Agreement between the Governments of Afghanistan and India, 12 November 1893

AGREEMENT between HIS HIGHNESS AMIR ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN, G.C.S.I, AMIR
Of AFGHANISTAN and its DEPENDENCIES, on the one part, and SIR HENRY
MORTIMER DURAND, K.C.I.E., C.S.I, FOREIGN SECRETARY to the GOVERNMENT of INDIA, representing the GOVERNMENT Of INDIA on the other part, 1893.

Whereas the British Government has represented to His Highness the Amir that the Russian Government presses for the literal fulfilment of the Agreement of 1873 between Russia and England by which it was decided that the river Opus should form the northern boundary of Afghanistan from Lake Victoria (Wood's Lake) or Sarikul on the east to the junction of the Kokcha with the Oxus, and whereas the British Government considers itself bound to abide by the terms of this agreement, if the Russian Government equally abides by them, His Highness Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, G.C.S.I., Amir of Afghanistan and its Dependencies, wishing to show his friendship to the British Government and his readiness to accept their advice in matters affecting his relations with Foreign Powers, hereby agrees that he will evacuate all the districts held by him to the north of this portion of the Oxus on the clear understanding that all the districts lying to the south of this portion of the Oxus and not now in his possession, be handed over to him in exchange. And Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, hereby declares on the part of the British Government that the transfer to His Highness the Amir of the said districts lying to the south of the Oxus is an essential part of this transaction, and undertakes that arrangements will be made with the Russian Government to carry out the transfer of the said lands to the north and south of the Oxus.

                                                                                                            H. M. DURAND.

                                                                                                            AMIR ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN.

KABUL: 

12th November 1893.

12th November 1893=(2nd Jamadi-ul-awul 1311).

From: C. U. Aitchison, ed. A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads: Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Vol. XIII. Calcutta: Government of India Central Publication Branch, 1933, 255-256.