Afghanistan in a Neighbourhood Perspective

The document analyzes Afghanistan's role within the Regional Security Complex (RSC) framework, examining its relationship with South Asia, the Persian Gulf, and Central Asia. It argues that neighboring states' engagement in Afghanistan is driven by internal regional conflicts—such as the India-Pakistan rivalry—rather than Afghan-centric issues. Consequently, the author suggests that a unilateral non-aggression commitment by Afghanistan is a more viable strategy for stability than the integrated regional approaches often proposed by international policymakers.

• Afghanistan functions as an 'insulator' located at the boundary of three distinct Regional Security Complexes (RSCs): South Asia, the Persian Gulf (Middle East), and Central Asia (CIS). This position means it is a "zone of indifference" that keeps the larger dynamics of these separate regions apart.
• The security engagement of Afghanistan's neighbors is primarily driven by deep-seated regional concerns that are independent of Afghanistan itself, meaning their actions in Afghanistan reflect "conflicts and cleavages specific to the region".
• In South Asia, the bipolar rivalry between India and Pakistan dominates the security dynamic. Pakistan views Afghanistan as providing "strategic depth" to counter India, while India has increased its diplomatic and aid presence in Afghanistan post-2001, which Pakistan perceives as a threat.
• The Persian Gulf's security dynamic is characterized by a bipolar rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia over political-ideological leadership in the Islamic world. Iran's engagement in Afghanistan is often a pragmatic effort to ensure it does not have an adversary on its eastern border, particularly given its tensions with the US.
• Central Asian states are primarily preoccupied with domestic regime stability and their relationship with Russia, the regional hegemon. Afghanistan is viewed as a secondary concern, primarily as a source of drug trafficking and a potential sanctuary for transnational militant groups.
• Regional security relationships are highly robust and resistant to quick change by external actors. Distant powers, such as the US, lack the ability for long-term sustained engagement, leading regional states to often "wait the distant interveners out".
• The author argues that instead of pursuing an integrated regional approach, Afghanistan would be better served by seeking a "unilateral non-offensive or neutral status" to address neighbors' concerns about the militarization of the country.

APA

Harpviken, K. B. (2010). Afghanistan in a Neighbourhood Perspective. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/bc7ab233-a865-4546-8fb4-c9738e9a39c7/Harpviken KB 2010 Afghanistan in a neighbourhood perspective PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Harpviken, Kristian Berg. Afghanistan in a Neighbourhood Perspective. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2010. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/bc7ab233-a865-4546-8fb4-c9738e9a39c7/Harpviken KB 2010 Afghanistan in a neighbourhood perspective PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Harpviken |first1=Kristian Berg |title=Afghanistan in a Neighbourhood Perspective |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2010 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/bc7ab233-a865-4546-8fb4-c9738e9a39c7/Harpviken KB 2010 Afghanistan in a neighbourhood perspective PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{harpviken2010afghanistan, author = {Harpviken, Kristian Berg}, title = {{Afghanistan in a Neighbourhood Perspective}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2010}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/bc7ab233-a865-4546-8fb4-c9738e9a39c7/Harpviken KB 2010 Afghanistan in a neighbourhood perspective PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }