Durand Line: The British-Drawn Border Igniting Pakistan-Afghanistan 'Open War'

• Pakistan launched 'Operation Righteous Fury' airstrikes against Afghanistan, targeting militant hideouts and installations.
• The attacks were a retaliation after Afghanistan targeted Pakistani border troops along the disputed Durand Line.
• The 2,611-km Durand Line, drawn during British colonial rule in 1893, is central to the conflict.
• Pakistan considers the Durand Line a settled border, while Afghanistan, including the Taliban, disputes its legitimacy, calling it 'hypothetical' and a division of Pashtun lands.
• Recent fencing by Pakistan along the Durand Line has further escalated tensions, leading to cross-border skirmishes and fears of broader military confrontation.