Afghanistan–Pakistan Confederation plan

The Afghanistan–Pakistan Confederation plan (Urdu: افغانستان پاکستان کنفیڈریشن پلان, Pashto: د افغانستان – پاکستان د کنفدراسیون پلان) refers 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]

The plan for a confederation was started by Ayub Khan, the President of Pakistan and the Barakzai dynasty under King Zahir Shah who requested assistance from the United States,^[3] citing fears that if Pakistan ceased to exist so would Afghanistan from threats regarding the 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 the latter state’s 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 became a part of Pakistan due to the 1947 North-West Frontier Province referendum, however, in October 1947 it withdrew its negative vote under the condition of merging^[5] as Afghanistan didn't like the idea of India, a country with a Hindu majority, 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
• AfPak

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.