The Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies (CSRS)
The recent protests in Iran, which initially emerged from economic grievances among market traders in response to currency volatility and deteriorating living conditions, rapidly evolved into a broad-based movement with a distinctly political character. This transformation reflects the depth of Iran’s structural discontent…
President Putin’s visit to India took place at a highly sensitive moment in global strategic transformation—one shaped by the Ukraine war, Western sanctions, shifts in global energy markets, NATO’s expansion, and the emergence of a new Eurasian political landscape.
The visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi to Qatar reflects the broader efforts of the Islamic Emirate to help Afghanistan move beyond its current crisis. Taking place amid international sanctions and ongoing humanitarian challenges, the trip focused on key areas such as political engagement, economic support, and humanitarian aid. Through meetings with Qatari officials, the Islamic Emirate aimed to gain greater international legitimacy while strengthening Qatar’s role as a strategic mediator and partner. In this context, the Emirate seeks to boost economic ties, attract foreign investment, and expand trade relations, although significant challenges remain.
In May 2018, President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and called for renegotiation, urging the Islamic Republic of Iran to engage in a new agreement with Washington. Since then, Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran should it refuse to comply. In 2019, Trump fully prepared for a strike on Iran but ultimately refrained. At present, the threat of military action appears primarily aimed at instilling fear among Iranian officials to pressure them into negotiations on U.S. terms.
Overall, Trump’s policies toward Afghanistan are unlikely to achieve their intended goals. Instead, they risk deepening the country’s humanitarian, economic, and political crises. His dual approach—reducing U.S. military involvement while simultaneously exerting pressure on the Islamic Emirate and politicizing humanitarian aid—fails to provide a viable solution for Afghanistan’s challenges.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, relations between Iran and Afghanistan have continued as before. Over the past three years, both countries have made efforts to strengthen their ties by leveraging each other’s capacities, particularly in boosting economic cooperation. Recently, Iran sent its Foreign Minister to Kabul in an attempt to deepen its relationship with Afghanistan.
The analysis of global and Afghan developments in 2024 reveals a year filled with significant political, security, and economic events. Politically, the year witnessed substantial leadership transitions in many countries, with over seventy nations experiencing changes in government. Among these, the shift of power in the United States from Democrats to Republicans, particularly the return of the controversial figure Donald Trump, is likely to have a profound impact on global politics in the years ahead.
By: Assoc. Prof. Abdul Saboor Mubariz Note: Click here for the PDF file of this analysis. ___________________________________________________________________ In this issue: An Analytical Overview […]
As long as the member countries of the organization do not solve their mutual problems and do not share the benefits with each other, the actions within the framework of the organization will not be effective.
For the Islamic Emirate, it is suggested that in order to achieve the economic goals of the mentioned framework, which a good opportunity for Afghanistan is provide the necessary grounds and at the same time, by increasing more cooperation with the United Nations, facilitate the space for positive interaction with other organizations.
