Afghanistan was the only country that voted against Pakistan’s admission to the United Nations on September 30, 1947, when Pakistan’s membership was under consideration in its 92nd session. The negative vote was later withdrawn in its 96th session. Several factors contributed to the initial negative vote.
Afghanistan did not fully accept the Durand Line agreement of (1893) – the borders drawn between Afghanistan and British India as the legitimate boundary between Afghanistan and the new state of Pakistan. Afghanistan also believed that treaties made by Bitish cannot be inherited by Pakistan. Afghan leaders also insisted that the Pushtun tribes on the Pakistan’s side (in what is now Kyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan) should have the right to decide their own future. Either join Afghanistan or form an independent Pashtunistan. Kabul opposed the inclusion of these Pushtun areas in Pakistan without a new plebiscite.
Afghanistan raised the issue in the UN and other Forums, demanding that the tribal Pashtuns and Baluch people be allowed to choose between joining Pakistan and Afghanistan or form a new independent state. This stance put Pakistan into direct political opposition to Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
The “No” vote was largely symbolic, signalling Afghanistan protest against the new boundaries rather the outright hostility to the Pakistan existence. Shortly afterward Afghanistan clarified that it did not oppose Pakistan’s independence and relations gradually normalised.
Despite that early opposition, Afghanistan later recognised Pakistan and established diplomatic relations. However, the Pashtunistan issue continued to strain Pak-Afghanistan Relationship between the two neighbours for decades during 1950s – 1980s.
The negative vote continues to have an impact on Pakistan–Afghanistan relations.