By Mian Majid Ali Afzal
Afghanistan is considered a gateway for Central Asia and other parts of the Asian continent, like South Asia and the Middle East. In every world order of international politics, Afghanistan is the main part of its politics during the multiple politics Afghan territory attaché by Great Britain three times, but due to train territory, Afghanistan’s cultural aspects are time Great Britain failed her aim. Then, during the short century, the same mistakes were committed by the USSR, resulting in the same blunders of the third superpower, the USA, being repeated, and the result of this adventure after twenty years of prolonged war is not different in terms of casualties, economic loss, and the result of the military adventure. Now being a student of defense and Strategic Security studies, the question resonates in my mind, why are superpowers working to own Afghan territory, and what were the mistakes that they repeated one by one and met the same consequences in the Afghan territory? Why were all the parts taking all the superpowers? Afghanistan was why compulsory to occupy. For great Brittan Afghan territory was important due to their colonial design to occupy. Due to two major causes, one was to stop the Russian expansion, which was started from the central Asian states, and that was going on towards India. Great Brittan colonial master to want the hold onto territory to secure its hold on the subcontinent. Without the fear of the Afghan side or from the western border of the subcontinent. The second one was to extend its root across India towards central Asia. Both major causes of the 19th and 20th centuries confronted one another over the territory of Central Asia.
During the Cold War era, the Soviet Union was involved in Afghanistan. Again, her loss of expansionism and to get the excess to the Indian Ocean for the sake of trade and change the status quo of Indian Muslim politics, which were not in the interest of the Soviet Union. Since the previous two centuries, due to the hegemonic role of Britain. Since the 19th century, and then after 1960, the USA replace the great Brittan according to our foreign policymakers. The Soviet Union wished to control the Indian Ocean, which was going to be fulfilled through Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan.
In the last attempt, the USA also took the adventure to use the Asian gateway to access the Central Asian natural resources. According to one school of thought, it is going to support that the territory of Afghanistan was not proven to be fortunate enough for the USA also. Enough reasons are former two superpowers pen down in the form of articles and books, but the recent American failure needs to be discussed.
The US has made significant mistakes in Iran and Afghanistan, with many experts criticizing its approach as flawed. In Afghanistan, the US withdrawal in 2021 was seen as a surrender to the Taliban, with the group regaining control of the country. The US has also designated Afghanistan a “state sponsor of wrongful detention” due to its treatment of American citizens, including Dennis Coyle, who was released from Taliban captivity in March 2026.
In Iran, the US has faced criticism for its military actions, with some experts arguing that they may amount to war crimes. The US has been accused of acting as a “proxy for Israel” and planting “seeds of resentment” among Iranians. The conflict has led to significant instability and economic costs, with the US facing challenges in achieving its objectives.
The current situation between the US and Iran is intense, with tensions escalating amid Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests. The US has deployed military assets, including aircraft carriers, to the region, and President Trump has warned of potential military action. Iran has responded with threats of retaliation, saying the US “may be struck so hard that it cannot get back up.” The US needs to recognize that its current approach in Iran and Afghanistan is facing significant challenges. The withdrawal from Afghanistan has emboldened the Taliban, and Iran sees this as a victory for its “Axis of Resistance”. The US must consider Regional Dynamics, as now China’s growing influence in Pakistan and Afghanistan may impact US interests. Iran will likely support militias and proxies to counter US influence in the region. And let me tell you that Pakistan’s turn will not come after Iran. No one can launch a pre-emptive strike on Pakistan because we are a nuclear power, we are a missile power, and we have the best air force in the region. We are fully capable to face resist every situation…..we are fully capable of watching our interests…..our diplomatic stance is correct on Iran….. We have respect in the community of Nations and in the Muslim world. Last but not least also USA Need to remember!
“If the Petrodollar dies, so does America as a Superpower.”
The writer is the author of “The Reforms” and serves as a Strategic and Administrative Adviser on South Asia Affairs for a CPEC-based project in Islamabad. He is also a Strategic Communication Adviser at the Institute of Strategic Communication & Economic Studies (ISCES). He can be reached at mianmajid582@gmail.com