Afghanistan & Pakistan: History, Conflict, and Geopolitics

Overview: This course examines the complex and often turbulent relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan, beginning with their shared histories and the disputed Durand Line, through the Cold War jihad, the rise of the Taliban, and the post-9/11 War on Terror. It highlights the structural tensions that have defined this bilateral relationship, including refugee crises, cross-border militancy, and the contradictory logics of external intervention, culminating in the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

It is designed for students and scholars of international relations, history, and security studies, as well as policymakers, diplomats, journalists, and humanitarian professionals working on South and Central Asia. The course provides both academic rigor and policy relevance, making it suitable for those seeking to understand or influence the evolving dynamics of the region.

By the end of the course, learners will possess the analytical capacity to interrogate the persistence of border disputes, the cyclical reproduction of militancy, and the regional implications of Taliban governance. They will be equipped to assess the contradictions of external involvement, the prospects of regional cooperation, and the broader significance of Afghanistan–Pakistan relations for global security and humanitarian discourse.