Afghanistan, a country located in the heart of Asia, is known as the "graveyard of empires" because of its special geographical location and long history. Why is it always difficult for this country to stay out of the situation and become a battlefield for great powers? Why can't it skillfully maintain neutrality in the great power game, like Switzerland and Sweden? Today, the madman will talk to you about why Afghanistan cannot be a permanent neutral country.
The Land of the Four Wars: The crossroads of the great powers
Afghanistan is coveted by foreign powers because, above all, it is due to its unique geographical location. It is located in the center of Asia, bordering Central Asian countries in the north, China in the east, Iran in the west, Pakistan and India in the south.
Historically, it was a battleground for the Persian Empire's eastward expansion. After the rise of the Arab Empire, it also served as a springboard for the march into Central Asia. Genghis Khan's iron cavalry gathered troops here to prepare for an attack on the South Asian subcontinent. In the 19th century, Tsarist Russia went south and Britain went north, and the two empires started a "game of conspirators" here. In the 20th century, the Soviet Red Army marched into Kabul, where the U.S.-backed Mujahideen fought it. In this way, Afghanistan has become the focus of the struggle between the great powers, and it is difficult to stand alone.
Imbalance of power: The dilemma of a broken balance of power
Neutrality requires a balance of power, which is an important prerequisite for countries such as Switzerland to remain neutral. In the 19th century, Britain and Russia formed a balance of power in Central Asia, and Afghanistan was able to maneuver between the two and maintain relative independence. At the beginning of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were evenly matched in the Middle East, and the monarch of Afghanistan was able to maintain a balance between the two camps.
However, once this balance of power is broken, Afghanistan will not be able to sustain itself. In the 70s, when the Soviet Union's power in the Middle East was at its peak, the Amin regime blindly moved closer to the United States, which annoyed the Kremlin and eventually led to the invasion of the Soviet Union. After 911, the United States was once more powerful in Afghanistan than ever before, and the Taliban regime supported al-Qaeda, which resulted in a 20-year presence of U.S. troops.
It can be seen that without a balance of power, it is difficult for a small and weak country like Afghanistan to maintain neutrality. It will either become a pawn or become a victim, in short, it will not escape the fate of the wrestling of the great powers.
Weakness of force: a sad song of self-preservation
In addition to the external balance of power, neutrality also requires its own basic self-protection ability. Despite its small size, Switzerland has a well-trained militia and is surrounded by mountains that even Nazi Germany would not dare to invade.
On the other hand, Afghanistan, although it has shown its bravery in repelling British invasions three times, is very weak in the face of modern warfare. At the time of the Soviet invasion, the Afghan government forces held out for only three days before crumbling. When the U.S. military attacked, the Taliban regime was also crushed in a short period of time. Without guerrilla warfare supported by foreign aid, Afghanistan would have been unable to defend itself against the iron heel of the great powers.
Frequent civil strife: the dilemma of division and separation
A stable internal order is another necessary condition for neutrality. The long-term neutrality of countries such as Switzerland and Sweden is inseparable from the unity of their factions. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has been plagued by tribal and sectarian strife since its inception.
Although Afghanistan is dominated by Sunnis, there are many sects, such as Shiites and Sufis. Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks and other ethnic groups have their own hills and fight with each other. After the withdrawal of the Soviet Union, the struggle for power between the various armed factions intensified, and no one from the Islamic Party, the Promotion Association to the Taliban was willing to be subordinate. Foreign forces are also willing to take advantage of Afghanistan's internal contradictions and support different factions in pursuit of their own interests.
In such a divided state, it is impossible for Afghanistan to form a unified policy of neutrality. Different factions are attached to different foreign powers, and neutrality becomes a dead letter. Even the current Taliban regime will find it difficult to completely eliminate factional antagonism at home, let alone pursue an independent diplomatic line.
Resource Curse: The Sorrow of the Treasure Land
Although Afghanistan is located inland, it is rich in mineral resources, and its reserves of copper, iron and lithium rank among the top in the world. However, this treasure, which was supposed to benefit the Afghan people, became the object of coveting by the great powers, bringing untold disasters to this war-torn country.
In the 19th century, the British set their sights on Afghanistan's mineral resources and waged wars several times with the intention of incorporating it into their colonial system. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, in addition to ideological factors, also had considerations to control its mineral resources. During the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, U.S. companies made several attempts to acquire mining rights in Afghanistan.
The competition for resources by these major powers has not only failed to bring development to Afghanistan, but has exacerbated its internal contradictions and undermined the foundation for its independent development. Afghanistan is like a cursed land of resources, the more treasures, the greater the disaster.
As an ancient civilization with a long and splendid historical and cultural heritage, Afghanistan still has a long way to go before it can achieve true independence and achieve lasting peaceful development.