This is a collective volume on Soviet-American relations with the three rimland states of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The contributors argue that what happens in these three states would ultimately affect the states in the Gulf and the Middle East. The USA maintains friendly relations only with Pakistan, while her relations with Iran and Afghanistan are antagonistic. The future penetration of the Soviet influence in Iran and Afghanistan is assessed and probable scenarios are discussed by the seventeen contributors, who represent the military, diplomacy and academia. The concluding chapter...

This book deserves to be read carefully by scholars and laymen of foreign policy dealing with the former Soviet Union, Russia and South Asia, and particularly by the political leaders of India and Pakistan. The book is a multi-dimensional analysis of (a) Soviet-American rivalry; (b) Soviet determination to expand in the direction of South Asia and the Gulf; (c) the regional dynamics of the Middle East most especially Iran, Afghanistan and China, the major power in Asia.

A collective endeavour of scholars highlighting some of the significant domestic determinants of Soviet foreign policy. There is a general consensus that policy makers are influenced by Islam, the Soviet-Central Asian nationalities, oil and geography.