The Unresolved Scar: A Century of Contention Along the Durand Line

More than a century has passed since a pen etched a line across a map, yet its profound repercussions continue to reverberate, shaping the destinies of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This line, known as the Durand Line, is far more than a mere geographical demarcation; it is a symbol of unresolved historical grievances, colonial legacy, and persistent geopolitical tension that defines the tumultuous relationship between two nations.

The story of the Durand Line began in 1893, a product of British imperial ambitions.

Sir Mortimer Durand, representing British India, met with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan to delineate the spheres of influence between the two entities. The resulting agreement, born from a position of unequal power, established a 2,640-kilometer border that arbitrarily bisected the Pashtun heartland.

For the British, it was a strategic move to create a buffer zone against Russian expansion; for the Pashtun tribes living across the rugged mountains, it was an imposed division of a unified people, drawn without their consent or consideration for their historical ties and cultural continuity.

From its very inception, Afghanistan’s leadership viewed the Durand Line with deep skepticism and, ultimately, outright rejection.

While Amir Abdur Rahman Khan signed the agreement under duress and with a limited understanding of its long-term implications, subsequent Afghan governments have consistently refused to recognize it as a legitimate international border. Their argument is clear and unwavering: it was a colonial imposition, not a mutually agreed-upon frontier.

They perceive it as a temporary administrative line, not a permanent, sovereign boundary, and believe it unjustly separated the Pashtun people, fostering irredentist sentiments and a persistent demand for a unified Pashtunistan.

This fundamental disagreement has cemented the Durand Line as the central dispute in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

For Pakistan, which inherited the British Indian treaties upon its independence in 1947, the Durand Line is considered a settled, internationally recognized border. They assert its legality and have actively worked to reinforce it, including through the controversial construction of border fences in recent years.

However, Afghanistan's steadfast refusal continues to complicate diplomatic efforts, impede regional stability, and frequently escalate into cross-border skirmishes and diplomatic standoffs.

The human cost of this historical division is immense. Pashtun communities, long sharing a common language, culture, and tribal affiliations, suddenly found themselves living on separate sides of a contested frontier.

This artificial division has fostered a sense of alienation, fueled a resilient cross-border tribal network that often transcends national loyalties, and made the border region a complex, volatile space susceptible to insurgency and illicit activities. The challenges of governance, security, and economic development in these areas are deeply intertwined with the unresolved status of the Durand Line.

In the contemporary geopolitical landscape, the Durand Line remains a potent symbol of historical injustice and an active flashpoint.

Efforts by Pakistan to formalize and secure the border, such as fencing, are met with fierce resistance and condemnation from Kabul, exacerbating already strained bilateral ties. The line continues to be a battleground—not just for armed forces, but for narratives, national identities, and the very concept of sovereignty.

With no easy resolution in sight, the Durand Line stands as a profound reminder that some scars, even after more than a century, refuse to heal, continuing to shape the destiny of a volatile region and its people.