On September 22nd, Iranian Institute of European and American Studies (Iran-Eurica) hold a webinar session on Taliban Empowerment in Afghanistan and Regional Geopolitics; Consequences for Iran. The session was joined by Mr. David Rigoulet-Roze, West Asian Analyst in Institut des relations internationales et stratégiques (IRIS).
Highlights of the Meeting:
- Rigoulet-Roze opened his talk by giving a lecture on the ideological history of Taliban from an anti-colonization school of thought in India, the so-called “Deoband”, to anti-occupation movement against the USSR prior to their empowerment in 1994. He added, despite different origin of the Taliban with that of the Wahabi movements in the region, the Taliban have a little tendency toward Salafism and Pashtunism. The Pashtuns do not believe in the border line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, known as “Durand Line” and freely move across the border. This has resulted in engagement with Al-Qaida and international terrorism. During the Taliban ruling Afghanistan, they gave asylum to Bin Laden, Al-Qaida leader, as to show their hospitality. Nevertheless, the hospitality brought the demise of the regime in face of the Coalition attack.
- The US defeat in Afghanistan is undoubtedly proven, yet this is a deliberate defeat, so the US administration can focus on their worries in the far east. However, the Europeans worry about the deluge of immigrants, drug trafficking and so on, which were neglected by the US.
- Iran-Europe relationships will be deeply changed into an unknown spectrum. Immigration and drug trafficking are just a few of the many aspects of the issues, compared to empowerment of Daesh and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan as macro- and structural issues.
- Afghan refugees in France have grown sharply and were second only to the Mediterranean refugees in the past year. In addition, 2015 Terrorism Act Trial, which became a public debate, aggravated perception of the refugee crisis.
