Durand Line: Difference between revisions
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In 1839, long before the formation of [[Pakistan]], British negotiator Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the British Indian government, signed a document defining the boundary between [[India]] and [[Afghanistan]]. There is no vernacular version signed by the Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rehman Khan, and it has been challenged as a forgery. Other accounts, however, claim that it has, in any case, expired, as it was to have been a 100-year agreement.<ref>{{citation | In 1839, long before the formation of [[Pakistan]], British negotiator Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the British Indian government, signed a document defining the boundary between [[India]] and [[Afghanistan]]. There is no vernacular version signed by the Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rehman Khan, and it has been challenged as a forgery. Other accounts, however, claim that it has, in any case, expired, as it was to have been a 100-year agreement.<ref name=GOBIE>{{citation | ||
| url = http:// | | url = http://governmentofbalochistan.blogspot.com/2006/05/expose-durand-line-agreement-is.html | ||
| title = | | date = 12 May 2006 | ||
| publisher = | | title = An Expose’: The Durand Line Agreement is Illegal | ||
| publisher = Government of Balochistan in Exile}}</ref> The 1839 agreement reflected a disadvantageous military position of Britain, but the British began to enforce it circa 1893.<ref name=AT>{{citation | |||
| title = All along the watch tower | |||
| author = Peter J Middlebrook and Sharon M Miller | |||
| journal = Asia Times | date = 12 December 2006 | |||
| url = http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HL12Df08.html}}</ref> | |||
Most importantly, however, it does not recognize the political geography of the area, only its physical characteristics. The line cuts through traditional lands of the [[Pashtun people]], a situation exacerbated by the formation of Pakistan. Further, it has been argued that it establishes the sovereignty of the [[Balochistan Province]] of Pakistan. | Most importantly, however, it does not recognize the political geography of the area, only its physical characteristics. The line cuts through traditional lands of the [[Pashtun people]], a situation exacerbated by the formation of Pakistan. Further, it has been argued that it establishes the sovereignty of the [[Balochistan Province]] of Pakistan.<ref name=GOBIE /> | ||
While various Afghan governments have challenged it, the position of the Government of Pakistan is that it is a legitimate action of British India, inherited by the new nations under the legal doctrine of ''[[uti possidetis juris]]''. This type of matter could be heard, as a dispute between nations, in the [[International Court of Justice]], but never has been submitted there. | While various Afghan governments have challenged it, the position of the Government of Pakistan is that it is a legitimate action of British India, inherited by the new nations under the legal doctrine of ''[[uti possidetis juris]]''. This type of matter could be heard, as a dispute between nations, in the [[International Court of Justice]], but never has been submitted there. | ||
Revision as of 20:43, 10 September 2009
In 1839, long before the formation of Pakistan, British negotiator Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the British Indian government, signed a document defining the boundary between India and Afghanistan. There is no vernacular version signed by the Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rehman Khan, and it has been challenged as a forgery. Other accounts, however, claim that it has, in any case, expired, as it was to have been a 100-year agreement.[1] The 1839 agreement reflected a disadvantageous military position of Britain, but the British began to enforce it circa 1893.[2]
Most importantly, however, it does not recognize the political geography of the area, only its physical characteristics. The line cuts through traditional lands of the Pashtun people, a situation exacerbated by the formation of Pakistan. Further, it has been argued that it establishes the sovereignty of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan.[1]
While various Afghan governments have challenged it, the position of the Government of Pakistan is that it is a legitimate action of British India, inherited by the new nations under the legal doctrine of uti possidetis juris. This type of matter could be heard, as a dispute between nations, in the International Court of Justice, but never has been submitted there.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 An Expose’: The Durand Line Agreement is Illegal, Government of Balochistan in Exile, 12 May 2006
- ↑ Peter J Middlebrook and Sharon M Miller (12 December 2006), "All along the watch tower", Asia Times