Durand Agreement (1893) and Tribal Uprisings

Durand Agreement (1893):
- The Durand Agreement was a treaty signed between Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan, in 1893.
- The agreement aimed to define the border between British India and Afghanistan, known as the Durand Line.
- The Durand Line divided the Pashtun tribal areas, splitting them between British India and Afghanistan.
- The agreement was primarily driven by British strategic interests in the region, as they wanted to secure their northwestern frontier and prevent any Russian influence in Afghanistan.

Failure to Keep Peace:
- Statement 1 is correct. The Durand Agreement failed to maintain peace in the region. Soon after its signing, there were tribal uprisings against the agreement.
- The Pashtun tribes living on both sides of the Durand Line did not accept the division imposed upon them by the British.
- They viewed the agreement as an infringement on their traditional territories and felt a sense of betrayal by their own leaders who had agreed to the division.
- The tribal uprisings were primarily led by Pashtun leaders like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan, who mobilized their people against the Durand Agreement.
- These uprisings posed a significant challenge to the British administration and its control over the tribal areas.

Lord Curzon's Policy:
- Statement 2 is correct. Lord Curzon, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, followed a policy of withdrawal and concentration.
- Lord Curzon believed that the British Empire's resources were being spread too thin across India, and he sought to streamline and consolidate the administration.
- His policy focused on reducing the administrative burden and consolidating British control over the areas that were strategically important for the empire's defense.
- This policy included the demarcation of the Durand Line, which was part of the broader strategy of securing the northwestern frontier of India.
- Lord Curzon's policy of withdrawal and concentration aimed to strengthen British control and authority in the region.

Conclusion:
- Both statements are correct. The Durand Agreement failed to maintain peace, and there were tribal uprisings against it. Lord Curzon followed a policy of withdrawal and concentration to consolidate British control over strategically important areas, including the implementation of the Durand Line.