Pakistan must enforce the Durand Line to stop smuggling, illegal movement and militancy threatening national security
IN 384 BC, a Greek philosopher, Aristotle, defined a state as a geographical entity with established borders over which it exercises complete administrative control through enforcement of laws, providing services to citizens and handling relations with external states.
It is important for a state to have a centralized government exercising authority over its population through laws and the capability to enforce them. Such a state must have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within its territory. It is essential that the state be recognized internationally by other sovereign states. Humans are by nature social beings who need to interact with others and must have tolerance for the religious beliefs and political views of others to coexist and live peacefully as citizens of one nation. The state must have sovereign rights over defence, currency and relations with other countries. It must adopt a uniform policy to regulate the entry or exit of foreign nationals and trade across borders, with no right of free movement without passports or visas. A country that compromises these principles is liable to become a victim of chaos and a breakdown of national structure and an easy target for its foreign enemies to destabilize it from within.
Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country with a predominant tribal culture. The majority of its citizens are Muslims, whose customs and discrimination against women have nothing in common with the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). They need to remember the role of Hazrat Khadija, a divorced lady who was an active trader. There are numerous other female members of the Prophet’s (PBUH) family who, while modestly dressed, played prominent roles during and after his death. Pashtuns constitute 42%, Tajiks 27%, Hazaras 8%, Uzbeks and others like Turkmen, Balochis and Nuristanis around 9%. Its northern borders were drawn in the late 19th century through Anglo-Russian boundary agreements between the British Empire and Tsarist Russia, which divided ethnic Tajiks, Uzbeks and Turkmen, just like the Durand Line divided Pashtun tribes. Similarly, the 921 km border with Iran, extending from Turkmenistan in the north to Pakistan in the south, is strictly regulated.
The culture and customs of Afghanistan are related to tribal practices, including the Jirga system, where tribal elders, with no background or knowledge of established judicial practices and the constitution, sit in judgment on others. Movement across the borders for divided families of the same tribes living in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran has been strictly regulated and so is trade, which is conducted as per existing laws through border check posts, with almost zero tolerance for smuggling of narcotics and other products. This problem with the Durand Line was not an issue as long as the British Colonial Empire was at the helm. It erupted only after the Muslim-majority state of Pakistan was created and became independent in August 1947. We must remember that Afghanistan was the only country that opposed Pakistan at the UN in September 1947. There is no doubt that Pashtun tribes have been divided by the Durand Line, just like the Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras. There is no uniformity in the stance of Afghanistan vis-à-vis the issue of divided tribes, nor any principles. Afghanistan has been notorious for its tribal practices and for giving sanctuary to criminals in violation of the UN Charter and international laws, be they TTP, BLA, ISIL, etc.
It is also a bitter reality that smuggling across the Afghan border with Pakistan operates in nexus with a few powerful locals who are beneficiaries of smuggling and narcotics through the transit trade facilities extended to landlocked Afghanistan. In principle, there is no issue with transit trade facilities being extended to a landlocked neighbour such as Afghanistan because that is part of international law and the UN Charter. However, there is no rule requiring Pakistan to allow free, unregulated movement of nationals or trade through our common borders, especially when Afghanistan is a major country involved in narcotics production and has acquired notoriety by offering sanctuary to armed criminals and extremists. This problem is unique to their dealings with Pakistan and does not exist with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, etc.
To some extent, past policy decisions driven by short-term strategic considerations also contributed to weakening Pakistan’s border management and internal stability, as support extended during regional conflicts fostered militancy and undermined long-term national security interests. Enough damage has been done to Pakistan by those who betrayed this country and its constitution and are responsible for the deaths of millions who have become victims of their insatiable greed. Today, the menace of narcotic addiction poses a threat to our future generations because of its availability in our cities, towns and rural areas. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Pakistan can no longer afford to relax and allow free movement of Afghan nationals and others across the Durand Line, nor unchecked trade under the garb of transit trade. The sanctity of the Durand Line as an international border must be strictly enforced.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
