"Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are receiving international attention because of their impact on regional stability and geopolitical interests." - Getty
The roots of tense relations and border disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan go back more than a century, yet the issue of the disputed border between the two sides remains one of the most prominent factors of political and security tension in South Asia, which is surprising to many given the fraternal ties that bind the two peoples.

Despite the change of political system in Kabul and the succession of different Pakistani governments, military and security skirmishes and confrontations between the two countries have remained an open wound, amid growing fears that this tension could at any time turn into an open military confrontation, especially with the recent military skirmishes on the border.

Durand is a line of flame

The disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan stem mainly from the issue of the "Durand Line," a border line between Afghanistan and Pakistan that was demarcated in 1893 by an agreement signed between the government of British India and the Afghan Emir Abdul Rahman Khan, and was attributed to the head of the British delegation, Sir Henry Martymore Durand, Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the Government of British India, and is 2,200 kilometers long. The British aimed to turn Afghanistan into a buffer state between them and Tsarist Russia, in the context of what was then called the "Great Game."

The dilemma of the Durand Line lies in the fact that it passes through the center of the Pashtun tribal area and divides it on both sides of the border, which it strongly objected to, as it sees in the state of Afghanistan its ethnic and tribal extension, and many Afghans believe that the division of the Pashtun country is not just a geographical dispute, but a deep national identity issue, while successive Afghan governments have described the line as a "colonial-imposed border" and consider it an unfair agreement imposed by Britain by force of arms. Successive Afghan governments have described the line as a "border imposed by colonialism" and an unjust agreement imposed by Britain by force of arms, which prompted Afghanistan not to support Pakistan's membership in the United Nations, while Pakistan has since considered it an internationally recognized border.

After Pakistan's independence in 1947, Afghanistan refused to recognize the new state, and Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan, described the line as an "artificial border," while the communist government in Kabul supported Pashtun nationalists in Pakistan. Former presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani stated that the Pashtuns should have the right to self-determination, reflecting the continued refusal to recognize the border by successive Afghan governments. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai famously said: "We will never recognize the Durand Line as the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, because it was a forced and unjust agreement."

Durand Between Islamists and Nationalists

There is no doubt that the Pakistani government's support for the mujahideen movements against the Soviet occupation in the late 1970s aimed not only at resisting the occupation and pushing it away from the "warm waters" and Gulf oil, as it was known then, but it also guaranteed that the ruling elite in Kabul - upon the liberation of Afghanistan - would be an Islamic elite loyal to Islamabad and not haunted by national priorities such as borders. This made these movements vulnerable to the criticism and anger of Pashtun nationalists in Pakistan, who had a relationship with the communist regime in Kabul, and accused the Afghan mujahideen of being the handiwork of Pakistan and the United States.

After the fall of the communist regime, the mujahideen movements entered into a bloody war for power that destroyed what was left of the capital Kabul. Pakistan bet on the nascent Taliban movement, which soon took control of the country and declared Islamic rule, but at the same time it supported al-Qaeda, whose head was wanted by the Americans because of the events of September 11, which made Pakistan - under American pressure - abandon the Taliban and enter a fierce war to control its borders with Afghanistan, and enter the Pashtun areas that were semi-independent from the government of Pakistan. Pakistan abandoned the Taliban and entered a fierce war to control its borders with Afghanistan, and brought the Pashtun regions, which enjoyed semi-independence from the government of Pakistan, into the fold of the state. The conflict on the border turned for the first time in its history into a conflict with Pakistani Pashtun Islamists, armed with stubborn nationalist ambitions, and poisoned Pakistan's relationship with the Taliban movement, especially after the Pakistani government, under the leadership of General Pervez Musharraf, openly cooperated with the US occupation of Afghanistan.

In recent years, the border areas have witnessed an increase in armed attacks. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to use Afghan territory as a base to carry out attacks against it, which the Taliban denies, and security reports stated that cross-border attacks increased by 40 percent in 2023, which prompted Pakistan to strengthen its military presence on the border and build a border fence along the 2,600-kilometer-long Durand Line to "reduce terrorist infiltration and ensure security," which Afghanistan saw as an attempt to

The Pakistani military estimates that it will need about 56 billion rupees ($532 million) to implement the fence project, with plans to also build 750 border posts and use advanced surveillance systems. "There will not be a single inch of the international border that is not under our control," Reuters quoted a Pakistani army officer in command in the region as saying during a briefing to foreign media.

This measure raised objections by the Taliban government, and led to armed clashes between the two sides, such as the one that took place in December 2024 AD, where a Pakistani soldier was killed and 7 others were injured in an exchange of fire with Afghan forces in the border area, and Pakistani and Afghan forces exchange fire frequently due to disputes over construction along the border near the Durand Line, such as the killing of a Pakistani soldier and the injury of 7 others in December 2024 AD. In August of the same year, the Taliban government accused Pakistani forces of killing three civilians during clashes on the border between the two countries, although Pakistan has emphasized the importance of the fence as a security measure: "The border fence is a security necessity to protect Pakistan from cross-border terrorism," but Afghanistan sees it as an encroachment on its national sovereignty.

Gulab Mangal, governor of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, told Reuters that the fence will create "more hatred and resentment between the two neighboring countries and will not benefit either of them, and will create many issues for people along both sides of the border, and that no fence or fence can separate these tribes." He incited the tribes to take action against the fence project, saying: "I call on the tribes to stand against this work."

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, stated that "the issue of the Durand Line needs a political solution that reflects the will of the Afghan people." These statements reflect the refusal of successive Afghan governments, despite their different ideologies and programs, to recognize the line as an international border, while Pakistani officials believe that Afghanistan's refusal to recognize the border is only a pretext to strengthen its influence in the border areas.

Economic crises and their impact on tensions

The economic crises suffered by both Afghanistan and Pakistan are seen as a factor that pushes towards increasing tension between the two countries, and border tensions may be used as a tool to mobilize domestic support, and a means to relieve political and economic pressures in both countries, as the poor economic conditions create pressure on the governments of both countries, which may try to direct popular anger towards the "external enemy" by fueling the border dispute, especially in Afghanistan, which has been suffering from a severe economic crisis since the Taliban took over in 2021, especially with the freezing of international assets and stopping aid. This increases reliance on cross-border smuggling to meet the needs of the population, which leads to an increase in illegal activity in border areas, while Pakistan is also facing a debt crisis and high inflation and unemployment, and there is no doubt that this fragile economic situation makes the government more sensitive to security and economic threats on its borders.

Despite all this, the border between the two countries is witnessing great activity in smuggling and informal trade, in light of the difficult economic conditions. Pakistan's tightening of border crossings, tightening control and further restricting official trade with Afghanistan are likely to exacerbate tensions and increase tensions between the two sides. Border tensions sometimes lead to the closure of official crossings such as the "Torkham Crossing", which disrupts trade and negatively affects the residents of the border areas.

International efforts to contain the crisis

The border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are receiving international attention due to their impact on regional stability and the geopolitical interests of the United States, China, and Russia, and regional and international powers are an important factor in this conflict, as the United States views with concern the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially after its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, and fears an escalation of terrorism that may pose a threat to its interests and those of its allies, especially that the border areas may be used as a "base for terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS" at a time when Pakistan is considered a strategic partner in the war against terrorism. At a time when Pakistan is considered a strategic partner in the war against terrorism, and the United States needs to maintain strong relations with it to ensure its cooperation in the fight against terrorism, it is also trying to keep the Taliban weak, and is pressuring Pakistan to minimize any support that the movement may receive from networks operating on the border.

China and Russia are seeking to play the role of mediators to avoid an armed conflict that could destabilize the region and negatively affect their strategic and economic projects, especially China's. Beijing calls for calm and dialogue, given its economic and security interests in the region, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A military confrontation or tensions could affect the huge infrastructure projects that China is implementing in Pakistan, and maintaining regional stability is essential for the success of these investments.

China is also concerned about the possibility of infiltration of armed groups from Afghanistan into the Muslim-majority Xinjiang region, in addition to seeking to strengthen its influence in the region as an economic and political power, which requires calming tensions that could disrupt its projects. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the need for dialogue, saying: "Regional peace depends on the ability of Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their border disputes peacefully."

Russia, on the other hand, is trying to play the role of regional mediator. It is concerned about the impact of instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan on neighboring countries such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which it considers its spheres of influence, and sees terrorist groups in Afghanistan as a security threat to its allies in Central Asia.

As for the Indian role, New Delhi has always maintained a good relationship with Kabul, and although these relations witnessed a lull in the first Taliban era, today they are progressing at a steady pace, especially in the areas of trade, infrastructure and humanitarian support. Pakistan has long accused India of trying to undermine its security by supporting the Afghan position and supporting Pakistani separatist groups, as part of its regional strategy.

According to a report by Human Rights Watch, "any border conflict will exacerbate the already deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan." There is international concern that the conflict will lead to an increase in the number of displaced people and disrupt humanitarian aid in the border areas," according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

There is no doubt that the border disputes between Pakistan and Afghanistan are a complex issue in which historical, economic, and political factors are intertwined. Although the difficult economic situation of the two countries and cultural ties do not encourage open warfare, the risk of a military confrontation remains a possibility in light of the continuing tensions and the escalation of mutual attacks.