Written by: Sharifullah Dost
In the long and proud history of Afghanistan, the territorial integrity and national identity of the country have always been values upheld by Afghans at the cost of their lives, and they will continue to be so. While some so-called political opponents of Afghanistan and advocates of Pakistani interests have consciously launched a campaign to recognize the Durand Line in pursuit of their personal gains and finding a refuge, this fact should not be forgotten: this line has crossed the chest of a nation and is a wound that can never be healed by political deals.
The Durand Line is historically a colonial legacy imposed not by the will and consent of the Afghan people, but by the coercive circumstances of the time. Any movement or individuals who want to recognize this line as an official border are, in fact, committing a historical injustice against themselves. The Afghan nation has proven over the past century that it is not ready to accept any kind of imposed decision on the ground, and this matter is beyond the authority of governments; it is tied to the will of the people.
Those who boast about attacks on Afghanistan’s territory to please foreign countries, especially Pakistani military officials, and to gain their support, are essentially providing evidence of their own subservience and servile policies. Such actions not only exposed the falsehood of their patriotic slogans but also led to an increase in public hatred against them within the country. Sacrificing the national interests of one’s own country for the benefit of foreigners is a dark historical scar that will never be erased from the memory of the Afghan people.
The argument that opponents make, claiming that recognizing the Durand Line will bring peace to the region, is baseless and incorrect. The stability of the region lies not in the formalization of borders, but in mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and preventing irresponsible armed groups from threatening the region. Afghans understand that such demands are only used as a tool of pressure to portray Afghanistan as a weak and helpless country, but the Afghan people will never allow these sinister goals to be realized.
The current Afghan government and all the country’s nations, although they may have differing opinions on many matters, stand united when it comes to the Durand Line and national sovereignty. This unity shows that the opponents are unaware of the spirit and national consciousness of the Afghans. The reactions of Afghans regarding the Durand Line show the opponents that the protection of every inch of the country’s territory is our shared responsibility, and no one can sacrifice the fate of Afghans for the sake of expediency.
Those groups that seek to gain refuge and privileges by selling the Durand Line or breaking the red lines in general must understand that history is merciless toward traitors. The resolute rejection of the Afghans and the monitoring of the current situation prove that such efforts are always met with failure. The secret to Afghanistan’s survival and dignity lies in national unity and the preservation of its historical borders, not in accepting plans devised in foreign military camps to divide and weaken the Afghans.
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