1893年,英国通过与阿富汗签订《杜兰协定》,兼并了后者在印度的属地。普什图人因此被一分为二,从此埋下了“普什图尼斯坦问题”的恶果。印巴分治后,巴基斯坦将普什图尼斯坦纳入统治,从而引发了阿富汗与巴基斯坦的领土争端。同时,帕坦民族主义兴起,帕坦人开始积极争取民族权利。这两方面构成了“普什图尼斯坦问题”的主要内涵。此后,该问题大致经历了由冲突到缓和再到复杂化的演变过程,并逐渐成为影响阿巴关系、中南亚地区安全及地区合作的重要因素。
Britain annexed the Afghan territory in India by signing "Durand Agreement" with Afghanistan in 1893, and Pashtun was divided into two parts. This was the historical root of Pashtunistan issue. After the partition of India, Pashtunistan was ruled by Pakistan, which led to the territorial dispute between Afghani stan and Pakistan. Meanwhile, with the rise of nationalism Pathans began to actively fight for national rights. The above two aspects constitute the main content of Pashtunistan issue. Thereafter, the problem experi- enced the evolution from conflict to mitigation, then to complexity, and gradually became the key factors which impacted the AFG - PAK relationship, regional security of Central and South Asia, as well as the re- gional cooperations.