Editing Durand Line (section)

=== Recent border skirmishes ===
In July 2003, Pakistani and Afghan forces clashed over border posts. The Afghan government claimed that the Pakistani military established bases up to 600 meters inside Afghanistan in the Yaqubi area near bordering [[Mohmand District]].<ref name="globalsecurity">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/07/25-170703.htm|title=RFE/RL Afghanistan Report|author=John Pike |work=globalsecurity.org |access-date=30 January 2008|archive-date=23 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523123740/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/07/25-170703.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Yaqubi and Yaqubi Kandao (Pass) area were later found to fall within Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gnswww.nga.mil/geonames/GNS/index.jsp |title=Geonames Query Home Page |access-date=3 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407223825/http://gnswww.nga.mil/geonames/GNS/index.jsp |archive-date=7 April 2007}} NGA Geonames database</ref> In 2007, Pakistan erected fences and posts a few hundred metres inside Afghanistan near the border-straddling bazaar of [[Angoor Ada]] in [[South Waziristan]], but the [[Afghan National Army]] quickly removed them and began shelling Pakistani positions.<ref name="globalsecurity" /> Leaders in Pakistan said the fencing was a way to prevent Taliban militants from crossing over between the two nations, but Afghan President Hamid Karzai believed that it is Islamabad's plan to permanently separate the Pashtun tribes.<ref>[http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/news/article_1293995.php/Clash_erupts_between_Afghan_Pakistani_forces_over_border_fence Clash erupts between Afghan, Pakistani forces over border fence – South Asia<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123143833/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/news/article_1293995.php/Clash_erupts_between_Afghan_Pakistani_forces_over_border_fence |date=23 January 2013}}</ref> [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Special Forces]] from the [[United States Army]] were based at [[Shkin, Paktika|Shkin]], Afghanistan, seven kilometres west of Angoor Ada, from 2002.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fb_shkin.htm Fire Base Shkin / Fire Base Checo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807174810/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fb_shkin.htm |date=7 August 2009}}. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> In 2009, the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) and American CIA began using [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s from the Afghan side to hit terrorist targets on the Pakistani side of the Durand Line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-4285.html|title=NEWKERALA.COM for News, Information & Entertainment Stuff|author=NK|work=newkerala.com|access-date=5 December 2009|archive-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120211230/http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-4285.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Inside the Afghan customs and border patrol station at Torkham.jpg|thumb|[[Afghan Border Police]] check travellers' passports at Torkham Gate in Nangarhar province]]

The border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan has long been one of the most dangerous places in the world, due largely to very little government control. It is legal and common in the region to carry guns, and [[assault rifle]]s and explosives are common.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/search/journey/tribaltheme.html |title=Pakistan's Tribal Areas |first=Kamran |last=Khan |publisher=PBS Frontline |access-date=11 February 2011 |archive-date=2 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802032852/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/search/journey/tribaltheme.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Many forms of illegal activities take place, such as smuggling of [[weapon]]s, [[narcotic]]s, [[lumber]], [[copper]], [[gemstone]]s, [[marble]], [[vehicle]]s, and electronic products, as well as ordinary [[consumer]] goods.<ref name="Newsweek2"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/22349/|title=Soldiers disrupt timber smuggling in Afghan province|author=Amber Robinson|date=9 June 2009|access-date=14 February 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101170004/http://www.army.mil/article/22349/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2002/06/28/nat34.htm|title=Timber smuggling from Afghanistan on the rise|author=Abdul Sami Paracha|newspaper=Dawn|date=28 June 2002|access-date=14 February 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101132613/http://archives.dawn.com/2002/06/28/nat34.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2005/12/19/nat28.htm|title=Six Pakistanis held in Afghanistan on timber smuggling charge|newspaper=Dawn|date=19 September 2005|access-date=14 February 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101132129/http://archives.dawn.com/2005/12/19/nat28.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4721119-pakistan-suggests-curbs-to-end-smuggling-from-afghanistan|title=Pakistan suggests curbs to end smuggling from Afghanistan|date=30 November 2009|access-date=14 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101203051/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4721119-pakistan-suggests-curbs-to-end-smuggling-from-afghanistan|archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref> Kidnappings and murders are frequent.<ref name="DN" />
Militants frequently cross the border from both sides to conduct attacks.<ref>The News.pk, [http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8439&Cat=13 ''36 soldiers die in cross-border Chitral attack''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116001626/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8439&Cat=13 |date=16 November 2011}}, 28 August 2011.</ref> In June 2011 more than 500 Taliban militants entered Upper Dir area from Afghanistan and killed more than 30 Pakistani security forces. Police said the attackers targeted a checkpost, destroyed two schools and several houses, while killing a number of civilians.<ref>[http://www.thefrontierpost.com/?p=69232 The Frontier Post, Pakistan, Peshawar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421183511/http://www.thefrontierpost.com/?p=69232 |date=21 April 2012}}. ''The Frontier Post''. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref>

The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan are both trying to extend the rule of law into the border areas. At the same time, the United States is reviewing the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) [[Act of Congress|Act]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], which is supposed to help the economic status of the Pashtun and [[Baloch tribes]] by providing jobs to a large number of the population on both sides of the Durand Line border.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s496/show|title=S.496: Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009 – U.S. Congress – OpenCongress|work=OpenCongress|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718235449/http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s496/show|archive-date=18 July 2009}}</ref>

Much of the northern and central Durand line is quite mountainous, where crossing the border is often only practical in the numerous passes through the mountains. Border crossing is very common, especially among Pashtuns who cross to meet relatives or to work. The movement of people across the border has largely been unchecked or uncontrolled,<ref name="Newsweek2"/> although [[passport]]s and [[visa (document)|visas]] are at times checked at official crossings. In June 2011 the United States installed a [[biometrics|biometric]] system at the border crossing near [[Spin Boldak]], aimed at improving the security situation and blocking the infiltration of insurgents into southern Afghanistan.<ref>[http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/06/09/biometric-system-installed-spin-boldak Biometric system installed in Spin Boldak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510154215/http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/06/09/biometric-system-installed-spin-boldak |date=10 May 2013}}. 9 June 2011.</ref>

Throughout June and into July 2011, Pakistan [[Chitral Scouts]] and local defence militias suffered deadly cross-border raids. In response the Pakistani military shelled some Afghan villages in Afghanistan's [[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]], [[Kunar Province|Kunar]], [[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar]], and [[Khost Province|Khost]] provinces resulting in a number of Afghan civilians being killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/07/01/pakistan-fires-missiles-khost-say-border-police |title=Pakistan fires missiles into Khost, say border police |quote=Nearly a dozen missiles were fired from Pakistan into Afghanistan's southeastern Khost province over the past 24 hours, border police said on Friday. |date=1 July 2011 |publisher=[[Pajhwok Afghan News]] |access-date=6 July 2011 |archive-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202001132/http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/07/01/pakistan-fires-missiles-khost-say-border-police |url-status=live}}</ref> Afghanistan's [[Ministry of Interior Affairs (Afghanistan)|Interior Ministry]] claimed that nearly 800 [[Surface-to-surface missile|rockets]] were fired from Pakistan, hitting civilian targets inside Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-karzai-shelling/afghanistan-wont-fire-back-on-pakistan-karzai-idUSTRE7642IH20110705|title=Afghanistan won't fire back on Pakistan: Karzai|last=Shalizi|first=Hamid|date=1 July 2011|access-date=6 July 2011|publisher=Reuters|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044409/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-karzai-shelling/afghanistan-wont-fire-back-on-pakistan-karzai-idUSTRE7642IH20110705|url-status=live}}</ref> The Afghan statement claimed that attacks by Pakistan resulted in the deaths of 42 Afghan civilians, including 30 men and 12 women and girls, wounded 55 others and destroyed 120 homes. Although Pakistan claimed it was an accident and just routine anti-Taliban operations, some analysts believe that it could have been a show of strength by Islamabad. For example, a senior official at the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] explained that because the shelling was of such a large scale, it was more likely a warning from Pakistan than an accident.<ref name=Nichols>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/afghanistan-pakistan-coordinate-amid-cross-border-confusion-125326901.html|title=Afghanistan, Pakistan to coordinate amid cross-border confusion|publisher=Reuters |location=United States |first=Michelle |last=Nichols |date=7 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011}}</ref>

{{blockquote|I'm speculating, but natural possibilities include a signal to Karzai and to (the United States) that we can't push Pakistan too hard.<ref name=Nichols/>|[[Stephen Biddle]]}}

The United States and other NATO states often ignored this sensitive issue, likely because of potential effects on their war strategy in Afghanistan. Their involvement could have strained relations and jeopardized their own national interests in the area.<ref name="FG" /> This came after the [[2011 NATO attack in Pakistan|November 2011 NATO bombing]] in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed.<ref>Tolo News, [http://tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/4635-terrorist-safe-havens-in-pakistan-must-go-joint-chiefs-head-says- "Terrorist Safe Havens in Pakistan Must Go, Joint Chiefs Head Says"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117145213/http://tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/4635-terrorist-safe-havens-in-pakistan-must-go-joint-chiefs-head-says- |date=17 January 2012}}. 10 December 2011.</ref> In response to that incident, Pakistan decided to cut off all NATO supply lines as well as boost border security by installing anti-aircraft guns and radars to monitor air activity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/10/world/asia/pakistan-military/index.html?section=cnn_latest|title=Pakistan boosts border security after airstrike|author=Wire Staff|date=10 December 2011|publisher=CNN|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-date=5 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005033552/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/10/world/asia/pakistan-military/index.html?section=cnn_latest|url-status=live}}</ref> Regarding the Durand Line, some rival maps are said to display discrepancies of as much as five kilometres.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Boone, Jon |title=Nato air attack on Pakistani troops was self-defence, says senior western official |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/26/nato-air-attack-pakistan-soldiers |work=[[The Observer]] |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=27 November 2011 |archive-date=1 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001065741/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/26/nato-air-attack-pakistan-soldiers |url-status=live}}</ref>