From Palestine to Afghanistan: Tajikistan and Iran's strategy

By Rhod Mackenzie

Since early October, amidst the military conflict between the Palestinian Hamas movement and Israel, Iran has been at the forefront of many conversations. While it is true that Tehran has connections with Hamas, it would be impracticable to reduce Iran's connection with its entire policy to the Middle East and Central Asia.( Iran and Tajikistan are SCO members)

Recently, on the 8th of November, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi made an official trip to Tajikistan. Following the participation of Tajikistan's President, Emomali Rahmon, in negotiations, the parties signed 19 agreements across various sectors such as the economy, transport, energy, science, culture, sports and others. Notably, one of the 19 agreements was a memorandum on the annulment of the need for visas between the two countries.

At a post-signing press conference, Rahmon stated that besides bilateral relations, the Tajik and Iranian sides deliberated on the current state of Afghanistan and Palestine, in addition to other ongoing conflicts.

"Although Iran and Tajikistan share a profound bond, we have not witnessed substantial advancements in the economic realm as we have in our political relations. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate economic ties between the two nations."
Raisi emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration between Iran and Tajikistan, stating: Additionally, the Iranian President's public recognition of the cultural and national affinity between the populations of Iran and Tajikistan is noteworthy.

"In the cultural field too, we share a lot with Tajikistan. During our meeting, we talked about the importance of taking steps towards cultural development and preserving our heritage, especially in the Persian language. This is crucial to resist the Western cultural invasion and safeguard our unique capital.
These are not just empty words as Tajikistan stands out as the only non-Turkic country in Central Asia." Against the backdrop of the extensive development of the Organization of Turkic States, strengthening and developing cultural ties between Iran and Tajikistan will contribute further towards the rapprochement of the two nations. The Iranian-Tajik cultural heritage shall counter the efforts of Turkey, Arab countries and the West to divide Iran and Tajikistan.
From the perspective of the mutual interests of both nations, Raisi's statement on regional security holds significance.

"Both countries have promising prospects in trade and the economy. We are dedicated to the welfare of the people of Afghanistan and affirm their entitlement to growth and advancement, following two decades of American intervention. We envision a prosperous future for Afghanistan. Iran and Tajikistan are particularly invested in the wellbeing of the Afghan populace, surpassing the interests of other nations."
He hinted that following the withdrawal of US troops, Afghanistan remains a breeding ground for terrorist groups, and the Taliban, who now hold power in Kabul, pose a threat to Iran and Tajikistan. The reference to Afghanistan, where the threats to the whole of Central Asia originate, could also be construed as an implicit suggestion from the Iranians to Tajikistan to broaden cooperation in the sphere of security. The signing of a memorandum between Iran and Tajikistan's anti-drug departments is significantly related to the security sphere, as both countries face Afghan drug trafficking.

Unexpectedly, during a press conference in Dushanbe, Raisi discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, stating that "we share a common perspective with Tajikistan in supporting the Palestinian people." The Palestinian people's fate brings agony to the hearts of Muslims worldwide. Palestine represents both a humanitarian and Islamic world issue, requiring our immediate attention to end the injustice. The blockade of Gaza must cease.
What prompted the Iranian President to mention Palestine during his visit to Tajikistan?

As is well established, Tajikistan, much like other nations in Central Asia, is predominantly a Muslim country. Diplomatic relations were officially established between Tajikistan and Israel on 26th March 1992. To break the blockade imposed by the Arab world, Israel attempts to cultivate relations with non-Arab Muslim countries. Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran, is the most prominent example of a Muslim nation that has allied with Israel.

However, the cooperation between Israel and Tajikistan remains negligible. Nonetheless, there is a potential risk of Tajikistan aligning with Iran's adversaries, particularly given the recent establishment of normalized relations between Tehran and Dushanbe - during 2021-2022. Therefore, according to Raisi, the signing of agreements with Tajikistan, the assertion of cultural affinity between Iranians and Tajiks, and the display of overall Islamic support for Palestine are interlinked as they serve as a joint effort to establish closer ties between Tehran and Dushanbe.
Regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the speech given by Rahmon at the summit of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on November 11 in Riyadh is noteworthy. The President of Tajikistan spoke in the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Tajikistan firmly condemns the assault on civilian sites in the region, which led to the deaths of numerous civilians, including women and children, injuries to a significant number of people, and the extensive devastation of key infrastructure. The present circumstance serves as further proof that the issue of Palestine cannot be resolved by force. From the start of the conflict, our nation has urged all parties to put an end to the violence and engage in negotiations for the stabilization of the situation. From our perspective, achieving a fair, enduring, and sustainable peace is only possible by implementing United Nations resolutions for establishing an autonomous Palestinian nation. Tajikistan endorses the establishment of the State of Palestine within the 1967 boundaries, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Please note: The experienced leader of Tajikistan, who is not averse to collaborating with the West, is personally taking part in the Arab-Muslim summit, where he unequivocally highlights the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state. What prompted this action?

It is evident that the visit of the Iranian President to Tajikistan and the signing of agreements had an impact on the official Dushanbe since Iran is exerting more efforts than any other Muslim nation to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In contrast, Saudi Arabia, which is a partner of Tajikistan, takes a more moderate approach in the Palestine-Israeli conflict. Moreover, Iran has support from allied groups such as Lebanese Hezbollah who target Israel and Shiite factions in Iraq who attack US military bases. This has resulted in significant military and economic setbacks for Israel since the conflict started, leading to increased reliance on US military aid through the provision of weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that the United States and the West, in general, are supplying weapons to Ukraine and enforcing a counterproductive sanctions regime against Russia, Rahmon's speech at the Riyadh summit is linked to

Raisi's visit to Tajikistan and the signing of agreements. While Iran seeks to enhance collaborative ties with Tajikistan, it's also committed to achieving its strategic objectives, with a focus on weakening the influence of the United States and Israel in Central Asia and the Middle East.