The Durand Line, a 2,640-km frontier established in 1893 between British India and Afghanistan, continues to be one of South Asia’s most contested borders. Crafted by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, it was intended as a buffer against Russian expansionism during the “Great Game .” Though meant to demarcate spheres of influence, it sliced through Pashtun tribal lands, cutting kinship networks, trade routes, and cultural ties. 

After Pakistan’s creation in 1947, Islamabad claimed the Durand Line as its border, but successive Afghan governments—including the current Taliban regime—have refused recognition. The disagreement isn’t merely legal, but deeply emotional—many Pashtuns on both sides regard the Line as dividing their community, rather than linking two separate states.

In recent times, efforts to make the boundary more tangible—like extensive border fencing (nearly 98% completed by 2023 according to Pakistani sources), stricter control of movement, and tougher anti-smuggling operations—have heightened tensions.  Local livelihoods are disrupted, and the border fence is seen by many Afghans and Pashtuns as an encroachment or provocation.

India, meanwhile, maintains a cautious stance: it does not officially take sides between the two, but observes that instability here has spillover effects—migratory flows, security concerns, and regional diplomacy are all affected.