah
Afghanistan affairs expert
There are numerous regional issues that have consistently impacted relations between Iran and Afghanistan, including drug trafficking, terrorism, extremism, the presence of major powers in the region, transit routes and security arrangements.
Prioritizing these issues is crucial and it is important to gauge the level of coordination and consensus among various Iranian organizations involved. Any hasty decisions without clearly defined priorities and a full meeting of minds can lead to half-baked measures.
The lack of coordination among entities responsible for Iran-Afghanistan relations remains a persistent concern. Certain military, intelligence and political bodies play a direct role in these relations, while other organizations involved in economic, social, cultural, transit, industrial, and energy sectors operate on the sidelines, which are equally important and should not be overlooked.
Over the past 40 months since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, the absence of coordinated efforts among different sectors has been evident.
The crux of the matter lies in establishing a unified approach. However, serious challenges and disputes persist, as exemplified by the Afghan refugee issue. The lack of a shared understanding of fundamental concepts like national interests and security and their relation to Afghanistan is problematic. Moreover, it remains unclear whether Afghanistan, despite its importance, costs, threats and opportunities presented to Iran over the past 20 years, is among top priorities of Iran’s foreign policy agenda.
Afghanistan has been relegated to the back burner, overshadowed by Middle Eastern affairs. Due to a disconnect between decision-making think tanks and elites and the marginalization of experts, many priorities have not been properly laid out.
The absence of a clear neighborhood policy in dealing with certain neighbors is a shortcoming in Iran’s foreign policy. Given the principle that national security begins with its neighbors, Afghanistan is far more noteworthy than some regions currently dominating Iran’s foreign policy agenda and it has greater implications for Iran’s interests and opportunities.
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