Do All Roads Lead to Rome?
Iran was the surprise absentee of G8 conference in Afghanistan. By Houman Dolati.
Last week, the northeastern Italian city of Trieste hosted G8 foreign ministers who wanted to discuss Afghanistan developments. EU commissioner of external relations, Arab League representative and US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke had also attended the conference. While all Afghanistan’s neighbors had participated in the talks, Iran, witnessing post-election demonstrations, did not send a representative to Trieste.
The absence of Iran, who had played a major role in post-Taliban Afghanistan affairs and had effectively aided the international community, once again surprised everyone. This was definitely another diplomatic blunder to be written in Iran’s foreign relations record in recent years. Missing this opportunity was a big mistake considering Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential elections. European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also confirmed that it became a missed opportunity for the Iranian government. Although the Iranian FM claims that he had no plans to participate in the conference (which makes matters worse), Italy says it retracted the invitation after Iran did not respond in due time.
G8 may not be a wide-ranging international organization, but it has been founded by militarily and economically powerful countries. Its resolutions may not be binding, but it has addressed Afghanistan’s most crucial issues including: improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, safe, voluntary, gradual and dignified return and repatriation of Afghan refugees, bolstering the capacity of Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (APA), illegal drug production and trade etc.
Apparently, what caused Iran to miss this opportunity were not its domestic problems, which took place before the G8 meeting, but lack of any clear plans which has turned into a distinctive feature of Ahmadinejad’s administration. Iran’s propaganda-based diplomacy throughout the past four years has led to an inactive policy in Afghanistan, which has also turned out to undermine Iran’s influence and Khatami administration’s efforts to build trust and cooperate with the global community and the Afghan nation to establish security for its eastern neighbor.
While countries with minimum connection are endeavoring to become international actors by, step-by-step Iran’s crucial role in Afghanistan wanes out. On the threshold of presidential elections in Afghanistan, Iran is trying to create an impartial image while election circles know about Iran’s manifest support for one of the candidates. Iran has even stopped expulsion of illegal Afghanistan immigrants may be their 1-1.5 million votes goes to the candidate it supports.
This will create problems for Afghanistan’s elections. Afghans have always been influenced by the political developments and course of events inside the territory of their western neighbor. Iran’s post-election unrest should ring the bells for Afghanistan’s shaky stability. If Iran continues the game in this way, not only the efforts of international community will go up in smoke, but also the unpleasant memories of neighbors’ intervention in Afghanistan’s internal affairs will surface once again.
The absence of Iran, who had played a major role in post-Taliban Afghanistan affairs and had effectively aided the international community, once again surprised everyone. This was definitely another diplomatic blunder to be written in Iran’s foreign relations record in recent years. Missing this opportunity was a big mistake considering Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential elections. European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also confirmed that it became a missed opportunity for the Iranian government. Although the Iranian FM claims that he had no plans to participate in the conference (which makes matters worse), Italy says it retracted the invitation after Iran did not respond in due time.
G8 may not be a wide-ranging international organization, but it has been founded by militarily and economically powerful countries. Its resolutions may not be binding, but it has addressed Afghanistan’s most crucial issues including: improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, safe, voluntary, gradual and dignified return and repatriation of Afghan refugees, bolstering the capacity of Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (APA), illegal drug production and trade etc.
Apparently, what caused Iran to miss this opportunity were not its domestic problems, which took place before the G8 meeting, but lack of any clear plans which has turned into a distinctive feature of Ahmadinejad’s administration. Iran’s propaganda-based diplomacy throughout the past four years has led to an inactive policy in Afghanistan, which has also turned out to undermine Iran’s influence and Khatami administration’s efforts to build trust and cooperate with the global community and the Afghan nation to establish security for its eastern neighbor.
While countries with minimum connection are endeavoring to become international actors by, step-by-step Iran’s crucial role in Afghanistan wanes out. On the threshold of presidential elections in Afghanistan, Iran is trying to create an impartial image while election circles know about Iran’s manifest support for one of the candidates. Iran has even stopped expulsion of illegal Afghanistan immigrants may be their 1-1.5 million votes goes to the candidate it supports.
This will create problems for Afghanistan’s elections. Afghans have always been influenced by the political developments and course of events inside the territory of their western neighbor. Iran’s post-election unrest should ring the bells for Afghanistan’s shaky stability. If Iran continues the game in this way, not only the efforts of international community will go up in smoke, but also the unpleasant memories of neighbors’ intervention in Afghanistan’s internal affairs will surface once again.