Future Prospects of Iran-Afghanistan Relations After the Reemergence of the Taliban in 2021

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran

10.22099/ijas.2025.52040.1022

Abstract

This study, using a descriptive-analytical method and based on the theoretical framework of future studies, examines the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban following the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2021. The findings of this study indicate several possible scenarios in Iran-Taliban relations, including increased border tensions with neighboring countries to attract the attention of global powers, disregard for the water rights of neighboring states, control over drug trafficking routes as the most profitable yet unethical trade, non-compliance with international laws, violations of human rights, disregard for women's rights, ethnic discrimination, and neglect of Afghan migration issues. The Taliban's rise to power, coupled with the failure to establish an inclusive and accountable government, has raised concerns within the international community. As a result, the formation of a comprehensive government that upholds the rights of Afghan ethnic groups, fosters good relations with Iran, adheres to principles of ijtihad jurisprudence, and distances itself from rigid textualist and hadith-centric interpretations is considered a desirable scenario for the future of Afghanistan and its neighboring countries.

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