Afghanistan: Review of Sir Henry Mortimer Durand’s contribution to the current turmoil and political situation.

Who is Sir Henry Mortimer Durand ?

Sir Henry Mortimer Durand played an important role in establishing the current international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Know as “DURAND LINE” even though Afghanistan disputes the legitimacy of such a division and it is currently a point of contention between both countries.

In 1893, Durand Line Agreement was written, from the British side, the camp was attended by Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, the Political Agent for Khyber. The Afghans were represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and Governor Sardar Shireendil Khan representing Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.

Significance of Durand Line?

Durand line is separating the ethnic Pushtun tribe into two different countries. In the earlier times, it was between the emir of Afghanistan and British India. But after the partition of India, it became the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The main reason for this could be further traced back to the Great game reference made by Rudyard Kipling in his book Kim. Colonial British used it as a method to put a check on the ambitions of Tsarist rules of Russia.

What is the problem ?

A lack of understanding of how tribal groups organize and work within themselves is a major reason for the this division. This coupled with lack of trust from the colonial rulers about their own capacity to protect the colonial borders from tribal clans residing in the borders or erstwhile colonial India , is a major contributor to this melam.

From the current situation it can be understood that this division was done as a precursor to diluting the massive influence of Pashtun tribe in case Afghanistan falls to the Russian invasion . And this acted as a double edge sword in hurting the wound of division across the generations and further fueling the current political turmoil in modern Afghanistan .

How the Durand Line cause trouble ?

The division of tribes across two countries lead to creation of safe heaven under the funding of Pakistan government and military service in Pashtun controlled land areas . And this acted as a training and funding ground to support and grow trouble across the two countries .

A change cannot me made in the short time with the lack of proper support from world leaders, but this change may not benefit the thousands and thousands of people of true Afghan heritage a generation of people lost in the labyrinth of political gains and clouts.