- What Is Durand Line?
- Why is Durand Line in news?
- International Stand on Durand Line
- India’s stand on Durand Line
- Baluchistan and Taliban angle
- Gwadar Port = Pakistan + China
- Gwadar Port= Strings of Pearl?
- Chabahar Port= India + Iran
- Mock Questions
What Is Durand Line?
- The 2,600 km border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- This line is named after Sir Mortimer Durand, the Foreign Secretary of then undivided British India. He negotiated this border with the King of Afghanistan.
- At the end of 19th Century, the Power of Afghani king had declined so he had no choice but to accept it.
- Fast forward to 1947, India-Pakistan gain independence. But Afghans refuse to recognize Durand line as the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- In 1947, at the UN General Assembly meeting, Afghanistan even cast a vote against the admission of Pakistan to the United Nations.
Why is Durand Line in news?
- Recently, a top US diplomat said that Durand Line constitutes the “international border” between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- This has annoyed the Afghan Government.
India’s stand on Durand Line
- It may be worthwhile for India to signal that we do not necessarily recognize the Durand Line.
- Why? Because, to this date, the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are characterized by rivalry, suspicion and resentment.
- The primary cause of this hostility rests in the Durand Line Agreement. India can use it to deepen friendship with Afghanistan, by taking their side on Durand issue.
- But Indian Foreign policy prefers to stay away from all political risks, therefore very unlikely.
Baluchistan and Taliban angle
- Baluchistan is one of the four provinces of Pakistan.
- It is the largest province by area, but smallest by population.
- On August 11, 1947, the British acceded control of Baluchistan to the King of Baluchistan,
- Mohd. Ali Jinnah tried to persuade the Baluch king to join Pakistan, but the Baluch parliament refused it.
- So the Pakistani Army invaded Baluchistan in 1948, and took control of everything. (they tried to do same in Kashmir during 1947, but couldn’t succeed.)
Anyways, later on the Baluch people started independence movement against Pakistani rule, leading to insurgency, armed struggle.
It is still going on. (and every once in a while, Pakistan accuses Indian agency RAW for supporting those Baluch rebels)
But how does Baluchistan issue connect with Durand Line?
If there is a strong and assertive Government in Afghanistan, following things can happen
- Afghan Government takes very assertive and aggressive stance. (just like China over Tibet issue).
- Afghan armed forces may launch some campaign to reclaim the territory.
- Afghan intelligence service may start funding and training Baluch insurgents to create more trouble for Pakistan. (just like ISI +LeT= trouble 4 India)
Therefore, Pakistan wants a weak, destabilized, puppet government in Afghanistan to prevent above nightmares from happening. That’s why, ISI has been providing shelter for members of Al-Qaeda and Taliban In Baluchistan area. It serves two purpose
- Taliban commits acts of terrorism within Afghanistan = keeps President Hamid Karzai’s Government occupied with domestic trouble.
- Baluch rebels and Talibans belong to two separate Ethnic groups. So Presence of Taliban in the region assure that they keep infighting to dominate the region. (Both of them finance operations using kidnaping, ransom, toll-tax, etc. So, if two companies operating in same territory, there will be struggle for gaining those ‘economic resources’.)
Gwadar Port = Pakistan + China
- Pakistani Government has built a port @Gwadar, in Baluchistan coast, with the help of Chinese engineering expertise.
- Gwadar project is trouble for India, because of following reasons
- Around One third of world’s oil supply comes through the Strait of Hormuz. (Recall the Hormuz oil blockade article click ME)
- Gwadar is located only 180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.
- This port would enable Pakistan take control over the world energy jugular and destroy Indian tankers (in case of war).
- Earlier, All Pakistani Naval ships were concentrated @Karanchi port. Indian Navy could easily attack them and block Pakistani trade.
- But now with Gwadar port, Pakistani navy could spread out its ships, thus preventing Indian navy from destroying all assets once. (Gwadar port is 450 km further away from Indian Border than Karachi Port.)
- The Baluch rebels are opposing Gwadar port.
- They say Gwadar Port hasnot lead to any economic Development in the region, all the port-jobs are given to the migrants from Punjab and Sindh province. There have been reports of rebels attacking Chinese engineers and workers. (and Pakistan claiming that RAW had hand in it).
Gwadar Port= Strings of Pearl?
- Gwadar port a part of ‘String of Pearls’ strategy of Chinese where they’ve got hold of strategic ports in Gwadar, Bangladesh, SriLanka, Burma, Thailand, Combodia, and South China Sea etc.
- On a world map, these ports form of string (of pearls) which may form as Chinese line of defense to control oil movement.
- Although China has always denied that Gwadar will ever be used by Chinese military.
- Publicly China has always called it a civilian port of Pakistan.
Chabahar Port= India + Iran
- Iran is barely 72 km away from Gwadar port.
- Iran feels that Gwadar port (Pakistan) will take business away from Iranian ports.
- Therefore, in competition to Gwadar, Iran has developed its own port called Chabahar with the help of India. We already discussed this in earlier article (click me )
- India also built a road to connect this Iranian port with Afghanistan. (Deleram Zaranj)
- This will provide India the shortest route to Central Asian markets and will be a counter balance to Chinese influence in Gwadar.
Food for thought
Copy pasting some interviews from Baluch Leaders
- Islamabad has always claimed that the Baluch resistance is been backed by India. But that´s just fake propaganda from Pakistani state media in order to show the world that the Baluch are proxies. India is not supporting us.
- Baluchs are basically secular, by their culture, by their tradition, by their historical background, so the Pakistani regime is trying to Talibanise the Baluch society. Just where I am right now, the ISI – the Pakistani secret service – has set up two religious militant groups against the Baluch national struggle. They have formed these groups in the name of Islam but their real aim is to crush the Baluch freedom movement.
- The Taliban are basically Pakistani military without uniform. They started beheading westerners after 9/11 but we were being beheaded by these religious butchers long ago. We have told the International community about the evil plans of the ISI – the Pakistani secret services – but our plea has been stubbornly ignored.
- An independent Baluchistan would not only be good for us but also for the rest of the world. As we are secular people we would not allow extremism coming from Pakistan, Iran or Afghanistan.
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Gillani has even spoken about conducting a referendum in Baluchistan but, tell me, when the French, the English, etc pulled out from their colonies, was there any referendum at all? We’re also a colony so Pakistan should leave without any pre-conditions.
Mock Questions
Which of the following statements are correct?
- Durand Line separates India from Afghanistan.
- 38th Parallel separates North Korea and South Korea.
- 49th Parallel is the boundary between USA and Canada.
- Gwadar port is located in the Arabian Sea.
Mains (GS paper II)
- Critically examine the Strategic interests of India, in and around the Strait of Hormuz. (20 marks)
- Assess the turbulent situation in Baluchistan. (10 marks)
- For India, What are the security and strategic implications of Gwadar Port? (10 marks)
Interview
- Do you think we should help Baluchistan gain independence, like we did to Bangladesh in 1971?
- Apart from Bangladesh, do you know names of any other countries that gained independence with the help of “foreign powers”?
- If Baluchistan gains independence, what will be its implication on the International Power equations?
Ref
- http://www.afghanland.com/history/durrand.html
- http://www.indianexpress.com/news/durand-line/1024243
- http://weeklypulse.org/details.aspx?contentID=689&storylist=6
- http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/qa-Baluch-groups-to-unite-against-pakistan/
- http://www.dw.de/taliban-are-pakistani-military-without-uniform/a-15939683-1
![[IR By Pavneet 4/5] Art of Answer-writing: Directive Word#2 “DISCUSS” – Impediments to India’s permanent membership at UN Security Council (UNSC)](https://mrunal.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/webinar-pvnt-c-500x383.png)
First of all a ton of thanks for giving information such a nice way. Sir please one give comparison of India’s look east policy strategy and china’s string of pearl strategy.
sir.. will there be sectional cut offs in fci paper-2 which will be held on coming jan 6th? wat are the minimum cut offs for paper-2? plz clarify sir.
Answers to mock tests.. All are correct.. India shares boundary with Afghanistan which, as of now, lies in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. This 80 km. boundary is part of Durand Line. Therefore, all the four statements are correct. Please clarify.
sir ,
please give me guidence . i m an elect.engg nd i want to become I.A.S Officer . so plz guid me from the begainning whatw to start first .
start with this article
https://mrunalmanage.wpcomstaging.com/2012/11/strategy-upsc-civil-service-exam-ias-ips-csat-general-studies-part1.html
mrunalji ,it is good article.i have got some clarification about durand line and beluchisthan.
thank you.
i want to know about exchange traded funds.
Pdf generator link is not displaying/working. Please look into the issue. Thanks
use this link: https://mrunalmanage.wpcomstaging.com/2012/11/diplomacy-durand-line-baluchistan-gwadar-port-indiapakistanafghanistaniranian-interests.html/print/
hi dear… Hv been seeing ur site frm last few mths…. U cover the issue pretty nicely and in very simple manner…. I must say tht i hv nt seen ne site explaining the issues so well…. Thanks…
Pakistan has achieved a remarkable success on the cost of huge blood loss at its own territory by forcing USA to abandon Afghanistan through a long but painful Proxy War that displayed determination and veiled tactics. The US economy does not allow further more adventure on the Afghan soil. With Chinese entry into the region taking control of Gwader, the balance of power tilts much towards Pakistan. The sacrifices are now paying. China has strong Veto Power and any designs of the West and India for Balochistan are now completely vaporized.
you are an awesome guy Mrunal
thank you sir.
Sir, I am not able to find – which other nations liberated via foreign interference?
To fully understand the implications for India, we need to note that 70 per cent of India’s oil imports come by sea, from the Gulf (with tankers exiting through the Strait of Hormuz). Seventy per cent of our imported oil arrives at ports in the Gulf of Kutch, the Gulf of Cambay and the Mumbai port. Indeed, in 2007, the Gulf of Kutch received 1,100 oil tankers (passing some 40 nm from Gwadar), and this number will grow to 2,100 by 2012 and over 4,000 tanker ships by 2025, when India’s oil imports would have quadrupled to 320 million tonnes (China’s imports would also rise to over 600 million tonnes and hence the possibility of conflict of interest between these two largest consumers of oil).
The global strategic implications are also serious since the Gulf region has 75 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves and 50 per cent of the world’s proven gas reserves. About 16 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily on tanker ships (worth over $200 billion annually). This amounts to over 90 per cent of the oil exported by the Gulf region and over 40 per cent of the entire world’s oil trade.
The Chinese Navy’s activities in the Indian Ocean region need to be monitored as closely as we monitor Pakistani-based terrorist moves. Thanks to availability of shale oil deposits in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the US, new oil fields in Russia, and oil fields off Brazil’s EEZ, West Asia may not remain the primary source of global oil after 2030, but its proximity to India will still ensure that it’s of great strategic importance to us as an energy source. China now imports more oil from West Africa (Nigeria and Angola) than it does from West Asia, and this oil will still need to move by sea through the Malacca and other straits in Southeast Asia (Sunda and Lombok). However, in a crisis situation, China does have the option to move this West African oil to Gwadar port and then pump it to China via the proposed land-oil pipeline.
The time for fence sitting is over. We need a strong 200 ship Indian Navy, inclusive of 12 tactical nuclear submarines (SSNs) and 500 aircraft. In addition we need allies, amongst like-minded maritime nations of the Indo-Pacific Region, and we need to take bold decisions befitting a nation which will have the third largest GDP in the world by 2030.
It will take China about 20 years to convert the Gwadar port into a full-fledged naval base comprising facilities to repair warships and submarines, set up ammunition dumps for arming them, and build a suitable airfield for maritime surveillance and interdiction using drones and aircraft. And it is true that in the event of war, the Gwadar port and its installations could be destroyed by the Indian Navy and Air Force (as well as the US Navy), using land attack cruise missiles and fighter aircraft, but such an action against China and Pakistan — two nuclear powers — would have serious repercussions.
The Chinese are not just helping Pakistan build the Gwadar port, but have provided practically all the funding.
These developments, when seen along with the Chinese-built ports in Hambantotha (Sri Lanka) and new terminals at Chittagong and Sonadiya port (both in Bangladesh), and China’s move into the Maldives (where it’s reportedly providing “security assistance”), indicate troubled times ahead for India, as they complete the final links in the Chinese “string of pearls” strategy — to safeguard its sea lanes for energy imports, encircle India and dominate the Indian Ocean region.
SIR !
KINDLY TELL ABOUT COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE GAINED INDEPENDENCE WITH THE HELP OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
2) KINDLY ELUCIDATE THE REPERCUSSIONS OF INDEPENDENCE OF BALUCHISTAN ON INDIA AND WORLD.
The indians are really upset and dreaming abt that what can they after the develpment. Keep in mind that we balochistan is a part of Pakistan and we can do what ever we want with in our borders. All you can do just keep ur asses burn and see the dreams like this articles.
I think the correct answer to the mock question is 2 and 4. (correct me if i am wrong)
answer:d,is it right or not?please tell me sirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:
sir! the maps r not opening up in this article
Durand Line seperated Pak & Afg, a 2460km porous border, such an enmasse landmass.Whilas Canada & America being seperated by 49th parallel.
Mrunal what is your take on India supporting the Balochistan in gaining Independence, Wil it not get us one good friend negate the rowing influence of String of Pearl theory of China but in case if Baloch wants our help.
all crct except 3
thankyou very much sir for such a nice explanation…!!
qualifying tests of regional language is not mentioned in upsc syllabus?