Durand Line
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The Durand Line is the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which stretches 2,640 kilometers (1,610 miles). The border was established after an agreement was reached between the British Empire and the Emir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan on November 12, 1893; to demarcate the border between Afghanistan and what was then British India (now Pakistan's provinces North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan). The British had reached a virtual stalemate in two wars against the Afghans (see Great Game, First Anglo-Afghan War and European influence in Afghanistan).
The Durand Line is named after Sir Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the British Indian government, and the treaty also granted the Amir of Afghanistan (Abdur Rahman Khan) an annual salary from Britain along with shipments of weaponry. One of the two representatives of the Government of Afghanistan was the Ahmadi Sahibzada Abdul Latif of Khost.
In 1893 Mortimer Durand negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan the Amir of Afghanistan , the frontier between Modern day Afghanistan, the FATA , NWFP and Baluchistan Provinces of Pakistan the successor state of British India and , the successor Iran state of Khorasan.
This line, the Durand Line, is named after Sir Mortimer Durandand remains the international boundary between Afghanistan and modern-day Pakistan, officially recognized by most nations but and ongoing point of contention between the two countries.
In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand was deputed to Kabul by the government of Bristish India for this purpose of settling an exchange of territory required by the demarcation of the boundary between northeastern Afghanistan and the Russian possessions, and in order to discuss with the Amir Abdur Rahman Khan other pending questions. The Amir Abdur Rahman Khan showed his usual ability in diplomatic argument, his tenacity where his own views or claims were in debate, with a sure underlying insight into the real situation.
The territorial exchanges were amicably agreed upon; the relations between the British Indian and Afghan governments, as previously arranged, were confirmed; and an understanding was reached upon the important and difficult subject of the border line of Afghanistan on the east, towards India.
In the year 1893 during rule of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan a Royal Commission for setting up of Boundry the Durand line between Afghanistan and the British Governed India was set up ,to negotiate terms with the British, for the Agreeing to the Durand line , and the two parties camped at Parachinar, now part of FATA Pakistan, which is near Khost Afghanistan.
From The British Side the camp was Attended by Sir, Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, Political Agent Khyber.
The Afghanistan was represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and the Governor Sardar Shireendil Khan representing the King Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.[1]
The Durand Line is sometimes referred to as the "Zero Line". Excluding the desert portion southwest of 66 degrees 15 minutes east longitude, 84% of the line follows clear physical features (rivers or watershed divides).
The precise route of the remaining 16% straight line segments is also demarcated from the 1894-95 demarcation reports and subsequent mapping such as the detailed (1:50,000 scale) Soviet maps of the 1980s.
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[edit] Territorial dispute
Afghanistan's loya jirga or 'tribal court' of 1949 declared the Durand Line invalid as they saw it as ex parte on their side (since British India ceased to exist in 1947 with the independence of Pakistan). This had no tangible effect as there has never been a move to enforce such a declaration due to long periods of constant wars with other neighbours in the region. And most importantly, there was no time limit mentioned in the Durand Treaty. Additionally, world courts have universally upheld uti possidetis juris, i.e, binding bilateral agreements with or between colonial powers are "passed down" to successor independent states, as with most of Africa. A unilateral declaration by one party has no effect; boundary changes must be made bilaterally.
Thus, the Durand Line boundary remains in effect today as the international boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is recognized as such by most nations. Despite pervasive internet rumors to the contrary, US Department of State and the British Foreign Commonwealth Office documents and spokespersons have confirmed that the Durand Line, like virtually all international boundaries, has no expiration date, nor is there any mention of such in any Durand Line documents.[2][3][4] The 1921 treaty expiration refers only to the 1921 agreements.
Because the Durand Line divides the Pashtun people, it continues to be a source of tension between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Frequent press statements from 2005 to 2007 by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf calling for the building of a fence delineating the Afghanistan/Pakistan border have been met with resistance from numerous political parties within both countries. Leaders of Pashtuns on both sides of the border are divided amongst themselves over the Durand Line issue.[citation needed]
Since 2003, Pakistani military patrols have established bases up to one or two kilometers into Afghanistan in the Yaqubi area opposite Pakistan's Mohmand Agency,[5] and a few hundred meters inside Afghanistan near the border-straddling but Pakistan Frontier Corps-controlled bazaar of Angoor Adda (Angoor Ada) area of South Waziristan.[6] [7] Shkin, Afghanistan is a key location for these frequent battles. A heavily fortified military base has housed mostly American special operations forces here since 2002 and is located about ten kilometers from the Pakistani border. Paktika province, where it is located is considered the most dangerous area of operations in Afghanistan. [8] [9]
[edit] See also
- Radcliffe Line
- Curzon Line
- History of Afghanistan
- Pashtunistan
- Third Anglo-Afghan war
- UTC+4:30
- Pakistan Standard Time
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.aaiil.org/aaiil/ra/jalsa/2003/sahibzadaabdullatifshaheed100anniversary/08sahibzadazahoorahmad_sahibzadaabdullatifshaheed. mp3
- ^ Daily Times, [1]
- ^ Daily Times, [2], September 30, 2005
- ^ Middlebrook and Miller (pdf file)
- ^ RFE/RL Afghanistan Report
- ^ Clash erupts between Afghan, Pakistani forces over border fence - South Asia
- ^ "Go West, Young Durand Line, Go West", Afghanistanica.com, January 30, 2008
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fb_shkin.htm
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=_6f_3DobpdwC&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=shkin,+afghanistan,+most+dangerous&source=bl&ots=WOCr6_wvfZ&sig=tSVVTvPLsdcofhuAN2WE-4xOKag&hl=en&ei=GuxHSvr5HJ-ytweAtsTYBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
[edit] External links
- Khyber.org - Text of the Durand Line Agreement, November 12, 1893
- All Along the Watch Tower by Geopolicity Peter Middlebrook 2006
- Fly-over of part of the Durand Line
- Culture, Politics Hinder U.S. Effort to Bolster Pakistani Border Washington Post March 30, 2008
- Border Complicates War in Afghanistan Washington Post April 4, 2008
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