Pakistan shares a 16, 10 miles long border with Afghanistan. This border was established in 1893 during the colonial regime. A poorly marked and porous border is one of the longest that Pakistan shares with any country. Henry Mortimer Durand, the then Foreign Secretary of Sub-continent and Amir Abdur Rahman of Afghanistan signed the dotted line to form this border and a year later, the demarcation took place.
This western international border is unrecognized by Afghanistan even though their Amir of that time signed the agreement and Afghan teams also took part in the demarcation process.
The demarcation process carried on for many years, with the boundary for the first 800 miles was marked. This process went on from 1894 to 96. In the second phase, the boundary starting Laram Peak till Khawaja Khidr was marked and later up to Domandi and from Domandi upto New Chaman. This process according to the documents available with Survey of India took place during 1895. Different reports issued by the then government are available as public record. The final section of the Khyber Pass was demarcated and signed by Mahmud Tarzi the then Chief of Afghan Government and Henry Dobbs, the Chief of British High commission in Kabul.
The Durand line has been controversial. Pashtuns argue that it has divided them on both sides of the border and they have lost their identity. Pakistan recognizes the line but Afghanistan rejects it. The Afghan government refused to renew the agreement of Durand Line when 100 years of the treaty completed and since 1993 Pakistan has tried many times to renew the agreement. Afghanistan has always been claiming that Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwah is a part of Afghanistan and that after the treaty has expired it maybe returned to them, as was the case with China and Hong Kong. Pakistan rejects the claim and rightly so. Afghan President Daud Khan under this claim tried to create unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, by raising the issue of Greater Pashtoonistan but to no avail.
Until this day, Pakistan still honors the 100 year old Durand Line and wishes to renew the agreement but with no positive reply from Afghanistan.
