Debate Over Durand Line Recognition Divides Afghan Political Figures

Wahid Omar, former senior advisor to Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan’s former president, stated that no “reasonable” politician in the country has proposed recognizing the Durand Line as a solution to normalize relations with Pakistan.

In his remarks, he emphasized that such a proposal has no precedent among Afghan political factions and is not considered a viable option by politicians. The Durand Line, drawn in the late 19th century between Afghanistan and British India, has always been a contentious issue in Kabul-Islamabad relations.

In contrast, Mohiuddin Mahdi, a former member of Afghanistan’s House of Representatives, expressed a differing view. He wrote that Afghanistan should recognize the Durand Line, and in return, Pakistan should abandon its policy known as “strategic depth” toward Afghanistan.

The “strategic depth” policy is a term used by critics to describe Pakistan’s security approach toward Afghanistan, a factor that has long overshadowed bilateral ties. This divergence of opinions highlights that the Durand Line remains one of the sensitive and complex issues among Afghan political leaders.