Geopolitical factors in the development of the province

Borderline areas are very important and influential in the development of country and underdevelopment in these areas will be directly transferred to the whole country. Sistan-va Balushectan is a borderline area in Iran which lack an appropriate developmental status. In sum, major challenges facing Sistan-va Baluchestan includes:Geographical broadness with limited population (178431 km2 with a population of 1722579-Statistical center of Iran: 2006), long and insecure borders, natural obstacles like deserts, lack of natural blessings, geographic isolation, geomorphological factors, climatic situation and lack of oil and gas resources, settlement of Baluch tribes in both sides of the border, vicinity to Pakistan and Afghanistan, instability and weakness in providing complete political, administrational and economic sustainability which have resulted in lack of control on borderlines, political flow of Afghan refugees, vicinity to the largest drug producer and smuggler entering Iran through Sistan va Baluchestan borders, economic, cultural and social inequalities in this area as compared to central areas, poverty and deprivation which have resulted in a tendency toward smuggling. These challenges have resulted in numerous and various problems and issues which can threaten local, regional and even national development. If the present situation continuous, more severe difficulties can arouse. Therefore, the present article seeks to understand geopolitical features as an effective factor in underdevelopment of Sistan-va Baluchestan to gain a research-based perspective and create the foundations of sustainable development in the area.