Taliban challenges Pakistan over Durand Line

Posted on 6th Jan 2022 by rohit kumar

The possibility of increasing tension between the two countries is now clearly visible on the Durand Line drawn between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 

In the past few months and weeks, on the border between the two countries, the barbed fence laid by Pakistan has been uprooted by Taliban fighters in several places.

 

Afghanistan does not accept this boundary line between Afghanistan and British India drawn during British rule. After the Durand Line came into existence, every government ruling Kabul has refused to accept this line.

 

Now the Director-General of Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that the work of laying barbed fencing along the border with Afghanistan will continue as planned.

 

But on Wednesday itself, a commander of the Taliban regime, Sanaullah Sangeen, told Tolo News that his government would not allow Pakistan to continue the fencing work.

 

What did the Pakistani general say?

Major General Iftikhar said, "There is a need for a fence on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan so that issues related to trade, border crossing, and security can be regulated. The purpose of this fence is not to divide people but to protect them.

 

He said that the 'blood of martyrs has been shed in the installation of this fence. The Pakistan General has acknowledged that the situation on the western border of the country remains challenging.

 

Responding to a question on the uprooting of the fence, General Iftikhar said, "The uprooting of the fence is a very local issue and the Government of Pakistan is in touch with the Interim Government of Afghanistan. We have very good relations and we Keep talking to each other. The work of fencing on the border is going on and will continue in future also."

 

He said that 94 percent of the fence work on the Pak-Afghan border has been completed and a similar fence is being laid on the Pak-Iran border, of which 71 percent work has been completed.

 

There are more than 1200 Pakistani border posts on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Whereas Afghanistan has made only 377 posts on this border. There is some border post at a distance of about seven to eight kilometers.

 

What is the attitude of the Taliban?

 

On the other hand, the Taliban is also not ready to back down on this subject. Senior leaders sitting in Kabul may be avoiding being clear on the issue, but the local commanders and fighters seem unwilling to accept the barricade.

 

On Wednesday, a senior commander named Maulvi Sanaullah Sangeen told Afghanistan's popular TV news channel Tolo News that now they will not allow the fence in any way.

 

Maulvi Sangeen told Tolo News, "Pakistan did what it did earlier, but now we will not allow it. Now no fencing will be allowed."

 

It is also being reported in some Afghan media organizations that the Taliban government is building 30 new border posts on the Durand Line. But Pakistan has also clearly said that it will continue the process of fencing on its western frontier.

 

Durand Line controversy

The border separating Pakistan from Afghanistan is called the Durand Line. But Afghanistan does not accept this boundary line. Pakistan does not call it the Durand Line but calls it the International Border. He says that this border has international recognition.

 

The British government had drawn a 2640 km long borderline with Afghanistan in 1893 to consolidate control over the north-western parts of then India.

 

This agreement was signed in Kabul between the then Foreign Secretary of British India Sir Mortimer Durand and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. But whoever wants to rule Afghanistan, there is no consensus on the Durand Line. No Afghan considers it an international border.

 

This is the perception about the Durand Line from King Amanullah in the year 1923 to the present government. After the birth of Pakistan in 1947, some Afghan rulers questioned the legitimacy of the Durand Pact.

 

Pakistan's point of view is quite clear on this. Major General Iftikhar reiterated on Wednesday, "We don't call it the Durand Line. This is the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan that the world has recognized. Pakistan will continue whatever steps it is taking while staying within its borders." And will continue to implement them."

 

It is clear from the conflicting statements from both sides that the issue will test the strength of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the coming times.