Le legs afghan

Abstract

The Afghan Legacy, by Olivier Roy The Afghan State, Consolidated by its role as a buffer State during the nineteenth century Anglo-Russian rivalry, must today redefine itself within the new strategie context. Existing borders tend to be blurred as Afghanistan and the region as a whole are increasingly divided along ethnie Unes. The Russian retreat from Central Asia seems to be permanent, and the new strategie deployment is focused upon Caspian supplies of hydrocarbons, for which Afghanistan offers apotential transit, at least whilst the American embargo against Iran lasts. Pakistan is thus endeavouring to establish a protectorate over Afghanistan in order to fill the void left by the Russian retreat. However, a remaining sense of Afghan identity may create anti-Pakistani feelings, whilst the end of the American embargo against Iran would rob Afghanistan of all strategie interest.