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THE KABUL TIMES

KABUL REITERATES THE ILLEGALITY OF THE DURAND LINE

| _{(KABUL CITY) The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always pursued good relations with other countries, especially neigbouring countries. Our foreign policy is one of non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign countries, the implementation of open trade between our countries, and mutual strive for upholding regional peace and security. Never has the Islamic Emirate seeked aggression as a means to achieve international interests. This is in spite of the policies certain countries have had with us in the past. Many times has our country has been invaded by powers with imperialist motives. Multiple of these invasions were led by the now defunct British Empire. Our peace-loving ancestors had decided, after repelling many failed British incursions into our motherland, that peace was still a better option than war, even after witnessing the crimes of the British Empire against our people. Our ancestors decided to agree with said empire on the line of division between the Afghan Kingdom and the British Empire. Hence, the Durand-line was created.} |

| _{This line was a big concession from the peace-loving Afghan nation, ceding huge swaths of territory west of the Indus river to the British in an agreement for lasting peace. The agreement was renewed in 1905, making that date the last occurrence the Afghan nation made such an agreement with the already crumbling British Empire. When said empire surrendered their territories to a native goverment, the country of India came into existence, which was later divided between India and Pakistan. Afghanistan has never renewed the agreement of the Durand-line, which until today is still de de-facto eastern border of Afghanistan, with either sovereign India or Pakistan. The agreement was strictly with the British Empire, and naturally ended when said empire ceased to exist. While acknowledging that the former areas of Afghanistan east of the Durand-line make up almost 60% of modern Pakistan, one cannot deny the ethnical and cultural ties of the people who live in these areas to Afghanistan. The Baloch people have been oppressed and alienated from the Punjabi-ruled Pakistani government. Most Pashtun people still identify more with Afghanistan than they will ever do with Pakistan. In the light of the realities mentioned in this statement, the Islamic Emirate of Great Afghanistan declares that it does not recognize the Durand-line, even if it has been the de-facto border between Pakistan and our country for more than 70 years. An illegal line of division will stay illegal until the line is redrawn in according to realities on the ground, and according to the historical ties of certain areas with our country, even if they have been excluded from our country during a bilateral agreement which has ended legally long ago. As a peace-loving nation, the door will always be open for negotiations with any future government of Pakistan. We sincerely believe that this issue can be resolved with common sense and recognition of history.} |