Residents of the Durand Line view the establishment of these committees as a positive development. Local residents point out the dire conditions in these remote areas, where people suffer from a lack of access to basic needs.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Borders, Ethnicities, and Tribes has reported that it has identified all the challenges faced by residents along the Durand Line. The initiative was carried out under the guidance of the leader of the Islamic Emirate, aiming to address long-standing issues in the border regions, a government spokesperson said.

Tasleemullah Haqqani, the ministry’s spokesperson, shared that the acting Minister of Borders, Ethnicities, and Tribes had recently visited several provinces along the Durand Line, including Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika, and Khost. During these visits, local officials and community members were engaged to form committees tasked with identifying the region’s key problems.

The Durand Line is the 1,640-mile (2,640-kilometer) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, a British civil servant, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan.

Haqqani emphasized that these committees have been set up transparently and are working on resolving the issues facing the people. “Once the challenges are identified, they are forwarded to a central committee, and soon, a special budget will be allocated to provide government services to these communities,” he said.

Residents of the Durand Line largely view the establishment of these committees as a positive development. Jahanzeb, a local resident, pointed out the dire conditions in these remote areas, where people suffer from a lack of access to basic needs such as water, education, telecommunications, and roads. Another resident, Taweez Khan, expressed support for the government’s efforts, calling it a positive step that would bring much-needed facilities to the area.

The Durand Line

For years, residents on both sides of the Durand Line have faced significant challenges in key sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The formation of these committees is seen as a critical first step toward improving conditions and providing essential government services to the region’s underserved communities.

Running from the border with Iran in the West and passing through the Spin Ghar (White Mountains) and the Registan Desert, the Durand line cuts through the homelands of the Pashtun people, dividing ethnic Pashtuns and Balochs. The Taliban government  of Afghanistan does not recognise the line, and Pakistan’s decision to fence the line in 2017 has physically split communities.

India also has a claim to the border.