Pakistan reacts to Stanikzai’s remarks on Durand Line

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Friday reacted to remarks by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, deputy foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) for political affairs, on Durand Line, calling it “self-serving and fanciful.”

Recently, at the ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, Stanakzai said that half of Afghanistan is on the other side of the Durand Line and that this line was imposed on the people of Afghanistan by the British. He added that the Durand Line will never be recognized by Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson in a statement said: “Any self-serving and fanciful claims regarding the legality and sanctity of the Pak-Afghan border cannot change the facts of geography, history and international law.”

She advised Afghanistan to “address Pakistan’s genuine security concerns than try to divert public attention by such unfortunate public pronouncements.”

“Pakistan remains committed to facilitating fully regulated movement of people and goods across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border based on norms of interstate relations. We will continue to take steps to this end,” the spokesperson said.

The Durand Line is the 1893 British-mandated border between the two countries. It is recognized by Pakistan, but not by Afghanistan.