Durand Line

The Durand Line is an international border stretching approximately 2,640 kilometres (1,640 miles) between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was demarcated in 1893 through an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, representing British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan. The line was intended to establish the respective spheres of influence of British India and Afghanistan in the region, but it has remained one of the most contentious and politically sensitive boundaries in South Asia.

Historical Background

The origins of the Durand Line can be traced to the Great Game, the nineteenth-century geopolitical rivalry between the British Empire and Tsarist Russia for influence in Central Asia. Britain, concerned about Russian expansion towards India, sought to create a buffer zone between its Indian territories and Russian-controlled areas. Afghanistan, lying between these two empires, became a critical frontier state.
In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand, the Foreign Secretary of British India, was dispatched to Kabul to negotiate with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. On 12 November 1893, an agreement was signed defining the boundary between British India and Afghanistan. The Durand Line divided Pashtun tribal territories, splitting communities that had long lived under shared cultural and ethnic ties.
The line was drawn with limited consideration for ethnic and social realities, cutting across major Pashtun tribal areas such as the Afridi, Mohmand, Wazir, and Shinwari regions. Despite this, Amir Abdur Rahman accepted the agreement, viewing it as a necessary compromise to maintain Afghanistan’s sovereignty amid imperial pressures.

Geographical Description

The Durand Line begins at the Hindu Kush mountains in the north and extends southward to the Balochistan plateau, terminating near the Iranian border. It traverses rugged terrain, including mountain ranges, deserts, and tribal areas. The boundary crosses through strategically significant regions such as Khyber Pass, Waziristan, and Chaman, which have historically served as key trade and invasion routes between Central and South Asia.
The border’s remote and mountainous landscape has made physical demarcation and monitoring difficult, contributing to persistent security challenges and disputes.

Legal Status and Controversy

The Durand Agreement was a bilateral accord signed between two sovereign entities—Afghanistan and British India. When British India was partitioned in 1947, the newly formed Pakistan inherited all previous treaties and borders established by the British. However, Afghanistan has never formally recognised the Durand Line as an international border with Pakistan.
At the time of Pakistan’s admission to the United Nations in 1947, Afghanistan was the only country to vote against its entry, citing the unresolved border issue. Afghanistan maintains that the Durand Agreement was a colonial imposition that expired upon the British withdrawal, whereas Pakistan insists that it remains valid under international law as a legally inherited frontier.
The dispute has been a central factor in strained Afghan–Pakistani relations for decades. The line not only divides Pashtun populations but also influences political, security, and economic dynamics across the region.

Ethnic and Political Implications

The Durand Line divides the Pashtun ethnic group, which inhabits both sides of the border. Pashtuns constitute Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group and a significant minority in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan. The partition of their homeland disrupted traditional tribal structures and trade routes, giving rise to a sense of ethnic and cultural fragmentation.
In Afghanistan, the notion of “Pashtunistan”, an autonomous or unified Pashtun territory straddling both sides of the border, emerged in the mid-twentieth century as a nationalist aspiration. Pakistan, however, viewed the idea as a threat to its territorial integrity. This ideological tension has influenced both countries’ domestic and foreign policies, often fuelling cross-border militancy and mistrust.

Strategic and Security Dimensions

The Durand Line has long been a volatile frontier, central to regional security concerns. The mountainous borderlands, particularly in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan, have served as strongholds for insurgent groups and militant movements.
During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989), the border was a conduit for Afghan refugees and for arms and supplies to the Mujahideen, supported by Pakistan, the United States, and other Western allies. Following the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, cross-border infiltration by militant groups again became a major issue, with Pakistan and Afghanistan each accusing the other of harbouring extremists.
To curb illegal movement and enhance border control, Pakistan began constructing a border fence along the Durand Line in 2017, using barbed wire and fortified posts. Afghanistan has opposed this move, claiming it reinforces a boundary that it does not officially recognise. Despite objections, Pakistan has completed fencing across most of the border, citing security imperatives.

Economic and Social Significance

The Durand Line is not merely a geopolitical demarcation but also a crucial trade and transit route. Border crossings such as Torkham and Chaman facilitate commerce between the two nations, including formal trade and informal cross-border exchange of goods. The economies of many border communities rely on these routes for livelihood.
However, frequent border closures due to political tensions have disrupted trade, affecting both Afghan and Pakistani markets. Moreover, the line’s porous nature has allowed smuggling, human trafficking, and unregulated movement, adding to the region’s instability.

Contemporary Developments

In recent years, the Durand Line has re-emerged as a focal point of regional diplomacy, particularly following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The Taliban government’s stance on the border remains ambiguous; while it has not officially recognised the line, it has largely refrained from direct confrontation with Pakistan over the issue.
Nonetheless, tensions occasionally flare up, with border clashes and disputes over construction and patrol rights. The persistence of the issue underscores its deep-rooted historical and ethnic complexities.

International Perspectives

Most of the international community, including the United Nations, United States, and United Kingdom, recognises the Durand Line as the legitimate boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, the Afghan government continues to view it as a temporary colonial demarcation, pending mutual resolution.
The border dispute remains intertwined with broader geopolitical factors, including the fight against terrorism, the control of trade routes, and the competition for regional influence among neighbouring powers.