Afghanistan-Pakistan Political Relations (1963-73)

Abstract

History of Afghan-Pak relations reflects ups and downs. Prior to the creation of Pakistan on 14th August 1947, Afghanistan asked the British that before their departure from India, they must return back those Pakhtoon dominant territories which had been annexed by British from Afghanistan. However, British quitted India without considering Afghan demand. Pakistan came into being in 1947; Afghanistan raised its territorial dispute with Pakistan. It was the first Muslim country which opposed Pakistan’s entry into the United Nations Organization (UNO). In 1949, Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga declared that they did not recognize the Durand Line as its international border with Pakistan. Many primary and secondary sources related to the proposed research are available. These sources are in English, Urdu, Pakhto, and Dari languages and available at different research centers, libraries and archives etc. located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The present study was conducted through the traditional method of data description and analysis in a chronological order. The present study follows qualitative research design and the sub design is historical. It works in the paradigm of modern history. The article finds that the in last ten years of King Zahir Shah’s rule relations between the two countries were normal as compare the premiership of Daud Khan. It concludes that the issues of Durand Line and Pakhtoonistan are the two major bottle-necks in the way of cordial relations between the two countries. More research is needed to find the positive and negative aspects of King Zahir Shah’s stance of not attacking Pakistan during the Indo-Pak wars.