Taliban unveils map of ‘Greater Afghanistan’ minus Durand Line, adds big part of Kashmir; How will India respond?

New Delhi: After fighting a round of war with Pakistan last month, a map of Greater Afghanistan is now escalating tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. Students at Al-Madrasa Al-Asriya in Afghanistan recently gifted a map of Greater Afghanistan to Taliban Deputy Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari. If this Taliban map of Greater Afghanistan becomes a reality, half of Pakistan will be wiped out.

This map depicts several Pakistani provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Balochistan, as part of Afghanistan. However, Gilgit-Baltistan is part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which is illegally occupied by Pakistan. The emergence of this map signals the beginning of a different kind of war.

Why would the dream of a Greater Afghanistan increase conflict?

The theory of ‘Greater Afghanistan’ or ‘Pashtunistan’ has been in the minds of Afghans for years. In fact, Afghanistan refuses to accept the Durand Line, the border line with Pakistan. It should be noted that the Durand Line was drawn by the British in 1893 to divide Afghanistan and then-India(BHARAT). However, Afghans have always opposed the Durand Line. Afghan nationalists claim the Pashtun-majority areas that are currently part of Pakistan. This issue has often led to conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Two sides plan to meet again in Istanbul on November 6

Last month’s conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban also involved the Durand Line dispute. Qatar and Turkey have currently brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and the Taliban, which is feared to be broken at any time. Pakistan stated that the ceasefire along the border would remain in effect after the Taliban government provided certain “assurances.” Meanwhile, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry stated that “all parties have agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure the maintenance of peace and impose penalties on violators.” The ministry further stated that the two sides plan to meet again in a high-level meeting in Istanbul on November 6 to finalise how to implement the ceasefire.

Taliban does not recognise the Durand Line

According to a News18 report, top intelligence and Taliban sources say that the Taliban, like previous Afghan governments, considers the Durand Line an imaginary line and not a real one. The Taliban does not recognise the Durand Line. Sources said, “Pakistan has no legitimate right to claim the territories east of this line. The Taliban believes that Pakistan has used them, Afghan soil, and fighters to gain strategic depth during the US war.”

By presenting a map of Greater Afghanistan, the Taliban leadership seeks to assert national pride and thwart any attempt by Pakistan to guide Kabul’s policies.