Is the 2,640-kilometre Durand Line a valid international border or a colonial relic?

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Established in 1893 to define spheres of influence between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan, the Durand Line remains one of the world's most contentious borders. While Pakistan views it as a settled international boundary, successive Afghan governments have refused to recognize it, citing its origins as a colonial imposition.

The Durand Line was formalized on 12 November 1893 through an agreement between Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan. Designed to serve as a buffer zone during the British-Russian Great Game, the line aimed to fix the limits of influence for both empires. The agreement, which contained no expiry date, was later inherited by Pakistan following its independence in 1947. Under the principle of uti possidetis juris, Pakistan maintains that binding bilateral agreements pass to successor states, a position supported by the United Kingdom and international convention.

Despite this legal standing, the border has been a source of persistent diplomatic friction. In 1949, following military tensions, the Afghan government unilaterally declared the line void, labeling it an imaginary division imposed under duress. This stance has been maintained by subsequent Afghan administrations, including the Taliban and the government of Hamid Karzai. While some non-Pashtun groups in Afghanistan, such as Tajiks and Hazaras, have occasionally expressed recognition of the border, Pashtun nationalists remain staunchly opposed, often claiming that Pashtun territories in Pakistan rightfully belong to Afghanistan.

The physical reality of the border is as complex as its political status. Demarcation efforts began in 1894, involving joint surveys that spanned years and faced numerous deadlocks over regional claims, such as those involving Chitral and Bajaur. Today, the line cuts through Pashtun and Baloch tribal lands, complicating regional security. Although the Afghan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office has at times depicted it as a de facto boundary, the official Afghan position continues to treat the line as a historical grievance rather than a permanent international frontier, ensuring the region remains a geopolitical flashpoint.

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