Why were Afghanistan’s modern borders established during the Great Game?

The modern borders of Afghanistan were established during the Great Game—a geopolitical rivalry between the British Empire and tsarist Russia for control over Central Asia—primarily to serve as a strategic buffer zone between these two competing powers.12

Key factors in the establishment of these borders included:

• Containment of Expansion: The British sought to prevent further Russian expansion toward the south by securing a stable, neutral territory between their Indian holdings and the Russian sphere of influence.1
• The Durand Line: In 1893, Sir Henry Mortimer Durand negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan to delineate the frontier between Afghanistan and British India. This agreement defined spheres of influence and created a formal boundary to resolve administrative and defense concerns regarding the tribal regions.13
• Buffer Zones: The creation of the Wakhan Corridor was specifically designed as a thin strip of land to separate the Russian and British empires, preventing direct contact between the two powers.1

While these borders were intended to provide imperial stability, they often ignored local tribal allegiances, particularly by dividing Pashtun territories, which has remained a source of regional tension.1