THE PATHOLOGY OF IRAN-AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS FROM POLITICAL ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE (2001-2018)

Iran's first rank in exporting goods to Afghanistan in the years 2015-2017 is an indicator of improvement in the relations of the two countries. The improvement of economic relations has had positive effects on Tehran-Kabul political ties. But these commercial relations are still having many problems. The present paper using political economy approach and historical studies of the foreign affairs relations of the two countries (1794-2017) seeks to identify the most important political and economic challenges affecting Iran-Afghanistan trade relations in national, regional and world levels (2001-2018). The importance of this paper is representation of recent two and multi-lateral foreign development of Iran and Afghanistan with economic approach. The research results contain several points. First, the economic relations between Iran and Afghanistan from Qajar Period to present have been influenced by governed ideologies of the two countries and the international system. Second, Iran and Afghanistan in post-Taliban arena and in the scene of practice have not yet achieved a common objective and regional political consensus. Third, political instability, administrative corruption, non-economic discourse of parties, and the economy of rentiers in both countries have had negative reflections on trade relations between the two countries. Fourth, the ineffectiveness of regional organizations such as ECO and the influence of regional and trans-regional countries on Afghanistan have negatively affect the economic ties between Tehran and Kabul. But unlike the political-security problems, the present growth of economic transactions between Iran and Afghanistan could bring about common objective and sustainable interests for the two states.