Shifting Alliances: Iran-Pakistan Relations in the Aftermath of the Islamic Revolution and Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Abstract

This study investigates the multifaceted relationships that have emerged between Iran and Pakistan in the years following the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980. This article offers light on the profound geopolitical transformations that have occurred in the region, highlighting how the United States' loss of Iran and the Soviet Union's conquest of Afghanistan significantly affected the balance of power in the region. The study is centered on the developing relationship between Iran and Pakistan, and it takes a journey through historical events such as Iran's backing for the Afghan Mujahideen, the effects of the Iran-Iraq conflict, and the difficulties that arise from different perspectives on Afghanistan. Furthermore, it investigates the socio-cultural components that form the connection between the two countries, particularly in the region of Balochistan. The economic components are subjected to a careful evaluation in this article, which also investigates trade trends and the blocked gas pipeline between Iran and Pakistan. The research comes to a conclusion with strategic recommendations for both countries to improve their bilateral relations in a world that is fast changing. These proposals are discussed in light of the current geopolitical circumstances.