Recent clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan have once again highlighted the long-standing tensions along their shared border, the Durand Line. On October 11, 2025, Afghan forces conducted retaliatory strikes against Pakistani military posts along the border. These actions followed Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory in areas such as Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, and Paktika, targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud. The Afghan Ministry of Defence stated that the operation was in response to repeated violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and warned that Afghan forces remain ready to defend the country’s borders against further attacks. Both sides have accused each other of violating territorial integrity, leading to temporary closure of border crossings and heightening tensions.
The Durand Line stretches roughly 2,640 kilometres (1,640 miles) and was established in 1893 by British diplomat Sir Henry Mortimer Durand in agreement with Afghanistan’s ruler at the time, Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. The line was intended to demarcate the boundary between British India and Afghanistan. However, it split the Pashtun tribal areas, separating families, villages, and communities along the border. Today, it forms the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but it remains a source of contention. Afghanistan has never formally recognized the Durand Line as an international boundary. Even after Pakistan gained independence in 1947, no Afghan government has accepted the line as legitimate, viewing it instead as a colonial-era imposition that divides ethnic Pashtuns and undermines their cultural unity.
The Durand Line dispute is not just a historical or legal matter; it has deep cultural, ethnic, and security implications. The Pashtun population spans both sides of the border, and many Afghans see the line as an artificial division imposed by colonial powers. This perception fuels nationalistic sentiments and shapes Afghanistan’s refusal to accept it as a legitimate international boundary.
Security concerns further complicate the situation. The border region has become a hotspot for militant activity over the years. Pakistan accuses Afghan territory of serving as a safe haven for groups like the TTP, which has conducted numerous attacks on Pakistani soil. Pakistan’s repeated military operations, including airstrikes and cross-border raids, are intended to neutralize these threats. In contrast, Afghanistan condemns these incursions as violations of its sovereignty, arguing that Pakistan’s actions exacerbate instability and endanger civilians. The cycle of attacks and retaliation creates ongoing tension, as seen in the October 2025 skirmishes.
ALSO READ: Shoe strike at Constitution: tensions rise amid hate speech
ALSO READ: AIIMS Delhi performs India’s first robotic kidney transplant on patient with renal failure
Another point of contention is Pakistan’s border fencing project, initiated in 2017. Pakistan started building a fence along the Durand Line to prevent militant movement and smuggling. However, Afghanistan views this fencing as an attempt to solidify an illegitimate boundary, further angering local communities who have historically moved freely across the region. The fencing has disrupted traditional trade and travel routes, intensifying local grievances and fueling anti-Pakistan sentiment among Afghan citizens.
The core issue is fundamentally about recognition and legitimacy. Pakistan considers the Durand Line as its internationally recognized western border, essential for its national security and administrative control. Afghanistan, on the other hand, regards it as a disputed line with no legal validity, emphasizing that it was imposed under colonial conditions and never agreed upon by Afghan authorities. This disagreement is not only legal but deeply emotional, rooted in history, ethnicity, and long-standing distrust.
Efforts at cooperation have often been hampered by mutual suspicion. Pakistan insists that Afghan authorities take action against militant groups like the TTP operating from their soil. Meanwhile, Afghanistan contends that Pakistan’s military actions violate its sovereignty and worsen regional instability. Until both countries agree on measures to address security concerns while respecting territorial integrity, clashes along the Durand Line are likely to continue.
In conclusion, the Durand Line remains one of the most contentious issues in South Asia. It represents a century-old legacy of colonial demarcation that divided ethnic communities, a disputed legal boundary, and a critical security challenge. Recent skirmishes, such as those in October 2025, underline how historical grievances, ethnic divisions, and militant threats intersect to create a complex and ongoing conflict. Lasting peace and trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan will require dialogue, cooperation on security, and a mutual understanding of historical sensitivities surrounding the Durand Line.
Copyright © © 2022 Copyright. All Rights Reserved with Arth Parkash