Adey Berhanu

Section: m-6:15

The Impact of International Interest in Afghanistan’s Access to Oil

Newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and the web: everywhere one turns, the media confronts our society with news concerning Afghanistan. Although September 11^th was the peak of Afghanistan’s spotlight in the international media, this event was not the first time that Afghanistan has gained international attention. Beginning with its political relationship with Russia, Afghanistan slowly gained recognition, acknowledgment and even popularity among world powers. Moving towards the present, in which the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Japan, and China are competing for Afghanistan. Why all this commotion over a politically-torn, landlocked, Middle Eastern country? Although each country has several potential interests invested in Afghanistan, all of these nations share the common interest of Afghanistan’s access to oil. Many political conventions have resulted form the global interest in creating oil pipelines through Afghanistan. Although Afghanistan is not a world power, the fact that this country can provide access to rich oil and gas reserves has allowed Afghanistan to have influence over and even affect international diplomacy.

To begin, it is important to understand the political history of Afghanistan in order to comprehend the current political tension and issues concerning this country. Afghanistan’s history is complete with numerous wars and invasions throughout various historical periods. Majority of these conflicts occurred because of a political Afghan leader’s desire to continue holding the state of power in the country or because of foreign invasion. Desire to maintain power becomes an issue in Afghanistan due to the multi-ethnic nature of the population¹. To begin, “the location of Afghanistan astride the land routes between the Indian subcontinent, Iran, and central Asia has enticed conquerors throughout history”². First, the Muslim-Arab conquests left Afghanistan a Muslim country in the late 7^th century. In the following centuries Afghanistan was invaded from the north by Genghis Khan and later by the Moguls. The conquests up to the 17^th century left devastated Afghanistan. However, authorities invested the majority of their interests in attempting to control the political power against rebellious activities preventing swaying them from focusing on social and economical forms as well as the development of the country. The first unified Afghanistan State was not established until 1747 by Ahammad Khan Durani. Later, the boundaries of Afghanistan extended east into India, North into what are known today as Tajikistan, as well as further west.

Next, Afghanistan begins the history that has shaped not only Afghanistan but also the countries relationship with other influential world powers. Afghanistan’s first encounter with a dominant world power was Great Britain. The history is best explained in an excerpt from “Political History of Afghanistan”:

The modern history of Afghanistan is full of sacrifices against the British imperialism. Almost for one century Afghan people were busy fighting with the British occupants. The first Anglo-Afghan war began in 1839 when the British invaded this country in order to put Afghanistan under its colony. In 1876, the British occupied the Afghan district of Quetta at the eastern part. One of the black spot in the history of Afghanistan is the Durand Agreement signed by Amir Abdur Rahman Khan in 1893. Under this agreement the Durand line separated southern parts of Afghanistan from the today's Pakistan. This agreement has never been recognized by Afghan leaders until today because Afghans believe that the western part of Pakistan is the territory of Afghanistan. Afghanistan a few times has been at the edge of war with Pakistan (former province of Afghanistan) because of this agreement. Since the establishment of Pakistan State in 1945 as independent country, Pakistan has interfered regularly into internal affairs of Afghanistan.¹

The British influence in Afghanistan impacted not only their political relations but also created this political tension for land between Afghanistan and its Pakistani neighbor. The apprehension between these two neighboring countries has persisted throughout the past until present day where it currently plays an important role in Middle Eastern politics. Additionally, during the British reign, certain Russian relations occurred. The encyclopedia section “Afghanistan: history,” describes the interaction: “As the Russians acquired territory bordering on [Afghanistan], [Russia] and the British quarreled, and the second Afghan War began (1878). However, border agreements were reached with [Afghanistan] and Russia in 1885 and 1895”². This transaction with the Russians will serve as a precursor for the events that occur subsequently.

In 1919, the third Anglo-Afghan War forced the British Empire out of the country. “This third Afghan War was ended by the Treaty of Rawalpindi, which gave Afghanistan full control over its foreign relations,”² meaning complete political and economical independence. At this point, Afghan leader Khan began his reforms which lasted from 1919 until 1929. However, a rebellious group supported by British agents revolted against the reforms causing the King to flee the country in 1929. In the following forty years under the power of Mohammed Shah, Afghanistan remains stagnant without any development towards a civilized society in all facets: political, economical, and social.

During the mid 1960’s political groups advocating social rules and democracy in Afghanistan began to organize. Among these groups was the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) which was founded January 1965 and began the democratic movement in Afghanistan. “Most of the economical programs of Afghanistan backed by the USSR financial support” because Mohammed Shah had, “established close ties and relationships with its northern neighbor Soviet Union (USSR)”¹. By accepting financial aid from Russia, Afghanistan set itself up for future obligations to Russia. In addition, Russia gained a certain amount of influence over Afghanistan by taking the country under its wing and providing it with financial support. The consequences of this relationship are apparent in subsequent interactions. For example, as a result of the Cold War, the United States decides to support the oppositions of Afghan regime in order to get to Russia. To counter this action, Russia invades Afghanistan. With the presence of a dominant world power on each side, internal political conflicts arose between the political groups of Afghanistan. Again, the “Political History of Afghanistan” page best describes the proceeding course of events:

Both Soviet and Afghan officials claimed that the Soviet troops were invited to Afghanistan via an "official request" of " Legal Afghan Government" under the Soviet-Afghan agreement of 1978 signed in Moscow by Noor M. Taraki. But this claim is far from the truth. Soviet established its power in Afghanistan by sending military troops before any agreement with Afghan government. The lengthy Afghan war began. The Russian who came to Afghanistan to "help Afghan government" faced to fierce resistance by people. Soon, various rebellion groups against the Afghan government organized in Pakistan and supported by the USA and Saudi Arabia financial assistance. Soviet plans were changing and lasted almost 8 years in Afghanistan. Superpowers, Soviet and the USA, each one spent more than 3 billions of US dollars in Afghan War.¹

As the Cold War comes to an end, the United States and Russia reconcile and pull out of Afghanistan, however, the civil war within the country continues. Ultimately, a group of Islamic extremists known as the Taliban took over the capital Kabul. The Pakistani government strategically supported the Taliban in order to put Afghanistan under its control and possibly claim the disputed land.¹ Overall, Afghanistan has had a troubled history full of invasion, conflict, and war. However, the past events have made diplomatic relations of Afghanistan clearer. Afghanistan has strong past political implications and ties to Russia. As for Pakistan, there is much political conflict with the neighboring country due to its desires to control Afghanistan. The United States, as made clear through the events of September 11^th, is not favored by the Taliban because of their opposition that genre of political group during the Cold War.

Considering that Afghanistan is a third world country that is both economically and politically unstable, one assumes that there must be more to Afghanistan. The commotion surrounding Afghanistan has been conveyed, however, the question is what does this country have to offer that is worth fighting for? The geographical characterizations of Afghanistan will explain what that country has to offer. Afghanistan is a landlocked Middle Eastern country surrounded by Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and China. Although Afghanistan has oil and gas reserves, they are not substantially large enough to draw this kind of attention. Naturally, one must question what is the appeal of Afghanistan? The country is not sought after for its own natural resources but rather for its potential channel in which these countries can build pipelines to access the oil and gas reserves of the Caspian Sea Basin. Therefore,

The Caspian Sea is a California-size body of salt water -- the world's largest landlocked body of water -- that may sit on as much as 200 billion barrels of oil, which would be 16 percent of the Earth's potential oil reserves. Even at today's low prices, that could add up to $3 trillion in oil. The peeked interest in these oil reserves is made obvious when compared 250 billion barrels of oil that Saudi Arabia produces and America's meager 22 billion barrels. The new oil and gas finds in the Caspian have generated a host of pipeline proposals. Iran offers one of the most direct routes out of a landlocked region. However, the Iranian route is strongly opposed by the United States, making it difficult to secure international funding.³ Therefore, this is where Afghanistan presents appears as an alternative route to the rich oil reserves of the Caspian Sea Basin. American oil companies, together with Pakistan, have shown strong interest in an alternative route that would carry Turkmen gas, via Afghanistan, to the Pakistani port of Karachi. Despite the continuing civil war in Afghanistan, there's been fierce competition between two rival firms -- Bridas of Argentina, and the US-Saudi consortium UNOCAL -- to construct the pipeline. Unocal has been negotiating with the Taliban militia in Afghanistan to build a gas pipeline there.

There are several reasons as to why the United States is pursuing the idea of a pipeline in Afghanistan. First, the presence of these US run pipelines would draw Central Asian oil states (including Turkmenistan) away from the Russian sphere of influence. This in turn would establish the foundation for a strong US position in the region. Additionally, this would hinder the development of Iran’s influence by means of limiting the Turkmenistan-Iranian gas links. Secondly, the pipelines would also diversify the United States’ sources of oil and gas, increasing the production of sources results in lower gas prices. Another result would be the benefiting of US oil and construction companies. Lastly, these pipelines would provide the basis for much needed economic prosperity which may in turn provide the basis for some type of political stability.³ Similarly, Russia and Pakistan are interested in Afghanistan for not only its natural resources but its access to the rich

Overall, Afghanistan has had a trying past but there is no doubt that it will continue to be frequented in the media. Afghanistan’s history has shown much conflict which has carried over into the present and now its access to oil is the significant factor which keeps this country a popular topic among international interest.

WORKS CITED

2. “Political History of Afghanistan.” http://www.afghan-info.com/Afghistory.htm

3. Tanter, Richard. “Pipeline Politics: Oil, gas and the US interest in Afghanistan”. http://www.zmag.org/tanteroil.htm