22 November 1954

The One Unit Programme is promulgated by the Pakistan government merging all provinces in West Pakistan into one province. Afghanistan reacts angrily to this programme considering it to be yet another move on Pakistan’s part to suppress the Pashtuns in Pakistan.

31 March 1955

Protests break out in Afghanistan against the One Unit Programme during which Pakistani missions are attacked and Pakistan’s flags are pulled down. Pakistan breaks off diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, which are restored only in 1957.

September 1960

Afghan incursions into Pakistan’s Bajaur agency take place. Pakistan bombards Afghanistan’s forces

using airpower.

May 1961

A large cross-border attack by Afghan regular troops takes place resulting in massive retaliation by the Pakistan Army and Air Force.

23 August 1961

Pakistan closes its consulates in Afghanistan and simultaneously requests that the Afghans close their consulates and trade agencies in Quetta, Peshawar and Parachinar.

30 August 1961

Afghanistan gives Pakistan one week to rescind their action or suffer a break in diplomatic relations.

6 September 1961

Diplomatic relations between the two countries are broken.

9 March 1963

Daoud Khan is forced to resign by King Zahir Shah in an attempt to improve relations with Pakistan.

29 May 1963

Full diplomatic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are re-established through Iranian mediation. The next decade witnesses an improvement in bilateral relations.

16 December 1971

Bangladesh, formerly the eastern wing of Pakistan, emerges as an independent state.

17 July 1973

Daoud Khan overthrows King Zahir Shah in a coup d’état. Concerns about Daoud’ s championing of the Pashtunistan issue leads.

Pakistan to adopt a more offensive policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan. By mid-1973, an “Afghan Cell” is created in Pakistan’s Foreign Office with the aim of planning and conducting intelligence operations within Afghanistan. Pakistan begins to extend dupport to Afghan dissidents such as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Burhanuddin Rabbani. Between 1973 and 1977, Pakistan trained at least 5,000 dissidents.

20-24 August 1976

During President Daoud’s visit to Islamabad, he agrees to the Durand Line as the international boundary between the two states, in return for Bhutto’s undertaking to release the imprisoned

National Awami Party leaders.

To be continued.......