Durand Line quagmire: Why Qatar amended its statement on Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday amended its official statement on the recent ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan by removing the word ‘border’.

According to reports, the move followed strong objections from Afghan officials.

In its earlier statement, Qatar had expressed optimism that the ceasefire would help de-escalate tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. 

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar's hope that this important step will contribute to ending tensions on the border between the two brotherly countries and form a solid foundation for sustainable peace in the region," it said.

However, the Afghanistan officials linked the “border” reference to the Durand Line. Though the Duran Line is internationally considered as the western border of Pakistan, Afghanistan has not recognised it.

Following their objections, the statement was amended and said: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar's hope that this important step will contribute to ending tensions between the two brotherly countries and form a solid foundation for sustainable peace in the region." 

Dozens were killed and hundreds wounded in the worst violence between the two countries since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. The peace talks held in Doha were mediated by Qatar and Turkiye.

Taliban Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, who led the Afghan delegation to Doha, said that no discussion took place on the Durand Line during the negotiations.

“The Durand Line represents the collective stance of the Afghan nation. It has never been recognized as an official border, and no agreement has been made on this issue,” Mujahid said. 

“This is not a decision any government can make; it is a matter for the people,” he added.

The Durand Line cuts through Pashtun and Baloch territories, splitting families and clans between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan began fencing the border in 2017 to stop illegal crossings, but rugged mountains and tribal opposition make the efforts nearly impossible.