Post 1979 Pakstn,Afghan,Iran

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

ASST_4051_01: Post 1979 Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran Syllabus Fall 2026 Day and Time: Tuesday—3-30 to 6-00 PM Instructor: Ambassador Touqir Hussain (Rtd) E-mail: th258@georgetown.edu Office hours: Tuesday 2-00 to 3-30 Course Description No single year in modern history has had more significant impact on the Muslim world than 1979. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were at the epicenter of the year’s history making events whose consequences continue to live among us all. These included the Islamic revolution in Iran in February 1979 and the start of three decades and a half of Iran US tensions, and the execution of an elected Prime Minister by a military dictator in Pakistan setting up the long army rule and process of Islamization. Then came the US hostages crisis in Tehran in November and the burning of the US Embassy in Islamabad, signaling the merger of Pakistani and Iranian anti Americanism that began feeding a broader sentiment against the US in the Muslim world. The year ended however with its most consequential event: the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. The US-led jihad against the Soviets, assisted by Pakistan, won but ended up as a bittersweet victory as it laid the foundation of a deadly extremist religious infrastructure that started beating to the rhythm of global Islamic revivalism unleashing uncontrollable forces of radicalism. They had a horrendous impact on the region and on the US and global security, the most tragic and visible sign of which was 9/11. And now another set of history changing events have taken place in the region in the past two to three years within Pakistan, and in Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan and India. And Iran’s own profile in the region has undergone a profound change as a result of first the Gaza war and then the US Israel war against it since 2025. Within Iran as well there has been a big shift in the power structure as IGRC expands its grip on power. The course will study all these far reaching changes. The course will look at all these dramatic and history changing developments and their complex intertwining with local, regional and global issues and challenges. It will examine how Pakistan’s national vision, embraced by years of authoritarian rule and troubled democracy, led to a weak institutional architecture that collided with its domestic tensions, opening up Pakistan to long years of instability and growing threat of extremism which only now are beginning to be brought under control. But internal challenges have not been fully resolved. The democracy was beginning to stabilize and Pakistan’s on going efforts against extremist and militant organizations were proceeding slowly but steadily. But the removal of Imran Khan through a no confidence move in early 2022 has plunged the country into new challenges. On the plus side however the country’s military and diplomatic profile has risen since 2025 war with India and its role as a mediator between US and Iran. The course will study the attempts by Iran to export its revolution, the development of its nuclear program, the challenges Iran posed to the US power in the Middle East and its allies. And the course will also look at the decades of strained relations between Iran and the US and the 2025-2026 US Iran war and its outcome. The course will study the war in Afghanistan and the unfinished fight against Al Qaeda, the newly arrived terrorist outfit in Afghanistan-Pakistan border region—the ISIS-K and its interplay with the Taliban and what role can be played in these conflicts by Pakistan which itself has been a target of TTP terrorism. Taliban face many challenges making it difficult for them to act against TTP which is engaged in terrorism against Pakistan from their bases in Afghanistan. That has worsened Taliban Pakistan relations. And finally with the lengthening strategic shadow of China over the region it will be interesting to see what role China may play in the future of Afghanistan. Also interesting to watch will be India’s role and that of Iran in this strategic powerplay likened by some to the ancient Great Game.