Ask “how long is the India–Pakistan border?” and you’ll hear 3,323 km. But that number is a sum of four very different frontiers — only some of them settled. This deep-dive measures each segment and explains why the figure is disputed.
Quick answer: The India–Pakistan border totals 3,323 km (2,065 miles): the International Border/Radcliffe Line (~2,240 km), the Working Boundary (~200 km), the Line of Control (~778 km), and the Siachen AGPL (~110 km). Excluding the LoC, the settled border is about 2,545 km.
The total: 3,323 km
The 3,323 km (2,065 mile) figure is the standard reference used by both governments, the CIA World Factbook and most atlases. It counts every kilometre of frontier between the two countries — settled and contested alike. In miles that’s 2,065; it makes the frontier one of the longest bilateral land borders in Asia. See the overview: border length hub.
Measuring each segment
- International Border (Radcliffe Line): ~2,240 km — the settled boundary from Gujarat through Rajasthan to Punjab, recognised by both sides. The longest single stretch. History: the Radcliffe Line.
- Working Boundary: ~200 km — Punjab province against Indian-administered Jammu. Details: Working Boundary.
- Line of Control: ~778 km (483 miles) — the Kashmir military control line. Details: LoC length & history.
- AGPL (Siachen): ~110 km — the Actual Ground Position Line on the glacier. Details: Siachen.
Why the number is disputed
Three caveats. First, the LoC is not an international border — it’s a military control line, so purists quote 2,545 km for the settled frontier. Second, Sir Creek‘s marshy mouth is un-demarcated, shifting the southern start point. Third, the AGPL was never formally delimited beyond map point NJ9842 — both sides hold different ground truths. The 3,323 km figure is the working consensus, not a surveyed certainty.
How it compares
Pakistan’s other borders: Afghanistan’s Durand Line (~2,611 km), Iran (~909 km), China (~523 km) — full comparison: Pakistan’s total borders. Globally, 3,323 km puts the frontier in the same league as the US–Mexico border (3,145 km).
Border length: FAQs
What is the exact length of the India–Pakistan border?
3,323 km (2,065 miles) — the standard cited figure, including the LoC and Siachen.
How long is the border excluding the LoC?
About 2,545 km (1,581 miles).
Is the 3,323 km figure disputed?
The total is broadly accepted, but Sir Creek, the AGPL and the LoC’s status mean exact measurement varies by source.
Which is longer: the India or Afghanistan border?
The India border (3,323 km) is longer than the Durand Line (~2,611 km).
