THE Wakhan Corridor, also known as the Pamir Corridor, is a narrow strip located in the north-eastern region of Badakhshan, Afghanistan, linking Afghanistan to the Xinjiang Province of China. This corridor serves as a geographical demarcation between Pakistan and Tajikistan, with Tajikistan situated to its north and Pakistan to its south. On the world map, the Wakhan Corridor resembles a diminutive chimney extending into the north-eastern part of Afghanistan. For centuries, this passage has been utilized for trade across Central Asia.
The delineation of the Wakhan Corridor occurred during the 19th century amidst the clashes between Britain and Russia, colloquially referred to as the “Great Game.” During this period, both powers designated the area as a buffer zone with the intention of preventing direct conflict between British India and the Russian Empire. The definitive resolution regarding the fate of Wakhan arose in 1891 during a meeting at the village of Bozai Gumbaz, involving British officer Francis Younghusband and his Russian counterpart, Colonel Yanov. This discussion culminated in the designation of the territory as Russian; however, Russia later conceded and recognized the region as part of Afghanistan under a pre-established agreement.
Under British rule, the Durand Line was established in 1893 through a treaty between Mortimer Durand and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. This corridor became a critical component of British policy concerning Russia, playing a vital role in the establishment of an Afghan buffer state. In the latter half of the 19th century, the Russian Empire absorbed Central Asian cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khokand—regions that were considered gateways to British India. Although Afghanistan maintained its status as an independent nation, it was effectively governed under British India.
In 1895, Russia and Britain established a Pamir Boundary Commission, which delineated the northern and southern borders of the corridor and declared that neither China nor Afghanistan would interfere in the area, a decision that had devastating effects on the local populace. Consequently, several Kyrgyz tribes migrated from Wakhan to Russian territories but later returned, only to subsequently flee to Pakistan following the Soviet invasion of Kabul in 1979, with some establishing residence in Turkey’s Kurdistan region. Currently, a significant portion of the Wakhan Corridor is technically accessible from Kabul but remains outside of its governmental control. Geopolitically, Wakhan spans 35,000 square kilometres and features dense forests, with certain sections measuring 10 miles in width, adjoined by the Pamir Mountains at elevations reaching 17,000 feet. It is inhabited by a population of approximately 17,000, which includes farmers, shepherds and local Wakhi and migrant Kyrgyz tribes.
Today, the Wakhan Corridor stands at the intersection of interests among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan has persistently sought to facilitate trade with Central Asian States; however, the ongoing terrorism and conflict in Afghanistan over the past four decades have severely hampered these efforts. As a result of proxy conflicts in Wakhan, Pakistan finds itself facing a more complex situation compared to China and Afghanistan. Negotiations have taken place between Afghanistan and China regarding the construction of bridges and the laying of oil pipelines in this valley. Should this corridor become operational, it would not only diminish Afghanistan’s reliance on India, but it would also facilitate Pakistan’s connectivity with Central Asian nations. This development would lead to a reduction of Indian influence in Central Asia, particularly in Afghanistan. Ground access to Central Asia holds both economic and military advantages for Pakistan, necessitating that the government prioritize actions in this regard.
Foremost, it is imperative to eradicate terrorist groups, including ISIS, to establish peace and security in the region. To this end, Afghanistan must play a pivotal role in countering terrorism, alongside China and Pakistan. Additionally, effective management of the Pak-Afghan border is critically important. The interim Afghan government is obstructing Pakistan’s land routes to Central Asian countries, indicating that the Taliban is not genuinely interested in fostering sincere relations with Islamabad. Initially, the establishment of a Taliban government in Afghanistan was anticipated to enhance bilateral relations; however, the current situation is quite the opposite. Refugee terrorist elements in Afghanistan are exacerbating Pakistan’s security challenges, with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) undertaking acts of terrorism originating from Afghan territory. The support of terrorist elements by the Taliban is compounding Pakistan’s difficulties. As a result, access for Pakistan to Central Asian nations via Wakhan has become increasingly complicated under the Taliban regime.
At the behest of India, the Taliban has refused to recognize the Durand Line, demanding the opening of the Pak-Afghan border, further complicating Pakistan’s access to Central Asia through the Wakhan Corridor. This corridor holds immense economic, commercial and geopolitical significance for Pakistan. The purpose of outlining this context is to highlight that the Taliban’s actions, including supporting terrorism and smuggling activities, have destabilized the region, resulting in the loss of thousands of Pakistani lives and harming its economy. India, acutely aware of the corridor’s strategic importance, actively opposes its functionality. In the past, India utilized the Fakhor airbase in Tajikistan to monitor Pakistan-China activities and expanded it for military purposes, though Russian pressure limited its operations. During the Kargil conflict, Indian assaults in Churbat, Mushkafarm and Saltoro underscored tensions, while Pakistan leveraged regions from Shigar Bridge to Nubra to maintain its military presence. Currently, Pakistan, China and Russia are collaboratively countering India’s expansionist ambitions in the region.
Access to the Wakhan Corridor will bolster Pakistan’s strategic interests, enabling the enhancement of military installations and counter-measures against Indian interference from the Ladakh region into Gilgit-Baltistan. The aim of this discussion is to highlight that Pakistan has made considerable efforts to establish robust relations with successive Afghan governments; however, due to terrorism and other influencing factors within Afghanistan, these endeavours have not been successful. Therefore, there should be no further delay in Pakistan’s economic and strategic initiatives in this regard. Undoubtedly, the development of the Wakhan Corridor will herald prosperity and facilitate trade for us!
—The writer is Chairman, Tehrik Jawanan Pakistan.
