Taliban Minister Says There Is No Official Border Between Afghanistan & Pakistan

Noorullah Noori, Taliban’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, has said that there is no "official border" and "zero point" between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Ministry of Borders and Tribes Affaires of the Taliban released a video in which Noori referred to the Durand as the "hypothetical line" between the two countries.

Noori visited the Torkham crossing along with Khalilur Rehman Haqqani, Taliban’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriations.

During this trip, he has said that there is no "official border" between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the Durand Line is hypothetical line. He said that sometimes problems happen between the Taliban and Pakistan along this line.

These statements can further fuel the disagreement and tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban.

The government of Pakistan acknowledges the Durand Line as an internationally recognised border between the two countries. However, many Afghan governments have referred to the Durand Line as a "hypothetical line" and have raised questions about the validity of the "official border" between the two nations.

During the past few decades, individuals residing on either side of the border could travel freely using Pakistani or Afghan identity cards. However, towards the end of last year, the Pakistani government implemented a new policy at all border crossings between the two countries, in addition to a decision to deport Afghan immigrants.

Islamabad now requires a visa and passport to pass through the crossings. The decision caused widespread protests to be held in the Chaman region of Baluchistan, Pakistan.

The protesters said that the government cannot separate the tribes and families on both sides of the border, but the government insists that travel between the two countries should be made legal and that the traditional customs of the past are no longer acceptable.