What is the Durand Line?
Q: What is the Durand Line?
A: The Durand Line is an international 2,430-kilometre (1,510 mi) land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan in South-Central Asia. It was established after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Mortimer Durand of British India and Afghan Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.
Q: Who named the Durand Line?
A: The line is named after Mortimer Durand, who was the Foreign Secretary of colonial British India at the time.
Q: How has Afghanistan historically viewed the Durand Line?
A: Historically, Afghan governments have never recognized it as an international border. Afghan Pashtun leaders claim Pakistani territories and say that the Durand Line is "an issue of historical importance for Afghanistan." However, non-Pashtuns Afghans have always recognized durand line as international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Similarly, Pakistani Pashtuns have also recognized Durand line as international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2017 President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan "will never accept" the Durand Line.
Q: What does Article 5 of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty state?
A: Article 5 of this treaty states that Afghanistan accepted all previously agreed border arrangements with British India when it reclaimed its independence from Britain in 1919.
Q: How does the Durand Line divide people living on both sides?
A: The Durand Line cuts through the Afghan tribal areas, politically dividing ethnic Pashtuns and Baloch people who live on both sides.
Q: What countries recognize theDurrandLineasaninternationalborder? A: Many countries recognizetheDurrandLineasthewesternborderofPakistan.
