Afghanistan–Pakistan Confederation plan

Afghanistan–Pakistan Confederation plan (Urdu: افغانستان پاکستان کنفیڈریشن پلان, Pashto: د افغانستان – پاکستان د کنفدراسیون پلان) referred to a plan proposed between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan between 1953 and 1954^[1] to merge both countries under a single confederation.^[2]

These plans were started by Ayub Khan, the president of Pakistan and the Royal family of Afghanistan under King Zahir Shah who requested assistance from United States^[3] citing fears that if Pakistan ceased to exist so would Afghanistan from threats with Soviet Union and India.^[4]

History

See also: Durand Line and 1947 North-West Frontier Province referendum

Afghanistan and Pakistan had a heated relationship since its inception due to the Pashtunistan issue^[1] by which Afghanistan laid claims to Pakistan's northwestern region. In September 1947 Afghanistan voted against Pakistan's entry into the United Nations due to the fact that NWFP went to Pakistan, however, in October 1947 it withdrew its negative vote under the condition of merging^[5] as Afghanistan didn't like the idea of a Hindu Majority India bordering it since it would mean that Afghanistan would have continuously been in conflict with India.^[4]

Further reading

• Dupree, Louis. "A Suggested Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran Federation." Middle East Journal, vol. 17, no. 4, 1963, pp. 383–99. JSTOR, Accessed 20 February 2023.

See also

• Afghanistan-Pakistan relations
• Pashtunistan
• Durand Line

References

1. Intelligence Bureau, Central (1954). "Report of Afghan-Pakistani Confederation Plans" (PDF). CIA.gov.
2. Times, John P. Callahanspecial To the New York (11 April 1954). "Pakistan and Afghanistan Said to Plan Confederation; PAKISTAN PLANS AFGHANISTAN TIE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
3. "Kabul sought Pakistan-Afghanistan merger in 1954". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
4. "Afghanistan and Pakistan's oft-ignored history – 1947–1978". The Express Tribune. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
5. Threkeld, Elizabeth; Easterly, Grace. "Afghanistan-Pakistan Ties and Future Stability in Afghanistan" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2023.