Pashtunistan conflict

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The Pashtunistan conflict also known as the Durand Line issue,[1] was a series of conflicts that broke out between Afghanistan and the newly independent Pakistan over border issues in the early days of the Cold War.[2] As part of the Afghanistan–Pakistan border skirmishes, the conflict affects insurgencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.[3]

Hostilities existed between Afghanistan and the newly independent Pakistan since 1947,[4] when Afghanistan became the only country to vote against the admission of Pakistan to the United Nations.[5] Before Pakistan's independence, Afghanistan advocated the independence of its north-west frontier,[6] although the region's predominant Pashtun population had voted overwhelmingly in favor of Pakistan over India in the referendum held in July 1947. 99.02% votes were cast in favor of Pakistan.[7][8] Though the proposed Pashtunistan state by Afghanistan fluctuated in size over time,[9] the Balochistan province of Pakistan was also frequently included in the Greater Pastunistan definition to gain access to the Arabian sea in case Pakistan failed as a state,[4] as Afghanistan had expected, but the idea became unpopular.[5] Border clashes first occurred in 1949 and continued till decisive Afghan defeat in Bajaur Campaign although Afghanistan continued to back insurgents.

Background[edit]

Map of Pashtunistan as claimed by Afghan government (1949–1973)

The International border between British India and Afghanistan was established after the 1893 Durand Line Agreement between British Mortimer Durand of British India and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan for fixing the limit of their respective spheres of influence. The single-page agreement, which contains seven short articles, was signed by Durand and Khan, agreeing not to exercise political interference beyond the frontier line between what was then the Emirate of Afghanistan and what was also then the British Indian Empire.[10] The Durand Line was reaffirmed as the International Border between Afghanistan and British India in the 1919 Anglo-Afghan War after the Afghan independence. The Afghans undertook to stop interference on the British side of the line in the subsequent Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 in Rawalpindi.[11]

Pakistan inherited the Durand Line agreement after its independence in 1947, but the Afghan Government has always refused to accept the Durand Line Agreement. Afghanistan has several times tried to seize Pakistan's western provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The then Afghan Prime Minister, Muhammad Hashim, said "if an independent Pashtunistan cannot be set up, the frontier province should join Afghanistan. Our neighbor Pakistan will realize that our country, with its population and trade, needs an outlet to the sea, which is very essential", in an interview with the Statesman.[4] In 1949, Pakistan Air Force bombed the Afghan sponsored militant camps in border areas including an Afghan village to curb an unrest led by Ipi Faqir propagating independent Pashtunistan.[12] Border clashes were reported in 1949–50 for the first time.[5]

Waziristan rebellion[edit]

Main article: Waziristan rebellion (1948-1954)

Between 1948 and 1954, Waziristan was subject to a rebellion led by Faqir of Ipi and his followers who occupied the area of Datta Khel and declared the independent state of Pashtunistan. In 1949, Pakistan Air Force warplane accidentally bombed an Afghan village killing 23 people which lead to nullification of Durand line by Afghanistan. The rebellion was suppressed by 1953–1954 PAF bombing campaign which led to the surrender of most of the forces effectively ending the rebellion.

1950 Chaman campaign[edit]

1950 Chaman campaign
Part of Pashtunistan insurgency and Pakistan-Afghanistan skirmishes
Location
Bogra Pass and Dobandi, Balochistan, Pakistan
Result Pakistani victory
Belligerents

Pashtunistan separatists
Support:

Afghanistan (alleged by Pakistan) [citation needed]		 Pakistan Pakistan
Units involved

Pro-Pashtunistan tribesmen
Support:

Afghan Army		  Pakistan Army
Pakistan Air Force

Invasion[edit]

On 30 September 1950, Afghan forces and allied pro-Pashtunistan tribesmen crossed Durand line[13]and occupied Bogra pass,[14] a strategic pass about 30 km north of Chaman with the aim of capturing the Quetta-Chaman railway link.[15] The invading force containing Afghan troops was also supported by Afghan artillery.[16] Although Afghanistan government officially denied it's involvement and asserted that the invaders were pro-Pashtunistan tribesmen.[17][12][5][18]

Counteroffensive[edit]

Upon the reception of reports about Afghan invasion, Pakistan Army was rushed to the area of Bogra pass about 30km northwest of Chaman to repel the invasion[19].Pakistan Air Force also bombed enemy positions and it had a key impact. Invading force soon retreated to the mountainous area of Dobandi, which was a strategic stronghold it became very difficult to dislodge enemy positions but Pakistan Air Force led a bombing campaign against the invading force.[12] At last after 6 days of fighting Pakistani forces retook the control of area and Afghan invading force was pushed back into Afghan territory.[12]

1950–51 Khyber campaign[edit]

In 1950 Afghan Air Force planes airdropped pro-Pashtunistan into the Khyber agency of Pakistan. Similarly, during 1950–51 Three Lashkars led by Afghan military and supported by Afghan artillery attacked Pakistani positions across the Durand Line in Khyber Agency. The invading force was declared as ‘Freedom Fighters’ by the official Radio and Press of Afghanistan. Pakistan responded by blockading Afghanistan's trade transit routes.

Bajaur campaign[edit]

Main article: Bajaur Campaign

The Bajaur Campaign was an armed conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan that began in September 1960[20] and ended in September 1961. It primarily took place in and around Bajaur District in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Hostilities broke out after Afghan prime minister Mohammad Daoud Khan, who was a vocal opponent of the Durand Line, sent in the Royal Afghan Army to occupy strategic regions in what is now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is considered to be an essential part of the Pashtun homeland.[21] Ultimately, the Afghan invasion was brought to a halt following Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kunar Province.[22] The Bajaur Campaign may have been a proxy conflict of the Cold War, as it has been alleged that the Afghans and the Pakistanis were actively receiving support from the Soviet Union and the United States, respectively.

1970s operation in Balochistan[edit]

Main article: 1970s operation in Balochistan

The Fourth Balochistan Conflict was a five-year military conflict in Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, between the Pakistan Army and Baloch separatists and tribesmen that lasted from 1973 to 1977.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kayathwal, Mukesh Kumar; Kayathwal, Mukesh Kamar (1994). "Pak-Afghan Relations: Durand Line Issue". Indian Journal of Asian Affairs. 7 (2): 37–46. ISSN 0970-6402. JSTOR 41950383.
  2. ^ Bezhan, Faridullah (2014). "The Pashtunistan Issue and Politics in Afghanistan, 1947-1952". Middle East Journal. 68 (2): 197–209. doi:10.3751/68.2.11. ISSN 0026-3141. JSTOR 43698155.
  3. ^ Bijan, Omrani (2018). "The Durand Line: Analysis of the Legal Status of the Disputed Afghanistan-Pakistan Frontier". University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review. 26 (1).
  4. ^ a b c Emadi, Hafiullah (1990). "Durand Line and Afghan-Pak relations". Economic and Political Weekly. 25 (28).
  5. ^ a b c d Hasan, Khurshid (1962). Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Vol. 2. pp. 14–24.
  6. ^ C. Christine Fair; Sarah J. Watson (18 February 2015). Pakistan's Enduring Challenges. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 281–. ISBN 978-0-8122-4690-2.
  7. ^ Electoral History of NWFP (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2013.
  8. ^ Michael Brecher (25 July 2017). A Century of Crisis and Conflict in the International System: Theory and Evidence: Intellectual Odyssey III. Springer. ISBN 9783319571560. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  9. ^ C. Christine Fair; Sarah J. Watson (18 February 2015). Pakistan's Enduring Challenges. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 281–. ISBN 978-0-8122-4690-2.
  10. ^ Smith, Cynthia (August 2004). "A Selection of Historical Maps of Afghanistan – The Durand Line". United States: Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  11. ^ Sidebotham, Herbert (16 August 1919). "The Third Afghan War". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d Amin, Abdul Hameed (2001). "Remembering our Warriors: Major-General Baber and Bhutto's Operation Cyclone". Pakistan Military Consortium and Directorate for the Military History Research (DMHR). Pakistan Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  13. ^ Weinbaum, Marvin G. (18 April 2024). Afghanistan and it's neighbours a dangerous neighbourhood.
  14. ^ "Afghanistan and Pakistan's often ignored history".
  15. ^ "forgotten history of Pak Afghan relations". 22 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Timeline of Pakistan Afghanistan relations". 30 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Did Pakistan destroy Afghanistan". Archived from the original on 28 April 2016.
  18. ^ Leake, Elisabeth (31 March 2022). Afghanistan, Pakistan and India a deadly triangle. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-258486-1.
  19. ^ "Timeline of Pakistan Afghanistan relations". 30 May 2019.
  20. ^ Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed; Vassefi, Tara (22 February 2012). "The Forgotten History of Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations". Yale Journal of International Affairs. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  21. ^ Blood, P.R.; Baxter, C.; Dupree, N. Hatch; Gouttierre, T.E.; Newell, R.S. (2001). "Afghanistan: A Country Study". In Gladstone, Cary (ed.). Afghanistan Revisited. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. p. 111. ISBN 1-59033-421-3.
  22. ^ Riedel 2014.

Bibliography[edit]

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