The Durand line dispute: Past trends and future prospects
- The Indian Journal of Political Science
- 77(1), Jan-Mar, 2016: p.117-126
Pakistan has always had a rocky relationship with Afghanistan mainly because of the conflicted claims on the Durand Line that separates both the countries. Tension and mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan has lingered for decades and has caused armed clashes on account of the controversy surrounding the Durand Line. Since its demarcation in 1893, several unsuccessful attempts have been made to mark out the Durand Line but all plans have floundered after meeting fierce opposition from Afghanistan. Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan has been constructed with the purpose to create a submissive regime in Afghanistan that could be manipulated to serve Pakistan’s strategic interests. On the ground, local populations have disregarded the Afghan-Pakistan border, crossing back and forth without state control. This article explores the struggle between Afghanistan and Pakistan in search of a ‘normal’ border, with suggestions as to how it might end. Key Words: Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US, the USSR, India, Durand Line, Pashtun, Mujahideen, Taliban, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Balochistan, Kabul. – Reproduced