https://www.iess.ir/en/Target-Countries/afghanistan Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:33:23 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 14:33:23 GMT Afghanistan 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/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/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/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/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/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3858/ In evaluating the Taliban rule’s performance in the last 3 years, there are two approaches: “government establishment” approach, and “fulfilling expectations” approach. Analysts who follow the “government establishment” approach believe that the Taliban's military-security control over the entire geography of Afghanistan, and the formation of the police and army have been the most important functions of the Taliban government; something that the former government of Afghanistan could not handle in twenty years, with the support of NATO and the U.S. From this point of view, the process of defining "structures and mechanisms" of governance is a post-establishment phase, and therefore will be the next priority of the Taliban leaders. According to this view, the Taliban leaders will probably advance the path of forming a national government step by step and gradually. However, based on the “fulfilling expectations” approach, the Taliban has had enough time in its 3-year rule to implement major strategic plans, in order to develop its governance in the internal and external relations. ]]> Afghanistan Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:41 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3858/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3846/ With the emergence of new geopolitical axes and the involvement of world powers in them, as well as the withdrawal of the U.S. from Afghanistan, Afghanistan has become once again a marginal country in geopolitical relations. Contrary to expectations, the Taliban have now laid the foundations of a peaceful coexistence with their neighbors, and have adopted a policy of positive engagement in the economic field. In this new situation, the four countries of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan established close relations with the Taliban to take advantage of this opportunity. Tajikistan has also realized this important issue recently and is making preparations to establish relations with the Taliban, in order to share in the political and economic benefits of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. ]]> Afghanistan Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:55:09 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3846/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3787/ In the past three years, regional countries and the international community have established their relations with the Taliban based on engagement. The Taliban has also taken a more interactive approach with countries, especially with Afghanistan's neighbors. Despite this, the international community and the Taliban have not reached a common agreement regarding issues such as inclusive governance, human rights, women's rights, Afghan ethnic and religious groups, state building, and formal recognition of the Taliban government; And it can even be said that there has been no understanding at all about these basic demands. From this point of view, it can be imagined that the process of state building and the process of official recognition of the Taliban government - as a conduit to the political future of Afghanistan - have now reached a political deadlock. This situation, however, is not a political deadlock among the regional countries, the international community and the Taliban, because the mutual needs of the Taliban and the international community can still be considered as an opportunity. ]]> Afghanistan Wed, 14 Aug 2024 05:04:14 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3787/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3717/ After more than two years of Taliban rule, the conflicting positions of the international community and the Taliban have made the recognition of the Taliban government still pending. But this does not mean that there are no relations between the Taliban government and other countries. During this period, by establishing close economic relations with some countries, the Taliban has been able to bypass non-recognition and get out of isolation to some extent. Adopting an economy-oriented foreign policy, planning for the economic visits of Taliban officials, encouraging foreign investors to be present in Afghanistan, signing large economic contracts with foreign parties, and paying attention to regional transit have been among the most important measures of the Taliban government in the economic sector. ]]> Afghanistan Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:02:57 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3717/ https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3696/ After the fall of the republic government and the Taliban’s regaining power in Afghanistan, this movement was not prepared to rule Afghanistan in terms of politics and governance. Also, from a military point of view, the Taliban fighters did not have the experience of creating and managing national institutions, such as the army and the police. It was for this reason that at the beginning, the stability and permanence of the Taliban rule in post-2021 Afghanistan seemed to be unstable and uncertain, and some experts believed in a short-term survival of the Taliban government. But contrary to expectations, Taliban rule was established in a good momentum and was stabilized to some extent. In this article, "establishing factors" and " durability factors" of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan are reviewed. ]]> Afghanistan Sat, 16 Mar 2024 06:26:08 GMT https://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/3696/