NATO and Afghanistan's Foreign Policy: Political Influence, Security, and Regional Relations

This article examines NATO’s influence on Afghanistan’s foreign policy from 2001 to 2021, focusing on political influence, security cooperation, institutional development, and regional relations. It analyses NATO’s role through ISAF and the Resolute Support Mission, the relationship between international military assistance and Afghan political autonomy, and the implications of NATO’s presence for Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan, Iran, Russia, and China. Using a qualitative and interpretive research approach, the study draws on official NATO documents, United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Bonn Agreement, and relevant historical and political literature. The article argues that although NATO’s engagement expanded Afghanistan’s international partnerships and security capabilities, dependence on external military, financial, and technical assistance limited the country’s foreign-policy autonomy. It concludes that sustainable foreign relations require domestic institutional capacity, political legitimacy, regional cooperation, and balanced international partnerships.