Strategic Position on the Durand Line (Hypothetical line) and National Sovereignty.
As the Civil Movement for Law and Justice, we welcome the ceasefire and the attendant mediation agreement brokered between the Taliban and Pakistan, facilitated by the roles of Qatar and Turkey. We regard this measure as a constructive step towards de-escalation of violence and the prevention of human suffering. We hope that such initiatives will prove effective in promoting regional stability and safeguarding the lives and security of the Afghan people.
Concurrently, the Civil Movement for Law and Justice submits the following demands:
- The agreement and the policies governing subsequent phases must be fully transparent and publicly disclosed; the people have the right to know the decisions of Kabul’s current authorities regarding national interests and destiny.
- Robust guarantees and monitoring mechanisms must be established for the implementation of the agreement so as to prevent possible violations and transgressions.
- Intra-Afghan negotiations should commence in a genuine, inclusive, and substantive manner, incorporating representatives of civil society, political currents, women, and all segments of the Afghan nation. These talks must aim to secure the rights and legal status of all regions and ethnic groups of Afghanistan.
- The Taliban must attend to the legitimate demands of the populace and take tangible measures to obtain popular legitimacy; any regime lacking broad public support will remain vulnerable to external pressure and incursions.
- To guarantee defense, peace, and sustainable security, it is imperative that the fundamental rights of Afghans, freedom of expression, the rights of women and girls, and the principles of human liberty be safeguarded and practically guaranteed.
- The international community should provide practical and impartial support for the talks and the oversight of implementation; however, such support must be conditioned on respect for Afghanistan’s internal authority and national sovereignty.
The Civil Movement for Law and Justice believes that a ceasefire alone merely paves the way for a temporary reduction in violence; if we seek genuine stability, we must establish political solutions, resilient economic structures, the rule of law, and enforceable guarantees for human rights. For this, it is necessary to cultivate a climate of trust in national consensus and to undertake concrete actions — not merely slogans.
The Civil Movement for Law and Justice calls upon all political, civil, and communal forces to set aside their differences under the banner of national interest, to commence unified efforts and cooperation for the implementation of the ceasefire and the success of intra-Afghan negotiations. Our contribution on this path will not be limited to political rhetoric and declarations of support; we will take nonpartisan, practical responsibility through public awareness, oversight, and constructive participation.
Today the Afghan nation witnesses an uncertain situation: rumors circulate alleging clandestine arrangements concerning Afghan territory and borderlands, particularly regarding the line historically referred to as the “Durand Line.”
This matter is not merely a geographical demarcation but a fundamental question touching the Afghan nation’s historical identity, national sovereignty, and political independence.
Historical Foundation
The 1893 Durand Agreement — signed under colonial pressure with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan — was intended as a provisional administrative delineation, not as formal recognition of a permanent border. Under international law, an agreement extracted through colonial coercion and imposed unilaterally lacks enduring legal legitimacy.
National Consensus
No government, administrative body, or force that has come to power by compulsion has the right to conclude secret agreements concerning Afghanistan’s territory or historic rights without the consensus of the nation. These national rights are the property of the people — not of individuals.
Strategic Significance
The Durand issue transcends a mere boundary; it constitutes a geo-strategic axis in the south and east that is directly linked to Afghanistan’s national security, water resources, commerce, and regional influence. Any alteration to the fate of this line would affect the balance across the entire region.
International Stance
The Afghan nation must present a unified position to the world and assert, in accordance with international legal instruments such as the right of peoples to self-determination, that the Durand Line bears no legal legitimacy absent the will of the Afghan people.
National Message
The Afghan people will not cede this matter to force, coercion, or transient authorities. It is a trust across generations. Throughout history, Afghanistan’s steadfast position has been that no one has the authority to decide the fate of Afghan lands and historic frontiers except the nation itself. The so-called Durand hypothetical line is a historical imposition, not a lawful border. Any clandestine or illegitimate attempt to conclude agreements on this matter without national consensus shall be regarded as betrayal of national sovereignty, independence, and historical trust.
The Afghan nation must, with a singular voice, prudent political vision, and national concord, convey to the world that: Afghanistan’s territory is the inviolable honor of the Afghan people and not a matter for political bargaining.
May this new beginning become the foundation for Afghanistan’s peace, stability, and the welfare of all Afghans.
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