3. Afghanistan and Pakistan The Durand line lies at the very heart amidst tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The border is known far being lawless, al Qaeda and Drone strikes. It is a 1,500 mile long border separating Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The ongoing border conflict is due to tribal conflicts exacerbated by both the Afghan Taliban and Pak Taliban.
The decades-long standoff between the two countries has its roots in the so-called “Pashtunistan” territory that starts in southern Afghanistan, straddles the Durand Line and cuts a vertical swath over nearly half of modern Pakistan, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the east, Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the northwest, Baluchistan to the south and its coastline on the Arabian Sea.
Moreover, US drone attacks have been common for the region. Afghanistan has always refused to recognize the Durand line as its international border with Pakistan. Cross border shellings intensified in 2011 and 2012 when Pakistani missiles hit civilian areas inside Afghanistan's Nuristan, Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.
Most of these are related to the United States drone attacks in Pakistan from the Afghan side and the Taliban insurgency.
There have been 253 drone strikes since 2004, with an estimated death toll between 1,557 and 2,464, according to the New America Foundation.
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