Afghan minister's 'Greater Afghanistan' map ignites fury: Claims Pakistani territory, stokes tensions

Kabul (The Uttam Hindu): A video circulating on social media has added fuel to the already simmering tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the video, Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari is seen displaying a map of "Greater Afghanistan" at a government event. The controversial map also depicts areas of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan as part of Afghanistan.

The event was held on October 28th in Afghanistan's Khost province, close to the border with Pakistan. The video shows two children dressed in military uniforms presenting Minister Omari with a shield depicting the controversial map of "Greater Afghanistan."

The video has sparked fears of further escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, although both countries are currently observing a ceasefire.

The Taliban made it clear even after the Doha talks a few weeks ago that it does not recognize the Durand Line as an international border. Afghanistan argues that the border dispute between the two countries remains unresolved, while Pakistan claims that the issue was settled long ago and that the Durand Line is the true border.

What is the Durand Line?

The Durand Line is a border line drawn between British India and what was then Afghanistan in 1893. It is named after Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the British official who negotiated the agreement.

Why does Afghanistan protest?

Afghanistan still vehemently opposes this border line. They argue that it was forcibly imposed on them by the British. The drawing of this line divided the Pashtun tribes, who had lived together for centuries, into two parts: half in Pakistan (then British India) and half in Afghanistan. The Afghan people have never fully accepted this artificial division, which remains a major thorn in relations between the two countries to this day.

Analysts believe this development could be retaliation for Pakistan's recent actions, which forcibly expelled over one million Afghan refugees from the country. It is being said that the Taliban have unleashed this old spirit to avenge this.