The Durand Line Agreement was a significant treaty signed by Abdur Rahman Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan, and Sir Mortimer Durand, a British Indian civil servant, in 1893. This agreement aimed to formally establish a border between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British India, seeking to resolve escalating conflicts and territorial disputes in the region. The line created by the Durand Agreement was drawn through a diverse landscape that included various ethnic groups such as Pashtuns and Baloch, leading to long-lasting effects on the demographics and political landscapes of the area.

Abdur Rahman Khan, seeking to modernize Afghanistan and solidify his rule, accepted the British proposal as a way to gain recognition and avoid direct confrontation with the British Empire. Meanwhile, the British, who aimed to consolidate their control over the Indian subcontinent and limit Russian expansion in Central Asia, found the agreement beneficial for their strategic interests. The signing took place in the context of the so-called “Great Game,” a term used to describe the political and diplomatic confrontation between Britain and Russia in Central Asia during the 19th century.

However, the agreement was met with criticism within Afghanistan, as many believed it unfairly divided ethnic groups and tribes between two nations. The imposition of the Durand Line would lead to various conflicts and uprisings in the subsequent decades, including difficulties in the coherence of the Afghan state. Despite later calls for its re-evaluation, the Durand Line effectively remained the border for much of the 20th century, shaping the geopolitics of South Asia.