The Complex Afghanistan-Pakistan Border: A Geopolitical Challenge

Afghanistan and Pakistan share a border known as the Durand Line. The Durand Line is a 2,640-kilometre (1,640-mile) border between the two countries, established in 1893 as the border between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan. The Durand Line has been a source of tension between the two countries, with Afghanistan refusing to recognise it as the official border. The Durand Line cuts through the traditional territories of the Pashtun and Baloch people, and the Afghan government has encouraged the Pashtun people inside Pakistan to seek a separate state. The border area has been described as one of the most dangerous in the world, with frequent skirmishes and wars between the two countries.

The Durand Line is the 2,640-kilometre border between Afghanistan and Pakistan

The Durand Line is a 2,640-kilometre (1,640-mile) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 as the border between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan, marking their respective spheres of influence. The Durand Line is named after Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the colonial government of India, who negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan, the emir of Afghanistan, to agree to an international boundary. The Durand Line has served as the official border between the two nations for more than a century, but it has caused controversy for the people who live there.

The Durand Line was established towards the close of the British-Russian "Great Game" rivalry, with the British aiming to prevent further Russian expansion towards the south. The line established Afghanistan as a buffer zone between British and Russian interests in the region. The Durand Line itself was defined by a joint Afghan-British survey between 1894 and 1896, dividing the Pashtun areas in two and setting the region up for future tensions due to tribal allegiances spanning both sides of the border.

The Durand Line has been a source of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. While it is internationally recognised as the western border of Pakistan, Afghanistan has never recognised the Durand Line as its official border. The Durand Line cuts through the heart of Pashtun tribes, who share family ties, religion, and traditions. The border has split the Pashtuns into two separate countries, with Afghanistan governing all the Pashtuns on one side and Pakistan governing those on the other. The Pashtuns on the Pakistani side made up more than half of the Pashtun population, and they were angry at being placed under the control of the Punjabis.

In recent years, Pakistan has attempted to build fences and border posts along the Durand Line, which has been met with resistance from Afghanistan. The fencing has physically split communities and prevented what used to be normal travel. The Durand Line continues to be a matter of contention between the two nations, with Afghanistan seeking the return of Pashtun territories and Balochistan, which would provide it with access to the Arabian Sea.

The Durand Line was established in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan

The Durand Line is the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat of the Indian Civil Service and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan.

The Durand Line is a 2,611-kilometre (1,622-mile) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan in South Asia. It was established to fix the limit of their respective spheres of influence and improve diplomatic relations and trade. The agreement was signed on the 12th of November 1893 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Durand Line has served as the official border between the two nations for more than a hundred years.

The Durand Line was established towards the close of the British-Russian "Great Game" rivalry. It established Afghanistan as a buffer zone between British and Russian interests in the region. The line, as slightly modified by the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, was inherited by Pakistan in 1947, following its independence.

The Durand Line cuts through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in northern and western Pakistan, and the northeastern and southern provinces of Afghanistan. The line was established to demarcate the frontier between Afghanistan and British India. It divided the Pashtun areas in two, setting the region up for future tensions due to tribal allegiances spanning both sides of the border.

The Durand Line remains largely unrecognized in Afghanistan, with the present government of Afghanistan not recognizing it as its international border. However, it is internationally recognized as the western border of Pakistan.

The Durand Line has been disputed by Afghanistan since 1947, when Pakistan inherited the Durand agreement

The Durand Line, established in 1893, is a 2,640-kilometre (1,640-mile) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, separating the two nations. The Durand Line was inherited by Pakistan in 1947, following its independence. However, Afghanistan has disputed the legitimacy of the Durand Line since Pakistan's independence and has never formally recognised it as its international border.

The Durand Line was established through an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat of the Indian Civil Service, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan. The agreement was intended to fix the limit of their respective spheres of influence and improve diplomatic relations and trade. The Durand Line divided the Pashtun tribal lands, resulting in half of the Pashtun tribal region becoming part of British India and the other half remaining in Afghanistan. This division caused resentment among the Pashtuns, who became split between two nations.

Afghanistan's refusal to recognise the Durand Line has been a source of tension between the two countries, with periodic skirmishes and conflicts along the border. Afghanistan has argued that the agreement was signed under coercion and has demanded a revision of the border. Pakistan, on the other hand, considers the Durand Line a legitimate and internationally recognised border. Pakistan's attempts to establish border fences and posts have been met with resistance from Afghanistan, further aggravating bilateral relations.

The dispute over the Durand Line continues to impact the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with no resolution in sight. Afghanistan's position has remained consistent, regardless of the ruling government, and the issue remains a point of contention and distrust between the two nations.

The Durand Line cuts through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, and 12 Afghan provinces

The Durand Line is a 2,640-kilometre (1,640-mile) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 as the border between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan, marking their respective spheres of influence. The Durand Line cuts through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, and 12 Afghan provinces.

The Durand Line was established by Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat of the Indian Civil Service, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan, to fix the limit of their respective spheres of influence and improve diplomatic relations and trade. The Durand Line was inherited by Pakistan following its independence in 1947.

The Durand Line has been described as one of the most dangerous borders in the world from a geopolitical and geostrategic perspective. It has been a source of tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as Afghanistan does not recognise the Durand Line as its international border. The Durand Line divides the Pashtun and Baloch people, who live on both sides of the border.

The Durand Line passes through the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Afghan provinces of Nimroz, Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Khost, Paktia, Logar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan, and Badakhshan.

The Durand Line has been a source of conflict and tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan has periodically refused to recognise the Durand Line as its international border and has advocated for an independent state of Pashtunistan. The Durand Line has also been a crossing point for militants and smugglers, impacting the security and stability of the region.

The Durand Line has been described as one of the world's most dangerous borders

The Durand Line is a 1,600-mile (2,600km) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has been described as one of the world's most dangerous borders. Here's why.

Historical Context

The Durand Line was established in 1893 as the border between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan. It was named after Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the colonial government of India, who negotiated the agreement with Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan. The Durand Line divided the Pashtun tribal lands in two, with half becoming part of British India and the other remaining in Afghanistan.

Present-Day Conflict

The Durand Line continues to be a source of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan has never recognised the Durand Line as an international border, and recent Pakistani attempts to establish fences and border posts have been met with resistance from Afghanistan. The border region is largely unpoliced, and both sides accuse each other of insincerity in fighting terrorism. Violent clashes near border posts have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

Impact on Local Communities

The Durand Line cuts through the lands of the Pashtun people, dividing them into two separate countries. About 28% of Pakistan's population and 42% of Afghanistan's population are Pashtun. The border has disrupted families and communities, with relatives now living in different countries and facing bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to visit each other.

Terrorist Activity

The Durand Line region is also a hotbed of terrorist activity, with militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State using the border to launch attacks in both countries. The porous nature of the border, combined with the presence of criminal networks involved in drug and weapons smuggling, has made it difficult to control the flow of militants and terrorists.

Geopolitical Implications

The Durand Line has significant geopolitical implications for both countries. Afghanistan seeks to regain control of the Pashtun territories and Balochistan, which would provide access to the Arabian Sea. Pakistan, on the other hand, views the Durand Line as an existential issue and is concerned about bolstering its security against India.

In summary, the Durand Line remains a highly contentious issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to historical, ethnic, political, and security factors. The lack of recognition by Afghanistan, ongoing terrorist activity, and the impact on local communities all contribute to the dangerous nature of this border.

Frequently asked questions