Geostrategic Interests

This chapter examines how Afghanistan and Pakistan are significant for Iran’s geostrategic goals in South and Central Asia. This chapter relies on primary data collected in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This chapter explains that besides its interests in exporting natural gas to energy-deficient Pakistan and India via a pipeline through Pakistan, Iran was troubled by the US troops presence in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Similarly, in Afghanistan, Iran was deeply concerned with presence of the US and other international troops during 2001-2021. When it comes to Pakistan, while Tehran views Chabahar and Gwadar projects as “sister ports”, Pakistan views the Chabahar Port as a threat to its national security because its arch-rival India has been mainly involved in this project. Analysis in this chapter also focuses on how Tehran has re-adjusted its policy towards Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.