Durand Line
Under review: this entry was added recently and its position is still being checked (exact (Natural Earth)).
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Overview
The Durand Line was drawn in 1893 by an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand of British India and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan.
After 1947 it became the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, although Afghanistan has never formally accepted it. It cuts across Pashtun and Baloch homelands.
According to India's official map, Gilgit-Baltistan is part of the Union Territory of Ladakh, so India shares a 106 km border with Afghanistan along the Wakhan corridor.
Geography and key facts
- Drawn in 1893 (Durand–Abdur Rahman agreement)
- Now the de facto Afghanistan–Pakistan border; not accepted by Afghanistan
- Divides Pashtun lands
- India–Afghanistan border: 106 km, in Gilgit-Baltistan (Ladakh UT) as per India's official map
Why it matters for UPSC
Know India's land boundaries with lengths, and the named lines: Durand, McMahon, Radcliffe, LoC and LAC.
Note for UPSC
1893 line between Afghanistan and British India, now the Afghanistan–Pakistan border; India's 106 km border with Afghanistan lies in Gilgit-Baltistan (PoK) as per India's official map.
Boundary questions cover which countries and regions a line separates.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Durand Line yet.
Key facts
- Type
- Boundary line
- State / UT
- Ladakh
- Extent on map
- 29.4°–37.0°N, 60.8°–74.5°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.