US EditionWhat Is the Durand Line — and Why Is the British-Era Border at the Heart of the Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict?
4 Articles
4 Articles
It was 1893 when the British Empire drew a boundary between its most prized colony, British India, and the Emirate of Afghanistan. On the maps, a line of some 2,640 kilometers was drawn, conceived as a strategic shield against the advance of the Russian Empire. On that geopolitical board of the nineteenth century, Afghanistan became a buffer state. The agreement was signed between Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, British Foreign Secretary, and Emir Ab…
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan. – Pakistan has been the closest ally of the Afghan Taliban for decades. It was Islamabad who helped bring about the Taliban movement in the early 1990s as a way to give Pakistan “strategic depth” in its rivalry with India. However, in a sharp escalation after months of border clashes between Islamic neighbours, Pakistan bombed various parts of Afghanistan on Friday, including Kabul, the capital, and Kandahar, the southern ci…
What is the Durand Line — and why is the British-era border at the heart of the Pakistan–Afghanistan conflict?
Airstrikes between Pakistan and Afghanistan highlight the deep-rooted tensions stemming from the controversial Durand Line. As accusations and violence escalate, the historical significance of this colonial-era border becomes increasingly crucial to understanding the ongoing conflict.
What is the ‘Durand Line’ and why is it important?
The Durand Line is the 2,670-kilometer border that separates Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was established in 1893 during British colonial rule, drawn up by Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan at the time. The agreement was intended to define the limits of British India’s sphere of influence and Afghan territory. The line cuts straight through the heart of the Pashtun tribal belt, effectively di…
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