HUMANITARIAN CRISES AS CATALYSTS FOR MULTI-POLARITY: THE CASE OF AFGHAN REFUGEES IN IRAN AND PAKISTAN

Abstract

This era has been marked by a readjustment of global power and how humanitarian crises have gained importance as catalysts in the development of a multi-polar world order. This paper is dedicated to the case of Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan: how their plight draws not only attention to crucial humanitarian issues but also exercises impact on diplomatic relations and international cooperation among states. This paper expound on how the point of contacts, like humanitarian needs and geopolitics convergence work in the Afghan refugee crisis. Further how this critical juncture leadsto understand multi-polarity complexities of present era. Afghan refugee inflow into Iran and Pakistan drastically effects regional stability, particularly during this post-Afghanistan's second fall and post-American-withdrawal period of the United States in 2021. This paper utilizes the qualitative approach to study the aspects of refugee demographics and economic impacts in a complementary manner with the qualitative data for all the stake holders, which include the policymakers, NGOs and the refugees themselves. The study has resulted to show that the Afghan refugee crisis has forced Iran and Pakistan to rethink their foreign policy and has prompted a more cooperative regional dialogue. In addition to that, the paper elucidates that the responses of Iran and Pakistan to Afghan refugees exemplify the overall trends of international relations. This research demonstrates how humanitarian crises operate as a driver of change in international relations while using the examples of both nations which have used their host country for Afghan refugees for political gains in the end. The presence of Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan shows that crises like this might make states shift in regards to adjusting, cooperating and making new alliances in a multi polar world. The exploration of these dynamics enhances our knowledge of the complexities of the present geopolitics and humanitarian crises that are transforming the manner in which norms and practices of an unstable and cooperative system evolve.