What if? 1998 Iran-Afghanistan War

[Lief 🗽]

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9809/15/iran.afghan.tensions.02/index.html

Apparently, in 1998, a diplomatic spat between the two countries (as well as accusations by Tehran that the Afghans had massacred Shiites), almost brought the two to war. I can't help but think that Middle-Eastern history, the War on Terror, etc. would have been greatly affected. It's an interesting news story at least, especially with a decade of history separating us from it.

[Bo]

I wish a war did happen between these two nations. Thus the crazy Iranian mullahs and the even crazier and fanatical Taliban would have tore each other into pieces and greatly weakened each other. This, in turn, would have made both of those regimes less threatening to the U.S. and to American interests. It would also be good if Iran overthrew the Taliban since the Afghan people would have to suffer much less than before.

[k-onmmunist]

Iran wipes the floor with the Taliban. Then it ends up occupying it for years.

[Bo]

Iran wipes the floor with the Taliban. Then it ends up occupying it for years.

This would also be a good scenario. I wish it would have happened in RL. Out of those two evils, the Taliban is a much worse one.

[rob in cal]

This is kind of like in Indochina in the late 1970's when the communist Vietnamese army helps get rid of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, yesterday's bad guy becomes a relative good guy.

[k-onmmunist]

Iran wipes the floor with the Taliban. Then it ends up occupying it for years.

This would also be a good scenario. I wish it would have happened in RL. Out of those two evils, the Taliban is a much worse one.

Indeed, and I wish it had happened too. They'd probably be less hostile to fellow Muslims occupying their country too.

[Хahar 🤔]

I wish a war did happen between these two nations.

You're a really bad person.

[President Mitt]

I wish a war did happen between these two nations.

Why? War usually results in death if you haven't noticed.

[Bo]

I wish a war did happen between these two nations.

Why? War usually results in death if you haven't noticed.

Because this type of war would be beneficial to the U.S. Two of America's greatest enemies, Iran and the Taliban, would destroy each other. None of those killed would have been Americans. Also, the final result would likely be a greatly weakened Iran occupying Afghanistan. This would be a good thing as the Taliban would be removed from power (without any American casualties as in RL) while al-Qaeda might be forced to find a new location since Iran might hate them for cooperating with the Taliban, and Iran would end up greatly weakened and would thus be less of a threat to the U.S., American interests, and Israel.

[President Mitt]

I honestly don't care if a war would benefit my country. I cannot wish for two nations to clash that would inevitably result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, consisting mostly of innocent citizens.

[phk]

I think when push comes to shove there'd be nothing except hit-and-run attacks from the Iranian side at most. Which should be our approach to Afghanistan as well (and violent Islamists in general).

They'd know that sectarian tensions in certain select countries would be super high (and they'd end up having to be blamed), like Pakistan for example.

I still think Iran would have been justified in attacking Afghanistan in 1998 however, wantonly murdering diplomats is a good enough excuse.