The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history, says George Orwell, an English novelist and critic. Orwell’s gem of wisdom best applies to the political denialism and historical revisionism at the hands of the current Taliban leadership. For instance, Afghanistan’s Defense Minister, Mullah Yaqub, contends that the primary cause of escalating tensions with Pakistan is not cross-border terrorism but rather the dispute over the Durand Line, established by British colonizers between Afghanistan and British India. Taliban leaders share this perspective, considering the Durand Line a long-standing contentious issue since the partition of the Indian subcontinent. However, the question arises whether this dispute is grounded in reality or is a fabricated narrative used to justify contemporary conflicts. Kabul has articulated four reasons for rejecting the 2,640-kilometer Durand Line border: first, Amir Abdul Rahman Barakzai, Afghanistan’s emir from 1880 to 1901, negotiated the treaty under pressure from British India; second, he reportedly misunderstood the treaty’s provisions, which were drafted in English; third, Taliban leaders claim that the treaty expired after 100 years in 1993; and fourth, they argue that the treaty’s legal standing ended when the British withdrew in 1947.
Conversely, historian Dr. Lutfur Rahman, who examined thousands of files at the British Library, offers an alternative viewpoint. He affirms that Amir Barakzai not only understood the treaty but actively sought it, corresponding with the British Viceroy to establish a border. He was pleased because the treaty secured territories such as Azmar and Lalpura. During the treaty signing, the Amir hosted a feast and awarded Sir Mortimer Durand the Golden Star in recognition of his role in negotiating the boundary, which originally delineated the border between Afghanistan and British India, encompassing parts of contemporary Pakistan. Furthermore, the assertion that the treaty expired after 100 years is a misconception; the original 1893 document contained no time limit and was intended as a sovereign external boundary. The Durand Line is an internationally recognized, legally binding border, reaffirmed on multiple occasions by Amir Habibullah in 1905, in the 1919 Treaty of Rawalpindi after the Third Anglo-Afghan War, and by King Nadir Shah in 1930. According to the 1978 Vienna Convention on Succession of States, Pakistan is the lawful successor to British India, rendering the border treaties definitive. If Afghanistan accepts territory acquired through the treaty, it must also accept the boundary.
The predominant concern at present is cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan territory. Groups such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), BLA, TTA, and Daesh continue to carry out attacks despite assurances from the Afghan Taliban government. At the same time, Afghanistan is drawing parallels with Gaza in an attempt to position itself as a victim. The targeting of an ammunition storage site in Kabul has come to dominate the narrative, while the broader Pakistan–Afghanistan conflict—along with its underlying causes and conduct—has been pushed to the background. This shift in narrative risks undermining Pakistan’s reputation and credibility within the international community. It is therefore imperative for Pakistan to engage proactively with the United Nations and call for an impartial investigation into the matter. In parallel, Pakistan must expand its international outreach by engaging third-party voices, including foreign diplomats and international organizations. The perspectives foreign diplomats from multiple countries will be critical in shaping a balanced narrative. Reliance solely on ISPR statements will not suffice. Timely and coordinated action will be essential to achieving this objective.