The Role of Durand Line Dispute in Shaping Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations

Samiullah Kakar

doi:10.47175/rissj.v6i4.1238

Samiullah Kakar Department of Government and Public Policy, Bahria University Islamabad

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47175/rissj.v6i4.1238

Keywords: Durandline, Pashtunistan, Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Border dispute, Security Challenges

Abstract

The Durand line is 2,240Km long and lies between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The British Indian government and then Amir Abdur Rahman of Afghanistan agreed in 1893. their future Afghan rulers renewed the treaty in 1905,1919 and again in 1930 However, After Pakistan gained independence in 1947, Afghanistan made a U-turn and declared that the Durand line was never an international border. The territory up to the Indus River Afghanistan claims as part of its empire during Ahmad Shah Abdali in the 18^th century, which Pakistan wholly denies on legal and historical grounds. The Durand line has been a central issue in the contentious relationship between the two countries. Afghanistan’s refusal to recognize the border has strengthened demands for Pashtunistan which seems to threaten Pakistan’s integrity. The hostility has led to serious security problems for Pakistan, particularly since India is threatened from the east. The rule by the Taliban (1997-2001) led to temporary cooperation but relations have remained tense since then. This paper aims to analyze how the Durand line dispute shaped Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and which factors contributed to the dispute's shaping of the relations.

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