ISLAMABAD: The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as an international border under international law.
Historical Context of the Durand Line
The Durand Line was established in 1893 following an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, representing British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan. The line was meant to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan.
Following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, Pakistan inherited all international treaties and boundaries agreed upon by British India — including the Durand Line. However, successive Afghan governments have contested its legal status, arguing that the agreement lapsed after the British withdrawal.
Legal Standing and International Framework
Legal expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi notes that the international legal framework supports Pakistan’s position. Referring to Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, he explains that while states may withdraw from certain treaties due to a “fundamental change of circumstances,” boundary treaties remain permanent and binding.
“This means that once a border treaty is agreed upon, it cannot be unilaterally disregarded due to political changes,” Soofi emphasized, pointing out that boundary agreements enjoy a unique status in international law.
A 1969 Supreme Court of Pakistan decision also reaffirmed the Durand Line as a valid and recognized boundary, rejecting any interpretation that challenges its legal sanctity.
Khurram Dastgir Khan Reaffirms Pakistan’s Position
Senior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan underscored that Pakistan’s stance on the issue remains firm and consistent.
“Pakistan has insisted on and will continue to insist, and as a successor state to Great Britain, that the term ‘Durand Line’ itself is not acceptable; it is the international border,” he said. “There are multiple agreements, documents, and international laws that declare it as the international border.”
He added that Afghanistan’s continued reluctance to recognize the border stems largely from domestic economic and political factors.
“Their insistence that it is not the border is mainly due to their economic and political reasons to keep their population somehow questioned regarding the Pakistan situation,” Dastgir noted.
Emphasizing the importance of securing the frontier, he said Pakistan must invest further in strengthening the border.
“We have to find ways to secure the border, and we have to make sure that the Pakistan border is now an actual line that demarcates two countries. I cannot emphasize enough how important this issue is; this is really crucial for the future of peaceful Pak-Afghan relations.”
The Way Forward
The reaffirmation of the Durand Line’s legal status—both by legal authorities and political leadership—highlights Pakistan’s consistent policy that the border is final and internationally recognized. Pakistani officials stress that effective border management and mutual recognition remain essential for fostering peaceful and stable Pak-Afghan relations in the years ahead.
