Factors Influencing the Formation of Iranophobia in Afghanistan and Ways and Means of Confronting It

The present study proposes to examine the factors that influence the formation of Iranophobia in Afghanistan and ways and means of dealing with it as well as to seek the answer to the key question: What are the most important factors influencing the formation of Iranophobia in Afghanistan after the US invasion? The hypothesis raised in response to the above question is that: Anti-Iranian policies of the transnational (mainly US) and regional (mainly Saudi Arabia) countries are the main cause of the formation and spread of Iranophobia in Afghanistan. On the other hand, Iran’s cohesive and sometimes inaccurate policies towards Afghan refugees have also been cited as facilitating Iran’s fear in Afghanistan. Using the content of four newspapers published in Afghanistan in 1986 and 1977, we discuss some of Iranophobia. We shall, then, proceed to examine the most important factors affecting it and in the end, we will present some solutions to counter the existing atmosphere of Iranophobia in Afghanistan.