Chapter 2: Literature Review

Introduction

Historically, and largely today, the ethnicity describes the internal dynamics of Afghanistan. There exist a number of political actors and players: the Pashtun tribes, some of them are Taliban or their allies, other ethnic groups, including Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras, organized crime gangs and drug traffickers, controlling some of these actors are the lords of war and, finally, are the government in Kabul and provincial governments. Though they may seem separate actors, but it is not so, because many of them are related or hold several roles simultaneously or maintain alliances among themselves, as among the Taliban and other warlords. However, the number of players does not end here. For hundreds of years, there are also regional players in the field of play: Pakistan and its military intelligence service (ISI), India, Iran, Saudi Arabia and some states of Central Asia. Each has its interests and alliances with some domestic and regional players. Finally, participants like the United States, NATO and other countries are contributing troops to the mission in Afghanistan (ISAF), as well as Russia, China and Al Qaeda (Dajami, 2005, 12).

The negative consequences of American attack on Afghanistan, in the wake of the so-called war on terror are evident from the fact that the American campaign, which has continued to date, has met with severe criticism on behalf of the international community. The American insurgence to root out the Taliban regime, which had taken control of the Afghan region in 1996, has not been fulfilled as yet and the atrocities are going on - with death toll increasing every day. Being a country, locked with mountainous regions; a country, whose entire trade and commerce depends on the services provided by Pakistan; has nothing to offer for the Americans. As the history suggests, Afghans have always remained involved in tribal skirmishes because of the fact that weapons are taken as a symbol of dignity, respect and traditional custom. This paper provides a review of literature on the current political situation in Afghanistan. The paper will also include the future of American and Afghan relations in contemporary times (Gunaratna, 2007, 45).

Political Geography of Afghanistan

"The geographical position of Afghanistan and the characteristics of people, give this country a political significance in the affairs of Central Asia, which can hardly be overstated "- wrote Friedrich Engels in 1857 in his famous article "Afghanistan" for the New American Cyclopaedia (Gunaratna, 2007, 46).

Development of Afghanistan at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries is largely predetermined by the events of the previous decade, when Afghanistan is formed as a state, functioning within that portion of independence and responsibility that have been pre- presented his compromise the interests of the Russian and the British Empire- trajectories. In the confrontation between two world systems in the second half of the 20th Century, Afghanistan continued to be subject to geopolitical rivalry. Another tradition - the participation of the clergy in politics and domination in the political sphere, religious component inherent in the Anglo-Afghan wars, ...