Should there be a refrendum regarding Durand Line?

[Shapur]

I think there should be a free and fair refrendum in pashtun areas of Pakistan on whether Afghanistan should accept the Durand line or not?

I know this will put the Pashtuns in Pakistan in an awkward position but it might put some of Pakistan's fears to rest once and for all maybe there might be a change in Pakistan's policy towards Afghanistan and vice versa. I know the Taliban wouldnt recognize such a refrendum due to ummah without borders thing but thats another issue.

Do you think this is a good idea? THIS QUESTION IS FOR PASHTUNS ONLY, NON PASHTUNS NEED NOT REPLY.

[ANAcommander]

I think there should be a free and fair refrendum in pashtun areas of Pakistan on whether Afghanistan should accept the Durand line or not?

I know this will put the Pashtuns in Pakistan in an awkward position but it might put some of Pakistan's fears to rest once and for all maybe there might be a change in Pakistan's policy towards Afghanistan and vice versa. I know the Taliban wouldnt recognize such a refrendum due to ummah without borders thing but thats another issue.

Do you think this is a good idea?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDbEtH05soE

If there was a referendum held, Pashtuns of Afghanistan would join Pakistan.Think about it, your ANA government literally offers south-eastern Pashtuns nothing. With Pakistan they will be able to trade freely, and get some electricity.

Pashtuns of Pakistan would never join Afghanistan, especially in the current state that it is. Forget about impoverished, Afghanistan offers nothing to Pakistani Pashtuns. Afghan Pashtuns would literally join Pakistan, and probably try to take the rest of Afghanistan.

Pakistani rupee is used more in your nation than Afghani or dollar. Think about it.

[ANAcommander]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayizWEGMUfw

[Shapur]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDbEtH05soE

If there was a referendum held, Pashtuns of Afghanistan would join Pakistan.Think about it, your ANA government literally offers south-eastern Pashtuns nothing. With Pakistan they will be able to trade freely, and get some electricity.

Pashtuns of Pakistan would never join Afghanistan, especially in the current state that it is. Forget about impoverished, Afghanistan offers nothing to Pakistani Pashtuns. Afghan Pashtuns would literally join Pakistan, and probably try to take the rest of Afghanistan.

Pakistani rupee is used more in your nation than Afghani or dollar. Think about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayizWEGMUfw

Thanks but no thanks for your input. I have edited my post because I want the opinion of Pashtuns only.
Anyways if you are pashtun which I doubt, just answer the question, should there be a refrendum asking Pashtuns in Pakistan if the durand line should be signed or not? I am not asking what the answer will be or the reasons for yes or no. It is the right of the Pashtuns in Pakistan to voice their opinion which they were denied in 1947. They can choose what they want, no pressure, it is their land that they live on and the Kabul government has no right telling them what to do.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

A referendum is not a good idea. Average people don't know how partition of Pakistan will affect them. Average people don't know what the political and economic implications are of a partition.

On Afghan side, we would be better off if there was peace and unrestricted trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Instead of thinking within framework of nation-states, we need to move further and focus on political economic and cultural ties. If Afghanistan and Pakistan both agree on working for mutual interests and decrease tensions, both countries will benefit.

Trade route to Indian Ocean and India via land is vital for Afghan economy. If both countries see the benefits of closer ties, people will benefit greatly.

But sadly, people in both countries are extremely stupid, short sighted, narrow minded and ignorant. So nothing good will happen anytime soon.

[marwat]

no referendum.

[Samandri]

I think there should be a free and fair refrendum in pashtun areas of Pakistan on whether Afghanistan should accept the Durand line or not?

I know this will put the Pashtuns in Pakistan in an awkward position but it might put some of Pakistan's fears to rest once and for all maybe there might be a change in Pakistan's policy towards Afghanistan and vice versa. I know the Taliban wouldnt recognize such a refrendum due to ummah without borders thing but thats another issue.

Do you think this is a good idea? THIS QUESTION IS FOR PASHTUNS ONLY, NON PASHTUNS NEED NOT REPLY.

Referendum should be held instead in Afghanistan, whether they want to drag Durand line issue further or want to move on.

[Da Bannu Mazdigar]

i am afraid people living in afghanistan might opt in favour of Pakistan if referendum is ever done on both sides of border.

[Samandri]

i am afraid people living in afghanistan might opt in favour of Pakistan if referendum is ever done on both sides of border.

The Pashtuns of present day Afghanistan, have never been directly ruled by outsiders since 1747. They might be ghareeb but take immense pride in this fact, becoming subservient to Punjab-dominated Pakistan, is an insulting notion for them.

The reason Pashtuns of present day Pakistan, offered so much armed resistance to Sikhs and later British, was to have the independence which todays Afghans are enjoying. It is also a fact that Afghan-Pashtuns are enjoying independence due to sacrifices of lar Pashtuns who had to bear he brunt of invasions from east. The conservative lobby of British parliament was actually in favour of annexing Afghanistan but retracted it as they were unable to pacify the Pashtuns in present day Pakistan. The liberals even suggested in 1860-70, due to tough resitsnace from Pashtuns, that river indus should be made boundary of British India.

[Da Bannu Mazdigar]

The Pashtuns of present day Afghanistan, have never been directly ruled by outsiders since 1747. They might be ghareeb but take immense pride in this fact, becoming subservient to Punjab-dominated Pakistan, is an insulting notion for them.

The reason Pashtuns of present day Pakistan, offered so much armed resistance to Sikhs and later British, was to have the independence which todays Afghans are enjoying. It is also a fact that Afghan-Pashtuns are enjoying independence due to sacrifices of lar Pashtuns who had to bear he brunt of invasions from east. The conservative lobby of British parliament was actually in favour of annexing Afghanistan but retracted it as they were unable to pacify the Pashtuns in present day Pakistan. The liberals even suggested in 1860-70, due to tough resitsnace from Pashtuns, that river indus should be made boundary of British India.

much has changed since than.the afghan refugees today will chose pakistan over Afghanistan if given choice,let say in the form of referendum.

Those pashtuns of pride are long dead in Afghanistan.

Just look at the present situation of Afghanistan,ask a common man in afghanistan,they are happy with nato presence or atleast the nato established govt,so was the case against USSR.those offering the resistance represent a extreme small numbers of Afghanistan and they too are supported by Pakistan.

I can post articles from najib era when they blamed Pakistan for the mujahideen but now you see everyone from Afghanistan claiming that they defeated USSR while the fact is that majority of the manpower provided to the mujahideen was from the pashtun region of Pakistan.

Mark my words,decade later when NATO will leave Afghanistan,they will again term the nato withdrawal as the victory of Afghan people while today after every incident they blame it on Pakistan and term the talibs as proxy of Pakistan.

[Shapur]

A referendum is not a good idea. Average people don't know how partition of Pakistan will affect them. Average people don't know what the political and economic implications are of a partition.

On Afghan side, we would be better off if there was peace and unrestricted trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Instead of thinking within framework of nation-states, we need to move further and focus on political economic and cultural ties. If Afghanistan and Pakistan both agree on working for mutual interests and decrease tensions, both countries will benefit.

Trade route to Indian Ocean and India via land is vital for Afghan economy. If both countries see the benefits of closer ties, people will benefit greatly.

But sadly, people in both countries are extremely stupid, short sighted, narrow minded and ignorant. So nothing good will happen anytime soon.

what you are suggesting is does make sense, I am not in favour of nation states in their current form as they are un natural and a legacy of colonial era. Most of the maps were drawn to divide and rule but we are stuck with them for the moment at least.
Pakistan will not let Afghanistan use its trade routes because it wants Afghanistan to recognize the Durand line and support Pakistan in its claims over Kashmir so it uses the trade routes as one of their cards to put pressure on Afghanistan. Maybe signing the Durand line will put some of Pakistan's fears to rest and maybe Pakistan will stop.its interference in Afghanistan and stop.using the trade routes and access to the sea as a bargaining chip. Ofcourse there is always possibility that even if the Durand line agreement is signed, Pakistani government might still not change their stance as the leaders are mostly corrupt and puppets but it can't be used as an excuse. Ofcourse it is not up to Kabul to decide the fate of Pashtuns in Pakistan. Its their land and they should be free to make a choice.

[Shapur]

Referendum should be held instead in Afghanistan, whether they want to drag Durand line issue further or want to move on.

Many Pashtuns in Pakistan still complain about the fact that Amir Abdurrahman Khan signed the treaty and in their interpretation sold them to the British. Pakistani establishment also tries to use this against Pashtun unity by telling Pashtuns in Pakistan, look your brothers betrayed you and unfortunately those not familiar with Pashtun history will buy into this trick.
Ofcourse that is not what happenex, Pashtuns are not a commodity to be bought and sold.Tell Pashtuns Pashtuns in Pakistan that they were sold and they will give you a good slap. The fact is Durand line was signed without the consent of Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan so we can't really blame each other and to this day the boundry doesn't really mean anything to the tribes living along the border.

Why should referendum be held in Afghanistan? The land belongs to the people who live there, it is there right to decide for themselves. I am not against a refrendum in Afghanistan though but they don't live there.

[Shapur]

no referendum.

why not?

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

what you are suggesting is does make sense, I am not in favour of nation states in their current form as they are un natural and a legacy of colonial era. Most of the maps were drawn to divide and rule but we are stuck with them for the moment at least.
Pakistan will not let Afghanistan use its trade routes because it wants Afghanistan to recognize the Durand line and support Pakistan in its claims over Kashmir so it uses the trade routes as one of their cards to put pressure on Afghanistan. Maybe signing the Durand line will put some of Pakistan's fears to rest and maybe Pakistan will stop.its interference in Afghanistan and stop.using the trade routes and access to the sea as a bargaining chip. Ofcourse there is always possibility that even if the Durand line agreement is signed, Pakistani government might still not change their stance as the leaders are mostly corrupt and puppets but it can't be used as an excuse. Ofcourse it is not up to Kabul to decide the fate of Pashtuns in Pakistan. Its their land and they should be free to make a choice.

I don't believe the military oligarchy in Pakistan and other elites are smart courageous enough to change their strategy.

If Pakistan abandons its south Asian thuggery strategy, maybe Pakistan and India will finally make lasting peace. If both countries improve their ties and cooperate, it will relieve Afghanistan of allot of tension. Then, maybe Afghanistan and Pakistan reach some sort of mutually beneficial settlement.

I tried to discuss this in another thread but people hijacked it for cheap shouting and cursing contest.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Germany and France are historical enemies. Similarly, France and Britain have their history of animosity and rivalry. Yet they managed to put their differences aside and join NATO and EU.

But China, India and Pakistan apparently aren't matured enough to think like Europeans do.