Prof. Dr. Ahat Andican who told about the witness of the region on struggle of Russia and Britain Empires in 19^th century, from this point, establishment of Afghanistan being as buffer country and the border drawn by English Government officer Mortimer Durand between Afghanistan and British India being divided Pashtun tribes into two, also stated about importance of Afghanistan’s position among China, India, Iran and Russia. Andican pointed out that 90% of Afghanistan geography, which is a mixture of nations, is mountainous and because of these geographical characteristics, it is difficult for regular forces to be active in the region. Andican, who indicated that problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan are intertwined, pointed out that ethnic based federal structured Pakistan’s Federally Administrated Tribal Areas which are on the Afghanistan border are actually independent from Pakistan. Andican also referred to an important development in Afghanistan on July in 2001 before the intervention of United States of America in 2001. Reminding that Shangai Fives which is composed of Middle Eastern Countries, Russia and China, was interested in only border issues turned to be an organization that targets cooperation on regional security, economy and energy issues and changed its name to Shanghai Cooperation Organization at this date, Andican stated that although apparent reason for USA intervention Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, real motive was to prevent emergence of a Russia-China axis. Andican stated that USA established seven military base including Afghanistan and Pakistan with these five Middle Eastern countries after 2001 and he also claimed that USA prevented China-Iran connection which can provide cooperation in terms of energy. Andican pointed out that Iran and China are surrounded by this and USA is in pursuit of its energy security, military security and limitation of its potential rivals with the invasion of Afghanistan. After that, Andican who touched on the internal situation after intervention in Afghanistan, expressed that by 2004 Taliban could hold around city of Uruzgan and at the same time, unrest as a result of the disarmament of civil war masters since 2006 caused rise of Taliban and he wrote down that as of today, authority of central government is valid only in northern regions except Kabil. Andican called attention to the issue that Pashtuns are uncomfortable for not being represented in political system enough and Taliban makes use of this uncomfortably. Andican told that unless Taliban problem is solved in Pakistan, there will be no improvement about Taliban in Afghanistan and in his evaluation about future of Afghanistan, he connoted that Taliban will gain power after withdrawal of international forces and concern of USA about staying in the region will continue. Andican pointed that in case of precaution of sending extra soldiers does not work, position of USA will be highly shaking in the region and Turkey is not at any side of the table at the moment. Andican emphasized that Turkey should develop its activities in the region before taking itself into risk and being target of Al-Qaeda

 

Associate Professor Hasan Ali Karasar relying on his studies in Afghanistan in his evaluations assessed especially about Pashtuns. Karasar indicated that there are Pashtuns not only in south but also in north and ethic code namely Pashtunvali is effective at least as much as religious factor even more effective among Pashtuns. Karasar expressed that even there is no trust for foreigners among Pashtuns; they have a principle that they are hospitable and they do not deliver a person, who sheltered to them, to the foreigners. Karasar said that other groups in Afghanistan perceived activities of Taliban and all Pashtuns as chauvinist because of big massacres in north in the period of Taliban. Karasar reminded that there was a confederative structure in Afghanistan until 2001 and attracted attention that the structure been tried after American occupation is a centralized one. Karasar stated that Turkey does not have much of a role in the region and Afghanistan does not have much concern in Turkish foreign policy and he added that Ankara behaved wrongly in the case of disarmament of Rasid Dostum’s forces after 2001. In this sense, Karasar proclaimed that Tajiks made an ostensible disarmament and joined to the Afghan National Army. Karasar indicated that security of Afghanistan is the concern for Middle Asia countries for sure and countries of the region perceive north Afghanistan as threat. Karasar stated that he is not optimistic about the future of Afghanistan and fight between ethnic groups turned to be a vendetta, so efforts for solution and compromise will be ineffective in short term.

 

Associate Professor Ahmet K. Han, after defining international relations as a competition platform and struggle for power, ascertained that major actors in this competition and struggle in the world are focused around Atlantic. Han stated that focus of the competition is moving to the Pacific area and East Asia can be a new center in international relations. Han mentioned that as a result of slide of focus of competition, USA and China will be the major two actors and Russia in this struggle will not take side because of its power infrastructure being weak in east regions. In this respect, Han referred that west of China, which is line down to India Ocean from Middle Asia, is the region which is initially needed to be taken precaution in point of USA and results of struggle in this region will determine the picture of political future of the world. After this evaluation, Han adverted to the Afghanistan problem and said that European nation-state model has failed in the region but a common identity emerged in Afghanistan which is there since 18th century. Han stressed that tribal identities in the contexture of this common identity and common law called Pashtunvali is more active. Han referred to the political process in the Afghanistan and underlined that Afghanistan was ruled by Pashtuns in the history and in the future Afghanistan can not be ruled despite Pashtuns by excluding them. Touching on the religious identity, Han said that the radical Islam concept of the Taliban is not a domestic fact in Afghanistan. Han mentioned that the radical Islam in this region is an USA project that is fed by the funds of the Wahhabism and Saudi. Mentioning the development of Jihad understanding after 2001because of Pashtuns’ feeling that they are excluded, Han passed to the issue of Obama’s Afghanistan strategy. Han, who stated that USA cannot success in this fight with its existing allies, also emphasized that sources devoted by international society for Afghanistan is not enough. Han stated that normal economic activities are not known by taking attention to the fact that unusual economic activities like weapon and drug smuggling and mercenary are very common in Afghanistan for thirty years. On the other hand, underlining that the fight of USA in Afghanistan lost its legitimacy especially after the Iraqi occupation, Han said that it is not possible to save Afghanistan anymore, Afghanistan will become a forsaken region and then will start to become a settlement in order to destroy Pakistan. In this sense, Han emphasized that game has started which will determine new future power structuring and elements of competition.