Bordering Nations: Exploring Afghanistan's Neighbors And Their Unique Relationships

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by six countries and one disputed territory. To the east and south, Afghanistan shares a border with Pakistan. The border between the two countries is known as the Durand Line and is often considered one of the most dangerous borders in the world due to the presence of drug smuggling and illegal border crossings. Afghanistan also shares a border with Iran to the west, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. The Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in the northeastern part of Afghanistan, separates the country from China and Tajikistan. Additionally, there is a disputed border section with India in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Afghanistan shares a 1,510-mile border with Pakistan, known as the Durand Line

Afghanistan shares a border with six countries: Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. The border with Pakistan, known as the Durand Line, is the longest at 1,510 miles.

The Durand Line was established in 1893 as the international border between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the Indian Empire. The agreement was signed by Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat of the Indian Civil Service, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan. The Durand Line was intended to fix the limit of their respective spheres of influence and improve diplomatic relations and trade.

The Durand Line cuts through the Pashtun tribal areas, dividing the region and setting the stage for future tensions due to tribal allegiances spanning both sides of the border. The Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and have a distinctive culture and characteristics. The Durand Line also passes through the Registan Desert in the west and the Karakoram range in the east, where the elevation is extremely high.

The Durand Line has been a source of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. No Afghan government has recognised the Durand Line as its international border since 1947. Afghanistan seeks the return of Pashtun territories and access to the Arabian Sea. Pakistan, on the other hand, inherited the Durand Line agreement after the partition of British India and considers it the official border.

The Durand Line is approximately 2,600 kilometres long and includes twelve Afghan provinces and three Pakistani provinces. It is considered one of the most dangerous borders in the world due to the ongoing conflict between the Taliban, the Afghan government, the Pakistani government, and foreign troops in the area.

The border between Afghanistan and Iran is characterised by desert and plateau environments

Afghanistan shares its borders with six countries and one disputed territory. The border between Afghanistan and Iran is located in the western and southwestern regions of Afghanistan. The border is characterised by desert and plateau environments, which seamlessly blend between the two countries. The northern section of the border is marked by the Hari River, also known as the Heray River. The region experiences an arid climate, and the river often has varying levels of water. In fact, rainfall in 2010 was so scarce that the river dried up.

The southern section of the border, near the city of Zabol in Iran, is marked by the Helmand River, also known as the Helmund or Hirmand River. This river is important in Afghanistan as it is the longest in the country. The border traverses a generally arid, inhospitable region with few inhabitants, except in the Zabol-Zaranj area where the main border crossing is located.

The border between Persia and Afghanistan was formalised between 1872 and 1935, stemming from the Treaty of Paris in 1857, in which Persia and Afghanistan agreed to refer any dispute between them to Britain for arbitration. A rough delimitation was proposed in 1872 by a committee headed by Sir Frederic John Goldsmid, following a line from Banda to Kuh-i-Malik Siah via the Helmand River. This proposal was accepted by both parties but was not implemented further at the time.

The Goldsmid boundary proved inadequate, especially given the shifting course of the Helmand River, and thus a more precise boundary was drawn up in three sections over the following decades: the northern section by General C.S. MacLean in 1888-91, the southern section by Colonel Sir Henry McMahon in 1903-05, and finally, the middle section by Turkey's General Fahrettin Altay in 1934-35. After each demarcation, boundary pillars were erected, leading to a total of 172 pillars in the non-riverine sections of the border.

The boundary itself was not disputed after 1935, however, disputes over the allocation of water resources in the region continued for many years and were not finally resolved until 1973.

The shortest border in Afghanistan is shared with China in the northeast

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by six countries and one disputed territory. To the northeast, Afghanistan shares a short border with China. This border is located at the tip of the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land that extends from Afghanistan between Pakistan and Tajikistan. The border between Afghanistan and China is approximately 47 miles long and is situated in a remote and mountainous region.

The Wakhan Corridor, also known as the Afghan Panhandle, was established as a buffer zone between the British, Russian, and Chinese empires in the 19th century. The corridor is a sparsely populated region with challenging terrain, including high mountain passes and vast plains. The only access point between Afghanistan and China is through the Wakhjir Pass, a historic trade route that was once part of the Silk Road.

The Afghanistan-China border holds significance in terms of time zones and international relations. Crossing the border results in a 3.5-hour time difference, the largest time change at any border worldwide. Additionally, China has expressed concerns about the border region due to the presence of Uyghur separatists in the neighboring Xinjiang province. The Taliban, which controls Afghanistan, has assured China that its territory will not be used as a base for separatists or to threaten China's security.

The short border between Afghanistan and China is a product of the region's complex geopolitical history and continues to be a subject of interest in international relations.

The Tajikistan-Afghanistan border runs for approximately 810 miles and is characterised by dangerous terrain

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by six countries and one disputed territory. To the east and south lies Pakistan, to the west is Iran, to the northwest is Turkmenistan, to the north is Uzbekistan, to the northeast is Tajikistan, and to the far northeast is China. Afghanistan also shares a small border section with India in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir.

The Tajikistan-Afghanistan border runs for approximately 810 miles, mostly along the Amu Darya, Pyanj, and Pamir rivers. The Tajik community is divided in two by this border, which is characterised by dangerous and difficult terrain. The surrounding area becomes increasingly mountainous as the river traces a huge horseshoe shape. The border is a major route for drugs being smuggled from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe, and it has been described as one of the most active drug-crossing areas in Central Asia.

The border area is volatile due to the Tajikistani Civil War and the Afghan Civil War. The long, porous frontier remains poorly policed, and there have been incidents related to the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. The Tajik border troops have been trained to defend against Taliban attacks. The border is also prone to closures during disease outbreaks and when the Taliban pushes into the Badakhshan Province.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border is marked by the Amu Darya River

The Amu Darya River, also known as the Oxus, is one of the longest rivers in Central Asia. It flows through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. The river is formed by the confluence of the Vakhsh and Panj rivers in the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. In its upper course, the Amu Darya forms part of Afghanistan's northern border with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

The Amu Darya River plays a critical role in supporting the livelihoods of millions of people living in the Aral Sea Basin. The river's water is used for agriculture, domestic, drinking, and industrial purposes, as well as for hydroelectric power generation. The river also sustains unique ecosystems and habitats along its course, including floodplain forests and habitats for fish species.

The Amu Darya River is of great importance to the people and environment of the region. Its waters support agriculture and irrigation, provide drinking water for millions, and generate hydroelectric power. The river also sustains unique ecosystems and habitats along its course, including floodplain forests and habitats for fish species.

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