Pakistan Declares Open War on Afghanistan’s Taliban Government — India–Afghanistan Relations & Durand Line

What military operation did Pakistan launch against Afghanistan in March 2026?

Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq.

Which Pakistani military targets were struck in Afghanistan-related retaliation?

Nur Khan Airbase (Rawalpindi) and 12th Division HQ (Quetta).

What was India’s official stance on Pakistan’s attacks against Afghanistan?

India condemned the Pakistani attacks and reaffirmed support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

What does TTP stand for?

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.

What was Pakistan’s main allegation against Afghanistan regarding the TTP?

Pakistan alleged that Afghanistan was sheltering TTP and allowing it to launch cross-border attacks into Pakistan.

What is the TTP’s significance in Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions?

TTP is a Pakistan-based militant organisation accused by Pakistan of conducting cross-border attacks from Afghan territory.

What were the three major factors behind the Pakistan–Afghanistan open war?

TTP sanctuary allegations, the disputed Durand Line, and repeated clashes along the border.

What is the Durand Line?

The Durand Line is the 2,640-km boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan drawn in 1893.

Who negotiated/drew the Durand Line in 1893?

Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated it with Afghan ruler Abdur Rahman Khan.

What was the original strategic purpose of the Durand Line?

It was intended to create a buffer zone against Russian expansion toward British India during the Great Game.

Why does Afghanistan dispute the Durand Line?

Afghanistan argues it was imposed under colonial pressure, divided Pashtun tribal communities and is not a permanent international border.

How did the Durand Line divide communities?

It divided Pashtun tribal populations and ethnic communities between present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

What is Pakistan’s position on the Durand Line?

Pakistan regards the Durand Line as an international boundary and inherited it after independence in 1947.

What was the Great Game in the context of the Durand Line?

The strategic rivalry between British India and Russia over influence in Central Asia.

What is the length of the Durand Line?

Approximately 2,640 kilometres.

Which Pakistani border crossing has repeatedly been closed, deepening Pakistan–Afghanistan mistrust?

The Torkham Crossing.

Why have Torkham Crossing closures increased tensions?

Repeated closures disrupt cross-border trade and movement and have pushed Afghan trade toward Iranian routes.

What is Pakistan’s traditional “Strategic Depth” doctrine regarding Afghanistan?

The doctrine viewed Afghanistan as strategic leverage or depth for Pakistan, particularly in relation to India.

How has the Taliban’s post-2021 India outreach affected Pakistan’s Strategic Depth?

The Taliban’s outreach to India has eroded Pakistan’s traditional Strategic Depth doctrine.

When did the Taliban regain full control of Afghanistan?

August 2021, after the United States withdrew.

When did the Taliban first capture Kabul during its earlier rise?

1996.

What happened to the Taliban regime in 2001?

The US-led intervention following 9/11 overthrew the Taliban government.

When did the Soviet Union intervene militarily in Afghanistan?

1979.

How did Pakistan respond during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan?

Pakistan supported Afghan Mujahideen factions opposing the Soviet presence.

When did Afghanistan’s monarchy end?

1973.

What political system replaced Afghanistan’s monarchy in 1973?

A republican system, followed by political instability and later communist rule.

What happened after Soviet withdrawal regarding Najibullah?

President Najibullah attempted to stabilise Afghanistan, but his government collapsed in 1992.

When did the Taliban emerge as a major force after the civil war?

The Taliban emerged in the 1990s and captured Kabul in 1996.

What happened to the Taliban after 2001?

The Taliban was removed from power but continued an insurgency against the new Afghan government and foreign forces.

What was established after the Taliban was overthrown in 2001?

A new Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established, though it faced insurgency and corruption.

What did Pakistan’s post-2021 tensions with Afghanistan centre on?

Cross-border militancy, TTP activity, border disputes and competing strategic interests.

What was India’s concern regarding Pakistan–Afghanistan escalation?

Escalation could reduce infiltration pressure along the Line of Control but also create wider regional instability and security risks.

What is the “terror spillover” risk for India from Afghanistan instability?

Prolonged instability could strengthen Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) and increase extremist threats toward India.

How can Afghanistan instability affect India’s connectivity interests?

Conflict can disrupt India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia through projects such as the Chabahar route and INSTC.

What refugee-related risk does Afghanistan’s instability create for India?

A full-scale conflict could increase Afghan refugee flows and place pressure on India’s borders and foreign policy.

What is Gandhara’s historical significance to Afghanistan?

Gandhara, covering parts of modern Afghanistan and surrounding regions, was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas and a major centre of Buddhist culture.

What influence did Buddhism have in Afghanistan?

Buddhist culture flourished in Afghanistan, reflected by sites such as the Bamiyan Buddhas.

What happened to the Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001?

The Taliban destroyed the monumental Bamiyan Buddha statues in 2001.

What is the TAPI Pipeline?

The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline, designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan to South Asia.

What is the approximate length of the TAPI Pipeline?

Approximately 1,814 kilometres.

From where does the TAPI Pipeline originate?

The Galkynysh Gas Field in Turkmenistan.

What is the Salma Dam also known as?

The Afghan–India Friendship Dam.

Where is the Salma Dam located?

In Herat Province, Afghanistan.

Why is the Salma Dam important for India–Afghanistan relations?

It supports hydroelectric power and irrigation, especially benefiting Afghanistan’s energy and agricultural sectors.

What is the Zaranj–Delaram Highway?

A road built by India connecting Afghanistan’s Zaranj region to Delaram, improving access toward Iran’s Chabahar Port.

When was the Zaranj–Delaram Highway constructed?

It was constructed by India in 2009.

Which Indian organisation constructed the Zaranj–Delaram Highway?

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

What is the strategic significance of the Zaranj–Delaram Highway?

It connects Afghanistan to Iran’s Chabahar Port, facilitating trade while bypassing Pakistan.

What does the Afghan Parliament Building symbolise in India–Afghanistan relations?

Built by India and inaugurated in 2015, it symbolises India’s commitment to Afghan democracy and development.

What is the purpose of the Shahtoot Dam Project?

It aims to provide drinking water to Kabul and support irrigation in nearby regions.

What is the Multilateral Joint Development Programme mentioned in India–Afghanistan relations?

It refers to Afghanistan’s participation in multilateral regional frameworks, including cooperation involving SAARC.

What was the Kandahar Hijack of 1999?

Indian Airlines flight IC-814 was hijacked in 1999 and taken to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

What was the Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process?

An initiative launched in 2011 to promote regional cooperation and provide greater assistance to Afghanistan.

What was significant about India’s 2025 engagement with the Taliban regime?

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai, marking a high-level India–Taliban engagement.

What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?

A UN General Assembly declaration adopted on 10 December 1948 establishing a global framework of fundamental human rights.

Is the UDHR legally binding as a treaty?

No. The UDHR is a declaration, not a treaty, and is not legally binding by itself.

When is Human Rights Day observed?

10 December, commemorating the adoption of the UDHR in 1948.

What is India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)?

A statutory human-rights watchdog established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

What is the composition of the NHRC mentioned in the chapter?

It is headed by a Chairperson, with other members including a Supreme Court judge and five members as specified under the framework.

What are Afghanistan’s capital, currency and sovereign border dispute mentioned in the chapter?

Capital: Kabul; currency: Afghan Afghani; major disputed boundary: Durand Line.