In November 2023, the Pakistani government announced a ban on cross-border travel with Afghanistan, marking a dramatic change in decades-old travel norms for the region. The new decree requires residents passing through the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing to produce passports and visas, a shift from the previous practice where individuals could cross the border by presenting their identity cards (Tazkira). This decision has sparked protests, particularly among residents of Chaman, who view the move as disruptive to their daily lives and livelihoods.
Following the announcement, protests broke out in the Chaman district, spearheaded by the Laghari (Labour) Union and the Laghari Traders Union. These groups, representing laborers and small-scale traders who rely on the ability to cross the border without extensive documentation, argue that the travel ban is economically devastating. For years, the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing has been a vital lifeline for workers and traders who traverse the border for employment, commerce, and family ties. Many protesters see the imposition of passports and visas as unnecessary and excessively restrictive.
Security Concerns Behind the Ban
Pakistani authorities have justified the travel restrictions as a necessary step in addressing the surge of cross-border militant violence. Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has experienced an increase in terror attacks, many of which are believed to be linked to militants crossing the porous border. In response, Islamabad has sought to implement stricter security measures, and the introduction of the travel ban forms part of a broader strategy to curb the movement of potential terrorists.
Additionally, in June 2024, the introduction of the Temporary Admission Document (TAD) further complicated border crossings for Afghan truck drivers transporting commercial goods into Pakistan. This policy, aimed at improving border security, requires Afghan drivers to submit vehicle registration, identification cards, photographs, and a $100 fee to gain entry into Pakistan.
However, these policies have disproportionately affected local residents who depend on free movement across the border for their daily livelihoods. Many of these individuals have protested what they view as a heavy-handed approach, with demonstrations resulting in clashes between security personnel and protesters. Over the course of the protests, more than 40 protesters were arrested, and at least 28 individuals, including 17 security personnel, were injured. The authorities have even resorted to shutting down internet and communication services in the district in a bid to disrupt the protests.
Economic Fallout and Job Losses
The ban has had significant economic repercussions, particularly for the residents of Chaman and surrounding districts. For years, thousands of workers and traders have relied on the ease of cross-border movement to sustain their businesses and jobs. However, the imposition of the travel ban has led to the displacement of over 20,000 local workers, many of whom are daily wage laborers employed in Afghanistan. Small businesses have also been severely impacted, with many unable to continue operations due to the new passport and visa requirements.
This represents a major shift in the dynamics of the region. For the first time since the controversial border-line between Pakistan and Afghanistan was demarcated more than a century ago, such a stringent restriction has been imposed on the movement of local people.
Durand Line
The Afghanistan–Pakistan border, commonly referred to as the Durand Line, has been a source of tension for over a century. After the fall of the Durrani dynasty in the 18th century, the once-united Pashtun Empire fragmented, and British imperial interests moved in. Following three Anglo-Afghan wars (1828–42, 1879–80, and 1919), British Foreign Secretary Mortimer Durand and Afghan Emir Abdur Rahman Khan negotiated a border between British India and Afghanistan in 1893. This border, finalized in 1897, bisected a region inhabited by ethnic Pashtuns who shared common language, culture, and tribal affiliations.
The border has been a matter of dispute ever since, particularly among the Pashtun population, who rejected the artificial division of their land. Afghanistan has never formally accepted the Durand Line as an international border, and many Afghan governments, starting from 1949, have denounced treaties signed with British India. These include the Treaty of Gandamak (1879), the Durand Line Agreement (1893), the Anglo-Afghan Pact (1905), the Treaty of Rawalpindi (1919), and the Anglo-Afghan Treaty (1921). No Afghan government since 1949 has recognized the Durand Line, and many Pashtuns continue to resist the notion of an international boundary dividing their ancestral lands.
Pakistan’s Security Measures and the Fence Controversy
The latest border restrictions are part of a larger Pakistani effort to secure its boundary with Afghanistan. Following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan became concerned about the unchecked movement of Taliban fighters between the two countries. In response, Pakistan erected a Friendship Gate in 2003 at the Chaman border crossing, which was later expanded into a 1,600-mile fence aimed at curbing terrorist movements.
The fencing of the Durand Line has been a source of tension between the two nations, with Afghan officials consistently opposing the structure. Local residents who live along the border and regularly cross for work or family visits have also protested the fencing. The Durand Line, which has 18 official crossing points but relies most heavily on Torkham and Chaman, continues to be a flashpoint in Afghanistan–Pakistan relations.
Taliban’s Response to the Border Ban
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, they have taken a firm stance against the Durand Line and Pakistan’s security measures. Taliban officials have criticized the fencing, claiming it has divided families and disrupted traditional tribal movements. Noorullah Noori, the Acting Afghan Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, referred to the Durand Line as an “imaginary one” during a visit to the Torkham border in early 2024, asserting that Afghanistan does not recognize any official border with Pakistan.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, went further by rejecting the passport and visa requirements outright. He warned that the Taliban could retaliate against Pakistan’s policies, invoking the specter of Pakistan’s internal strife from the 1971 war. The rhetoric from Afghan officials suggests that the Taliban is unwilling to comply with Pakistan’s border control measures, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.
The protests against the border travel restrictions have also sparked political responses within Pakistan. Several local political parties, including the Awami National Party (ANP), Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party (PkMAP), and Pishin Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), have voiced their solidarity with the protesters. These parties, representing Pashtun interests, argue that the government’s policies disproportionately affect Pashtuns living near the border.
Prominent leaders like Mahmood Khan Achakzai of PkMAP have accused the Pakistani government of oppressing Pashtuns and called for the protests to continue until the travel restrictions are lifted. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaisar has urged the formation of a parliamentary committee to address the crisis, although such efforts have yet to gain traction.
Pakistan’s Minister of Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has defended the government’s stance, emphasizing the importance of border security in combating terrorism. He argues that enforcing international laws at the border is a critical part of Pakistan’s national security strategy.
Border Dispute
The tensions at the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing reflect the deep historical, political, and social complexities surrounding the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. The imposition of passports and visas is a major departure from over a century of relatively free movement across the border. As local protests continue, and with the Taliban’s firm opposition to Pakistan’s border policies, the dispute appears far from resolution.
For now, the future of the Durand Line remains as uncertain as ever. The local communities straddling the border continue to bear the brunt of geopolitical maneuvering, and it remains to be seen whether diplomatic or political efforts can provide a lasting solution to this ongoing crisis.
