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 to merge both countries under a single confederation.^[1][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^[2] 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.