Revisiting the Durand Line: Historical and Legal Perspectives
| Author: Lutfur Rehman Binding: Hardback Pages: 261 Language: English Year: 2023 ISBN: 978-969-448-836-3 Publisher: IPS Press Content |  |
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About the Book
This book focuses on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border dispute which has been a source of tension between the two countries for more than seven decades. This research is unique in the sense that it contains all the original maps which were exchanged in Kabul in November 1893 following the border agreement between the ruler of Afghanistan Ameer Abdur Rahman Khan and British Indian official Mortimer Durand.
Primary data have been extensively used to explain the real and true perspective of this border. This frontier was demarcated by joint boundary commissions from time to time. Reports of British commissioners have been consulted and quoted. This is perhaps for the first time that these reports were explored and utilized. It is generally believed that Ameer Abdur Rahman signed the treaty under “duress”. This book dispels the impression. It also contains the history of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal districts (former FATA), and the former princely states of Chitral, Dir, and Swat. Different phases of Afghan history and status of the Durand Agreement under international law have also been discussed. Furthermore, international conventions have been cited to elucidate the issue and to facilitate the readers.
About the Author
Lutfur Rehman is an independent researcher who holds a PhD in international relations from the National Defence University, Islamabad. He has more than 30 years’ experience of practical radio journalism. He served with Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) in different capacities and covered major events in Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. In recognition of his services, he was awarded PBC National Excellence Award and also received gold medal from the then president Mamnoon Hussain for his research work. Lutfur Rehman took premature retirement in 2019. Later, he taught in a private sector university in Islamabad for more than a year but quit the job to concentrate on research. His research interests include Afghanistan, Balochistan, the Durand Line dispute, terrorism, and history of the former princely states of Chitral, Dir and Swat.
Lutfur Rehman has published widely on issues relating to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including a monograph, contributed to peer reviewed journals and edited books.
