by DD Sow

Created on: November 10, 2008

The Durand line much like the Invisible hand is an entity that encircles human spirit as well as conflict. In 1949, then Afghanistan Parliament disputed the border line, claiming to be a stroke of the British government to create a conflict with its new neighbor. Since similar ethnic tribes remained on both side peace remained until the American Invasion of 2001.

What makes this zone so crucial in not in its identity to define Afghanistan and Pakistan borders but militarily to understand how far NATO or American troops can go to attack Taleban targets without violating Pakistan's sovereignty.

This large valley like mountainous area with a few flat landmarks is very difficult to create even a check post let alone a border and so from 2003 onwards Pakistan's military have established upto a kilometer and a half onto the Afghanistan side of the Yaqubi province which is opposite to the Mohmand Agency of Pakistan to develop some kind geographical presence to identify where the border lies between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Many historians say the Durand line is a source of conflict between the two countries but similarly it can also be translated that it is the only root to peace.

This 1610 mile long stretch is probably the birthplace of successful resistances for many tribesmen going back to the day of British Colonialism. The then tribesman fought in complete unity in the fierce battles of the Anglo-Afghan wars that gave the then British Commanders a response that though they may be able to govern other areas of its empire with a military and a puppet administration, such governance would not be tolerated specially in these areas. So an agreement was made with then Amir of Afghanistan that he would administer these areas but the British knew that even the Amir could administer only so much. After Pakistan came to exist in 1947, an agreement again was made with the tribesman in 1949 and the central government that they would be left alone in their administrative matters to govern.

There was little violence at both sides of the border even during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan from 1979-1989 and even when the Taleban ruled most of Afghanistan from 1992-2001 but the fragility began after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 when neighboring tribal lords sought assistance from Pakistani tribesman in their war to oust US forces.

In 2001 the unity of tribesman at both sides of the border created a problem for both Afghanistan and Pakistan who are both staunch US allies

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