Afghanistan vs Pakistan
Afghanistan
Pakistan
| Metric | Afghanistan | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Kabul | Islamabad |
| Population | 43,844,111 | 255,219,554 |
| Area (km²) | 652,864 | 881,912 |
| Population density (/km²) | 67 | 289 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $400 | $1,600 |
| Region | Southern Asia | Southern Asia |
| Currency | AFN | PKR |
| Languages | Dari, Pashto | Urdu, English |
| Main religions | Islam | Islam |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 | UTC+5 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
Afghanistan and Pakistan are both located in Asia (both in Southern Asia). Pakistan has the larger population — about 5.8× the population of Afghanistan, while Pakistan covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the Afghanistan map and the Pakistan map.
The Durand Line
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a border of about 2,600 km, drawn in 1893 as the Durand Line between British India and the Emirate of Afghanistan. Pakistan regards it as the settled international border it inherited in 1947. Successive Afghan governments, including the current Taliban authorities, have never formally recognised it, arguing that it divided Pashtun lands. Pakistan has fenced most of its length in recent years, a move Afghan authorities oppose.
People on both sides
Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and the second largest in Pakistan, concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan; Baloch communities also straddle the southern border. Pashto is spoken on both sides, alongside Dari in Afghanistan and Urdu and other languages in Pakistan. Both countries are overwhelmingly Muslim.
Since the Soviet invasion of 1979, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees, one of the largest refugee populations in the world for decades. Since 2023 Pakistan has carried out large-scale deportations of Afghans it says lack legal status, which Afghan authorities and aid agencies have criticised.
Security and recent clashes
Pakistan was a key backer of the Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s and is widely reported to have had close ties with the Taliban in the 1990s. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, relations have deteriorated: Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which Kabul denies. In October 2025 the two sides fought their most serious border clashes in years, followed by a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey. Later talks produced no formal agreement, and fighting flared again in February 2026, including Pakistani air strikes on Kabul. As of 2026, the main crossings such as Torkham and Chaman have been closed for long periods.
Trade, ports and economy
Landlocked Afghanistan has traditionally relied on Karachi and other Pakistani ports for much of its trade, and border closures quickly hit traders on both sides. Pakistan's economy is far larger and more diversified, with textiles, agriculture and services; Afghanistan's economy contracted sharply after 2021, when foreign aid was cut and central bank assets were frozen. Pakistan also has several times Afghanistan's population, on a somewhat larger land area.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Durand Line?
- It is the roughly 2,600 km boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, agreed in 1893 between British India and Afghanistan. Pakistan treats it as the international border; Afghan governments have not formally recognised it.
- Why do Afghanistan and Pakistan have tense relations?
- Disputes include the status of the Durand Line, Pakistani accusations that militants operate from Afghan territory, the treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and frequent closures of border crossings that disrupt trade.