Legitimacy of the Durand Line

Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
When Afghans Look to Border With Pakistan, They Don't See a Fixed Line

--


"The status of the Durand Line is a matter of historic importance for the Afghan people," it said in a statement.

President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, Aimal Faizi, also expressed pique in a message marking Id al-Adha, the Islamic holiday that began Friday. "May almighty God bring peace, security and unity to Afghanistan, particularly to both sides of the Durand Line," the spokesman's office said in a statement.

Mr. Grossman's comments, delivered at a time when Afghans are particularly apprehensive about their country's future, hit a tender nerve. Increasingly, and openly, Afghans have been debating the limits of what they can expect from the United States, an ally that is often both reviled here and seen as a needed benefactor and protector.

Compounding the insult, in the Afghan view, is that the United States is taking the side of Pakistan, whose government is seen as harboring or even aiding Taliban and Haqqani militants waging the insurgency in Afghanistan who are sheltered in the territories cut off by the Durand Line.

"For the Afghan side, there was always this expectation that if we involved the U.S. deeper into Afghanistan's issues, it was going to lead to a solution of the problem with militant extremism from Pakistan," said Haseeb Humayoon of QARA Consulting, a policy advisory firm in Kabul.

But now, he added, the United States is pulling back, and "the problem remains."

The sense of dashed expectations is palpable, and hopes are increasingly being replaced with conspiracy theories. Though such theories — mirroring those often heard about the United States on the Pakistani side of the border, if slightly less energetic — have always been whispered here, they are picking up volume as the American withdrawal nears.


In Afghanistan, Comment on Border Brings Tension - NYTimes.com
 

Ray

The Chairman
Professional
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
43,132
Likes
23,834
We should take wakhan corridor along with pok so as to cut chinese access meanwhile we have access to afghanistan and tajikstan. We could give some western portion of pok to afghans in exchange for wakhan corridor.
According to a report published in The Telegraph, former Army Chief Gen VK Singh has hinted that China is opening a tunnel under Pamir ranges of Wakhan Corridor that skirts the northern areas of Jammu and Kashmir. To India's horror, this is the territory that India claims but is under Pakistani occupation. "But for PoK, India would have had direct access to Afghanistan through the Wakhan Corridor," report quoted him saying.

Gen Singh was clear about his reasons for the Chinese connection with Afghanistan since he, according to the report, is writing his PhD thesis on "Fundamentalism in Afghanistan and the Geo Strategic Significance of the Wakhan Corridor". Going by the report, during the course of his research, Gen Singh has found evidence of military engineering activity on the Chinese side of the border.

Gen Singh sounds warning: China eyeing Afghanistan, building tunnel near J&K - daily.bhaskar.com
 

datguy79

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
702
Likes
945
We should take wakhan corridor along with pok so as to cut chinese access meanwhile we have access to afghanistan and tajikstan. We could give some western portion of pok to afghans in exchange for wakhan corridor.
I am Afghan. Let's play the negotiating game:

I don't know why you would want the Wakhan. It is a high altitude, mountainous "wasteland" which is inaccessible for half the year. It is totally non-conducive to trade or energy pipelines, so might as well just transit your trade though AFG. The only possible significance of it is that it is one of the sources of Amu Darya, so unless you want all of Central Asia to be pissed off at you by diverting the water, you can take it.

Afghans don't want anything to do with Kashmir. It doesn't fit our national identity at all. Military and economic aid as well as unfettered and tax-free transport of Afghan goods to the sea (determined under a legally binding agreement) will be better.
 

Virendra

Ambassador
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
4,697
Likes
3,041
Country flag
I don't know why you would want the Wakhan. It is a high altitude, mountainous "wasteland" which is inaccessible for half the year.
Understood, but Wakhan is important to us in retrospective.
As Messiah said already, we have to control it to keep the Chinese at bay. They've already ankled India on the east.
We can't let that happen in west.
Pakistan will sell anything that China wants from it. There's only one way out, keep the two geographies separate i.e. have Wakhan in control.

Afghans don't want anything to do with Kashmir. It doesn't fit our national identity at all. Military and economic aid as well as unfettered and tax-free transport of Afghan goods to the sea (determined under a legally binding agreement) will be better.
Well the tax and other technicalities of trade can always be sorted out, but from where afghanistan stands today, more important is to gather logistics and infrastructure.
That is where we can help you via Iran. In fact it is work under progress already. Not only is the Delaram-Zaranj highway completed,
but also AFAIK a rail link from Iran border near Zaranj to the Chahabahar port.

Note: Before any major turn around for Afghanistan in terms of trade and sea access, that highway has to be freed from the Taliban stalking it constantly.
 

Yusuf

GUARDIAN
Super Mod
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
24,324
Likes
11,757
Country flag
:facepalm: US. Missed a big trick to screw Pakis. Total blunder.
 

hit&run

United States of Hindu Empire
Mod
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
14,104
Likes
63,370
I am Afghan. Let's play the negotiating game:

I don't know why you would want the Wakhan. It is a high altitude, mountainous "wasteland" which is inaccessible for half the year. It is totally non-conducive to trade or energy pipelines, so might as well just transit your trade though AFG. The only possible significance of it is that it is one of the sources of Amu Darya, so unless you want all of Central Asia to be pissed off at you by diverting the water, you can take it.

Afghans don't want anything to do with Kashmir. It doesn't fit our national identity at all. Military and economic aid as well as unfettered and tax-free transport of Afghan goods to the sea (determined under a legally binding agreement) will be better.
Correct

Only feasible route is Afghanistan via Chabahar port Iran or through Pakistan.

A good 4 lane highway from Chabahar port and double lane railway tract is most desirable. India can dump as much goods Afghanistan wants, vice and versa, uninterruptedly via sea route.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
:facepalm: US. Missed a big trick to screw Pakis. Total blunder.
It seems like US always miss these things when it comes to Pak?
Or it could be a sword to be used later if Pak gets too close to China
the Durand line will be back in the news.
 

farhan_9909

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
5,895
Likes
497
while i think

pak should invade afghanistan and takes up the pushtoon majority states upto kabul..

since most of afghanistan belong to KPK
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
while i think

pak should invade afghanistan and takes up the pushtoon majority states upto kabul..

since most of afghanistan belong to KPK
This is the best move Pak can make only problem is US will be backing Afghanistan and they will decimate Pakistan.
 

farhan_9909

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
5,895
Likes
497
This is the best move Pak can make only problem is US will be backing Afghanistan and they will decimate Pakistan.
well we should do this in future

when USA/Nato are no more in Afghanistan
*when China has already taken USA economy

may be after 2020

more than 70% of total pushtoon live in pakistan(KPK)
and even more than 3 millions afghan pushtoon refugees
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
well we should do this in future

when USA/Nato are no more in Afghanistan
*when China has already taken USA economy

may be after 2020

more than 70% of total pushtoon live in pakistan(KPK)
and even more than 3 millions afghan pushtoon refugees
US will be building up Afghanistan before they leave the best weapons will probably be
given to Afghans and training. It may not be easy using Chinese weapons by pak and of course
Indians will also be sending weapons to Afghans.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
Correct

Only feasible route is Afghanistan via Chabahar port Iran or through Pakistan.

A good 4 lane highway from Chabahar port and double lane railway tract is most desirable. India can dump as much goods Afghanistan wants, vice and versa, uninterruptedly via sea route.
The Hindu : News / National : Iran says "tangible" progress in India-Afghanistan link

Iran says "tangible" progress in India-Afghanistan link


Iran on Tuesday said there had been "tangible" progress in the development of the Chah-bahar port which would serve as the shortest route for ingress into Afghanistan for India.
 

farhan_9909

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
5,895
Likes
497
US will be building up Afghanistan before they leave the best weapons will probably be
given to Afghans and training. It may not be easy using Chinese weapons by pak and of course
Indians will also be sending weapons to Afghans.
by than USA wont have money to fund there armed forces considering the fact the debt has even over taken the total GDP

Indians are very bad at foriegn policy even pak present worst govt is better than them at foriegn relations
just imagine pak with 1.6trillions economy and what would had been our influence in the world.while indian is none.
so never worry about india

though i agree it wont be easy.bt also it isnt impossible for pakistan.
consider the strength of our armed forces and the will of our pushtoon people on doing this
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
by than USA wont have money to fund there armed forces considering the fact the debt has even over taken the total GDP

Indians are very bad at foriegn policy even pak present worst govt is better than them at foriegn relations
just imagine pak with 1.6trillions economy and what would had been our influence in the world.while indian is none.
so never worry about india

though i agree it wont be easy.bt also it isnt impossible for pakistan.
consider the strength of our armed forces and the will of our pushtoon people on doing this
It is impossible for Pakistan. Historically Pakistan has not won one war.
Pakistan trying to invade Afghanistan backed by US/NATO,Russia,India,iran is a big joke.

US has a 40 trillion dollar economy where is this dream of US going broke coming from?
Chinese news?

India does not need diplomacy to supply training, weapons and money.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
Karzai says U.S. won't help Afghan defense - UPI.com

Karzai says U.S. won't help Afghan defense

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai said the United States is not prepared to defend his country from cross-border shelling by neighboring Pakistan.

"Should Afghanistan take steps to purchase its required equipment from Russia, China, India or elsewhere?" he asked.
 

Apollyon

Führer
Senior Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2011
Messages
3,134
Likes
4,573
Country flag
by than USA wont have money to fund there armed forces considering the fact the debt has even over taken the total GDP

Indians are very bad at foriegn policy even pak present worst govt is better than them at foriegn relations
just imagine pak with 1.6trillions economy and what would had been our influence in the world.while indian is none.
so never worry about india

though i agree it wont be easy.bt also it isnt impossible for pakistan.
consider the strength of our armed forces and the will of our pushtoon people on doing this
:facepalm:

Please tell us why Indian Foreign Policy is Bad any why's Pakistan's FP is just "awesome", i know you are just trying to pester us but still.

Reality Check : Pakistan's Economy is $200 Billion not $1.6 Trillion ;Indian Economy is close to $2 Trillion. Stop this "what if" shit, Pakistan's economy is in deep gutter not getting out of it soon.

It looks like you are just prowling around, ascertain of what's going on.
Please don't aberrate the topic, well most of your Posts are full of hackneyed phrases.
 

hit&run

United States of Hindu Empire
Mod
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
14,104
Likes
63,370
The Hindu : News / National : Iran says "tangible" progress in India-Afghanistan link

Iran says "tangible" progress in India-Afghanistan link


Iran on Tuesday said there had been "tangible" progress in the development of the Chah-bahar port which would serve as the shortest route for ingress into Afghanistan for India.
Rout A71 Zaranj to Delaram has been completed. Zaranj to Milak, Iran border a stretch of few KM was under construction 5 years back so it should be done by now. Chabhar to Milak Iran is no problem. 900 km Railway line project is underway (survey etc).

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...I8wQnPzHQrk73mxiRJw&oq=Delara&t=h&mra=ls&z=13

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...fPjFCvRzrDBV0sQ&oq=Milak,+iran&t=h&mra=ls&z=6

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...LI8wQnPzHQrk73mxiRJw&oq=Delara&t=h&mra=ls&z=8
 

LurkerBaba

Super Mod
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
7,882
Likes
8,125
Country flag
I don't know why you would want the Wakhan. It is a high altitude, mountainous "wasteland" which is inaccessible for half the year. It is totally non-conducive to trade or energy pipelines, so might as well just transit your trade though AFG.
Agreed. Khyber Pass is the closest feasible land route.

Then again land routes are more expensive than sea routes
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top