https://www.iess.ir/ Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:40 GMT /skins/default/en/normal/ch01_newsfeed_logo.gif https://www.iess.ir/ 100 70 en Copyright (c) Institute for East Strategic Studies, all rights reserved. Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:40 GMT 60 https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3977/ Although Nowruz is celebrated across all countries within the Nowruz cultural sphere, evidence suggests that its commemoration in Afghanistan, particularly in Balkh, differs significantly from other nations. The official celebration of Nowruz at the shrine attributed to Hazrat Mola Ali in Balkh province, and the ancient tradition of "Darfash Afrazi" (raising the flag) during Nowruz ceremonies in Balkh, Kabul, and other regions of Afghanistan give a unique and distinct character to this ancient festival. This article seeks to explore the Nowruz ceremony and the tradition of flag-raising in Afghanistan. ]]> Afghanistan Sun, 06 Apr 2025 05:48:35 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3977/ https://www.iess.ir/en/note/3975/ During Nowruz (the Persian New Year, literally means New Day), citizens of various regions of Turkmenistan engage in their traditional ceremonies. These include lighting fires (Şam-od) and jumping over them, growing sabzeh (greenery), organizing Nowruz celebrations such as setting up tents and tall swings in the days leading up to the holiday, preparing special sweets and dishes (such as Kachi Nowruz), holding local wrestling matches, horse races, ram fights, and rooster contests. The festivities also feature various musical performances, group dances, and songs, as well as the collective preparation of Samanu (a sweet paste made from germinated wheat) by neighbors. Traditional youth games like Ai Terek – Gun Terek and Monjuq Atdilar are also played during the Nowruz celebrations. Nowruz festivities in Turkmenistan are characterized by their visual splendor, as they involve group activities, colorful traditional attire, and gatherings in open spaces—usually outside cities or in town squares and parks—during the vibrant spring season. ]]> Central Asia Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:16:43 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/note/3975/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3971/ In the past, when the Taliban had not yet become a political and administrative structure, it was able to achieve its main goals through violence and war. However, In the post-conflict period, with the Taliban now positioned as a responsible government, its restraint and avoidance of engaging in conflict—especially with neighboring countries—has become vital for the group. In the current situation, the Taliban cannot afford to enter into full-scale or even harassing conflict with any foreign country. The primary reason for this is the shift in the Taliban's approach from being a hostile insurgent group to a governing entity. Unlike the past, when the survival of the Taliban depended on war, in the new phase, the survival and longevity of its government, as well as its international recognition, depend on avoiding war and conflict. This is because the Taliban has laid the foundation of its government on economic development and is attempting to stabilize the country's economic affairs through this approach. ]]> Afghanistan Sat, 15 Mar 2025 04:51:16 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3971/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3966/ The Iran-Tajikistan relationship presents several opportunities and challenges. The opportunities include the presence of a large majority of Persian-speaking and Iranian-origin populations, as well as the predominance of Muslims in Tajikistan, and Tajikistan’s geographical proximity to Afghanistan. This creates the potential for the establishment of a "geocultural axis" based on Persian culture and civilization, which could provide a strategic vision for both Iran and Tajikistan. ]]> Central Asia Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:37:32 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3966/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3926/ Relations between Taliban-led Afghanistan and Pakistan have been largely tense over the past three years. Recently, Pakistan’s civilian leadership appeared to recognize the strategic and economic costs of continued tensions and sought to recalibrate its approach toward Afghanistan. It seemed that they aimed to remove tensions from bilateral relations, in order to secure economic, political, and security interests, reclaim their role in Afghanistan, and prevent the influence of rival states in the country as much as possible. However, the meaningful action taken by the Pakistan military in attacking Afghanistan amidst negotiations by Pakistan’s special envoy in Kabul disrupted the course of developments. ]]> Pakistan Sun, 16 Feb 2025 04:23:14 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3926/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3915/ The completion and operation of the Bakhshabad Dam in Afghanistan threatens human security in the water sector. The countries that have decided to build the dam for Afghanistan will undoubtedly incur costs for the country. Iran and Afghanistan must reach an agreement regarding water rights to ensure the survival of the Hamoun wetlands. ]]> Afghanistan Sun, 26 Jan 2025 04:04:58 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3915/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3909/ Pakistan, a country with a unique ideological identity, has always been a battleground for tensions between secular and religious forces. Religious parties, with a long history and deep influence in politics and society, continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the country's future trajectory. Future scenarios suggest that any significant change in the role of religious parties requires profound transformations in domestic politics, social structures, and international relations. ]]> Pakistan Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:12:42 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3909/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3900/ Understanding the behavior and perspective of the Taliban regarding developments in Syria requires a realistic grasp of their foreign policy approach. Officially, the Taliban government views itself as a national and Afghan movement, and has thus far avoided any transnational ambitions for various reasons. This characteristic is considered by experts as the main distinction between the Afghan Taliban movement and ISIS. With this official stance, the Taliban government seeks to pursue a neutral foreign policy. However, some factions and supporters of the Taliban do not recognize the modern political boundaries, adopting a cosmopolitan view that considers all of Dar al-Islam as their homeland, and envisions the geopolitics of Islamic countries as the ideal land for the Islamic Mujahideen of the present era. With such an ideological and aspirational interpretation, some theoretical and emotional connections are forged between the Afghan Taliban and Islamist groups in the region, particularly in Syria, which serves as a hub for Islamist groups. ]]> Afghanistan Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:44:25 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3900/ https://www.iess.ir/en/roundtable/3899/ the Institute of East Strategic Studies (IESS) hold A specialized event, titled "The Implications of the Syrian Crisis for Developments in Afghanistan and Central Asia", with the participation of domestic and international experts and scholars. ]]> Central Asia Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:55:45 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/roundtable/3899/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3889/ The concept of intra-Afghan negotiations for achieving real peace in Afghanistan is a secondary and post-conflict process. In other words, the goal of negotiations is to transition from conflict to sustainable peace in Afghanistan. In this approach, it is logical to first identify the roots of the tension and conflict in Afghanistan. In this way, two goals can be achieved: (1) identifying the scope and dimensions of intra-Afghan negotiations, and (2) designing a roadmap for transitioning from conflict to peace, based on the realities of Afghanistan. ]]> Afghanistan Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:00:05 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3889/