Cultural and Ideological Influences

This chapter examines the influence of Iran’s ideological and cultural aspects in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It presents an analysis of the resources and instruments Iran uses to leverage ideological and cultural connections to promote its goodwill in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and how such measures have been received in both states. As this chapter argues, Iran has certain advantages like demographics in the form of a sizable Shi’a population in both countries and the deep imprint of the Persian colonial legacy due to which it can employ a variety of instruments including Persian heritage and the promotion of Shi’a ideology to create a positive image in both countries. Iran enjoys a much deeper influence in Afghanistan than in Pakistan because Tehran has been able to invest in infrastructure to achieve its national interests. In contrast, Iran’s influence in Pakistan is not that multifaceted and is largely limited to Shi’as. In terms of how its ideological and cultural influence is received in both these states, interviewees largely reflected on Iran’s influence over Shi’a populations in both countries for its political gains. This chapter also discusses the impacts of Iran’s influence in Afghanistan immediately following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.