Afghanistan’s Wakhan Transit Road Is a Long Shot to Connect with China – The Diplomat (https://fonts.gstatic.com) (https://fonts.googleapis.com/) (../../../wp-content/plugins/compact-wp-audio-player/css/flashblock.css) (../../../wp-content/plugins/compact-wp-audio-player/css/player.css) (../../../wp-content/plugins/captcha/css/front_end_style.css) (../../../wp-content/plugins/captcha/css/desktop_style.css) (../../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Noto+Sans%253A400,400i,700,700i%257CNoto+Serif%253A400,400i,700,700i.css) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/style.css) (index.html) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/build/20190918/css/global.min.css) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/build/20190918/css/story.min.css) (../../../dpl-web/2026-10-21-2d37d436/css/main.css) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/build/20190918/css/print.min.css) All Sections Search (https://thediplomat.com/) Read The Diplomat , Know The Asia-Pacific (https://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia/) Central Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/east-asia/) East Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/oceania-region/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/) Southeast Asia | (https://thediplomat.com/topics/security/) Security (https://thediplomat.com/topics/politics/) Politics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/economy/) Economy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/society/) Society (https://thediplomat.com/topics/environment/) Environment (https://thediplomat.com/topics/opinion/) Opinion (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features | All Regions (https://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia/) Central Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/east-asia/) East Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/oceania-region/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/) Southeast Asia Topics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/economy/) Economy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/environment/) Environment (https://thediplomat.com/topics/opinion/) Opinion (https://thediplomat.com/topics/politics/) Politics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/security/) Security (https://thediplomat.com/topics/society/) Society Blogs (https://thediplomat.com/category/asean-beat/) ASEAN Beat (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-defense/) Asia Defense (https://thediplomat.com/category/china-power/) China Power (https://thediplomat.com/category/crossroads-asia/) Crossroads Asia (https://thediplomat.com/category/flashpoints/) Flashpoints (https://thediplomat.com/category/oceania/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/category/pacific-money/) Pacific Money (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-debate/) The Debate (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-koreas/) The Koreas (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-pulse/) The Pulse (https://thediplomat.com/category/tokyo-report/) Tokyo Report (https://thediplomat.com/category/trans-pacific-view/) Trans-Pacific View More (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features (https://thediplomat.com/category/interviews/) Interviews (https://thediplomat.com/category/photo-essays/) Photo Essays (https://thediplomat.com/category/podcasts/) Podcasts (https://thediplomat.com/category/videos/) Videos Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter The Diplomat (https://thediplomat.com/) Home Page (https://thediplomat.com/the-diplomat/) About Us (https://thediplomat.com/contact-us/) Contact Us (https://thediplomat.com/write-for-us/) Write for Us (https://thediplomat.com/about-us/advertise/) Advertise (https://thediplomat.com/syndication/) Syndicate (https://thediplomat.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscriptions China Power Afghanistan’s Wakhan Transit Road Is a Long Shot to Connect with China (Share on LinkedIn) (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F&title=Afghanistan%E2%80%99s+Wakhan+Transit+Road+Is+a+Long+Shot+to+Connect+with+China) (Share on Facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F) (Share on Bluesky) (https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Afghanistan%E2%80%99s+Wakhan+Transit+Road+Is+a+Long+Shot+to+Connect+with+China%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F) (Share on X) (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Afghanistan%E2%80%99s+Wakhan+Transit+Road+Is+a+Long+Shot+to+Connect+with+China&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F) Recent Features (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/china-capitalizes-on-americas-scientific-brain-drain/) (China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain) (China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain) Society China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-proliferation-of-illicit-drones-in-southeast-asia/) (The Proliferation of Illicit Drones in Southeast Asia) (The Proliferation of Illicit Drones in Southeast Asia) Security The Proliferation of Illicit Drones in Southeast Asia (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/what-the-new-china-north-korea-bridge-really-means/) (What the New China-North Korea Bridge Really Means) (What the New China-North Korea Bridge Really Means) Economy What the New China-North Korea Bridge Really Means (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/after-8-months-in-power-how-much-has-the-bnp-changed-bangladesh/) (After 8 Months in Power, How Much Has the BNP Changed Bangladesh?) (After 8 Months in Power, How Much Has the BNP Changed Bangladesh?) Politics After 8 Months in Power, How Much Has the BNP Changed Bangladesh? (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/one-day-at-a-time-inside-an-idp-camp-in-myanmar-survival-is-a-daily-challenge/) (‘One Day at a Time’: Inside an IDP Camp in Myanmar, Survival Is a Daily Challenge) (‘One Day at a Time’: Inside an IDP Camp in Myanmar, Survival Is a Daily Challenge) Society ‘One Day at a Time’: Inside an IDP Camp in Myanmar, Survival Is a Daily Challenge (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/chinas-advance-in-the-bahamas/) (China’s Advance in the Bahamas) (China’s Advance in the Bahamas) Diplomacy China’s Advance in the Bahamas (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/drones-and-missiles-are-rewriting-the-military-balance-on-the-korean-peninsula/) (Drones and Missiles Are Rewriting the Military Balance on the Korean Peninsula) (Drones and Missiles Are Rewriting the Military Balance on the Korean Peninsula) Security Drones and Missiles Are Rewriting the Military Balance on the Korean Peninsula (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/wolf-warriors-in-sheeps-clothing-chinas-new-subnational-diplomacy-in-australia/) (Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia) (Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia) Diplomacy Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/southeast-asia-has-a-serious-drug-problem/) (Southeast Asia Has a Serious Drug Problem) (Southeast Asia Has a Serious Drug Problem) Videos Southeast Asia Has a Serious Drug Problem (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/indonesias-energy-investment-potential/) (Indonesia’s Energy Investment Potential) (Indonesia’s Energy Investment Potential) Economy Indonesia’s Energy Investment Potential (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/why-kim-jong-un-should-want-a-4th-summit-with-donald-trump/) (Why Kim Jong Un Should Want a 4th Summit With Donald Trump) (Why Kim Jong Un Should Want a 4th Summit With Donald Trump) Diplomacy Why Kim Jong Un Should Want a 4th Summit With Donald Trump (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/a-raid-on-a-gay-bar-risks-taiwans-lgbtq-friendly-reputation/) (A Raid on a Gay Bar Risks Taiwan’s LGBTQ-Friendly Reputation) (A Raid on a Gay Bar Risks Taiwan’s LGBTQ-Friendly Reputation) Society A Raid on a Gay Bar Risks Taiwan’s LGBTQ-Friendly Reputation (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscribe for ads-free reading (https://thediplomat.com/category/china-power/) China Power | (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy | (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia Afghanistan’s Wakhan Transit Road Is a Long Shot to Connect with China The road has been officially inaugurated, but China and the Taliban have very different views of its function. (Muhammad Murad) (Muhammad Murad) By (https://thediplomat.com/authors/muhammad-murad/) Muhammad Murad October 21, 2026 (Share on LinkedIn) (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F&title=Afghanistan%E2%80%99s+Wakhan+Transit+Road+Is+a+Long+Shot+to+Connect+with+China) (Share on Facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F) (Share on Bluesky) (https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Afghanistan%E2%80%99s+Wakhan+Transit+Road+Is+a+Long+Shot+to+Connect+with+China%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F) (Share on X) (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Afghanistan%E2%80%99s+Wakhan+Transit+Road+Is+a+Long+Shot+to+Connect+with+China&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F10%2Fafghanistans-wakhan-transit-road-is-a-long-shot-to-connect-with-china%2F) (Afghanistan’s Wakhan Transit Road Is a Long Shot to Connect with China) (Afghanistan’s Wakhan Transit Road Is a Long Shot to Connect with China) The mountainous terrain of the Wakhan Corridor, the thin strip of Afghanistan that shares a border with China. Credit: (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountains_of_the_Wakhan_Corridor_(6)_(31527976374).jpg) Wikimedia Commons/ Hans Birger Nilsen (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscribe for ads-free reading On October 4, (https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan-201067) Taliban officials inaugurated the 121-kilometer-long Wakhan Transit Road connecting Afghanistan to China via the Wakhan Corridor after approximately three years of construction work. The road stretches from Afghanistan’s Broghil border area, on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, along Badakhshan province’s Wakhan district, finally reaching the border with China. According to Afghanistan’s de facto government under the Taliban, beyond China, the road will connect the country with third parties like Central Asian countries and global markets. This corridor is expected to play a significant role for Afghanistan’s trade as well as its regional transit. Its opening marks an important milestone for the Taliban since the corridor was ignored for years due to security concerns. A remote region in northeast Afghanistan, the (https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/factbox-key-facts-about-the-wakhan-corridor-idUSSP389507/) Wakhan Corridor is 350 kilometers long and 13 to 65 km wide. The corridor, which shares borders with Pakistan (through the Durand Line, which the Taliban has started referring to as a “hypothetical” line), Tajikistan, and China, was created as a buffer zone between the Russian and British empires in 1895-96 when the Anglo-Russian Boundary Commission awarded the area to Afghanistan. Once a part of the famous Silk Road trade route, the Wakhan Corridor has been closed for regular transit for almost a century now. Taliban Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Abdul Latif Mansour, (https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan-201067) speaking at the inauguration ceremony, said that the road held “political, economic, and strategic significance” for Afghanistan. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has prioritized such public projects, especially in provinces that are most in need,” Mansour said, according to Tolo News. He further emphasized the homegrown nature of the project, saying, “There are no foreign engineers or advisers; all the engineers are Afghans.” Governor of Badakhshan Rahmatullah Najib highlighted the road’s opening as a milestone. “After 45 years of war in the country, the Afghan people are witnessing the completion of such a major project in one of Afghanistan’s most remote areas,” Tolo News paraphrased Najib as saying. This project is said to have cost 365 million Afghanis ($5.6 million) and was funded by the Taliban’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. According to Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs’ website, (https://www.dpmea.gov.af/ps/node/1218) this trade route will benefit Afghanistan by providing direct access to imports from and exports to China. The minister highlighted that China is Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, with annual trade exceeding $1 billion between the two countries. The website claimed that the Wakhan Corridor is now the “closest, safest, and most reliable” route for China to export its goods not only to Afghanistan, but to the Central Asian countries, and beyond: to the Arab world, Turkiye, Iran, and the European countries. That assumption is questionable; China has direct borders with three Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan – and has invested millions in upgrading its trade and transit infrastructure to the region. China already has well-developed rail links with Kazakhstan. The Khorgos Gateway, which opened for operations in 2012 on the China-Kazakhstan border, is the world’s largest dry port. And construction on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is underway. It’s unclear why China would choose to route exports to Central Asia via Afghanistan. The benefits for Afghanistan are more obvious. Due to the ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, trade across their border has come to a halt. That cuts off landlocked Afghanistan’s primary trade and transit route for reaching third countries. If the Wakhan Corridor route becomes fully operational, it will provide an alternative route for Afghanistan to trade with the regional countries, particularly with China. Afghanistan could then connect directly with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), rather than linking itself to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as previously discussed. In 2016, Afghanistan – then under the Republic government – and China (https://www.freiheit.org/south-asia/china-navigates-new-afghanistan-taliban-its-rulers#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20China%20and%20Afghanistan%20agreed%20on,China%2DPakistan%20Economic%20Corridor%20(CPEC)%20and%20Gwadar%20Port) signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate Afghanistan into the BRI. The following year in December, foreign ministers from Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan (https://english.www.gov.cn/news/top_news/2017/12/27/content_281475991415468.htm) agreed to discuss ways to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan . In 2023, Afghanistan – now ruled by the Taliban – (https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/china-pakistan-and-the-taliban-cpec-in-afghanistan/) again reiterated its intention to join CPEC. This was also discussed during (https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/will-the-next-china-afghanistan-pakistan-trilateral-meeting-be-a-win-for-all-sides/) last year’s trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue in Kabul . However, there has been no further progress in this regard due to the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Taliban government views the new road via the Wakhan Corridor as an opportunity to lessen Pakistan’s leverage. Islamabad has a history of closing the border crossings between the countries, affecting trade and inflicting heavy losses on Afghanistan’s economy. Thus, the de facto regime is jubilant with the inauguration of the Wakhan transit road. As per (https://www.dpmea.gov.af/ps/node/1218) Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs’ website , “With the opening of the Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan will be forever freed from the pressure of neighboring countries, which often exploit the Karachi route, Gwadar Port, and Chabahar for political purposes and cause heavy financial losses to our traders and compatriots every year.” Even though the inauguration of the route is expected to alleviate the transportation challenges for the residents of Pamir and Wakhan, its role as a trans-regional route, or even just connecting Afghanistan to China, seems to be a distant dream. Despite the Taliban regime’s completion of the road, (https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-china-border-road-trade-terrorism/33875730.html) China still has not opened its border with Afghanistan , arguably due to security concerns vis-à-vis the crossing. Moreover, China neither sent its representative to the inaugural ceremony on October 4, nor did it acknowledge the road’s completion diplomatically. China built the road that the Taliban’s Wakhan transit road aimed to link up with over a decade ago. The goal wasn’t to increase trade, but to secure its militarized border with Afghanistan by advancing access for its armed patrols. The Taliban refer to the transit route as a trading link to gain access to Chinese markets; Chinese media refers to this approximately 76-kilometer-long border as a “major counterterrorism front line.” This media framing aligns with (https://jamestown.org/chinese-security-narratives-in-the-new-afghan-context-xinjiang-and-the-recycling-of-the-etim-threat/) Chinese officials’ narrative that Uyghurs in the region have frequently visited the corridor in order to “return to Xinjiang for Jihad.” China’s major security concern in Afghanistan is the potential threat from the members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group that seeks self-determination for the Uyghurs and independence of Xinjiang province from the Chinese government. According to some estimates, (https://thechinaproject.com/2023/10/19/uyghurs-in-afghanistan-fear-taliban-buying-huawei-surveillance-tech/) there are over 3,000 Uyghurs living in Afghanistan . China has asked the Taliban to ensure that Uyghur separatists (https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/challenges-to-chinas-growing-interests-in-afghanistan/) would not be allowed to use Afghan soil as a base for their activities in Xinjiang. Besides this, China wants the Taliban to extradite Uyghurs affiliated with ETIM to China. China’s lukewarm reaction to the Taliban’s completion of the Wakhan transit route emanates mainly from its security concerns. Until the Taliban completely secure the route and convince Beijing that it will not be used as a route by ETIM members to infiltrate Xinjiang, the use of the Wakhan Corridor as a trade route between the two countries will remain a distant dream. Already have an account? Log in . You have reached the limit of 3 free articles this month. Get to the bottom of the story (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions) Subscribe today and join thousands of diplomats, analysts, policy professionals and business readers who rely on The Diplomat for expert Asia-Pacific coverage. Get unlimited access to in-depth analysis you won't find anywhere else, from South China Sea tensions to ASEAN diplomacy to India-Pakistan relations. More than 5,000 articles a year. Unlimited articles and expert analysis Weekly newsletter with exclusive insights 16-year archive of diplomatic coverage Ad-free reading on all devices Support independent journalism (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions) Subscribe Now (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions) View Subscription Options Already have an account? Log in . On October 4, (https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan-201067) Taliban officials inaugurated the 121-kilometer-long Wakhan Transit Road connecting Afghanistan to China via the Wakhan Corridor after approximately three years of construction work. The road stretches from Afghanistan’s Broghil border area, on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, along Badakhshan province’s Wakhan district, finally reaching the border with China. According to Afghanistan’s de facto government under the Taliban, beyond China, the road will connect the country with third parties like Central Asian countries and global markets. This corridor is expected to play a significant role for Afghanistan’s trade as well as its regional transit. Its opening marks an important milestone for the Taliban since the corridor was ignored for years due to security concerns. A remote region in northeast Afghanistan, the (https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/factbox-key-facts-about-the-wakhan-corridor-idUSSP389507/) Wakhan Corridor is 350 kilometers long and 13 to 65 km wide. The corridor, which shares borders with Pakistan (through the Durand Line, which the Taliban has started referring to as a “hypothetical” line), Tajikistan, and China, was created as a buffer zone between the Russian and British empires in 1895-96 when the Anglo-Russian Boundary Commission awarded the area to Afghanistan. Once a part of the famous Silk Road trade route, the Wakhan Corridor has been closed for regular transit for almost a century now. Taliban Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Abdul Latif Mansour, (https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan-201067) speaking at the inauguration ceremony, said that the road held “political, economic, and strategic significance” for Afghanistan. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has prioritized such public projects, especially in provinces that are most in need,” Mansour said, according to Tolo News. He further emphasized the homegrown nature of the project, saying, “There are no foreign engineers or advisers; all the engineers are Afghans.” Governor of Badakhshan Rahmatullah Najib highlighted the road’s opening as a milestone. “After 45 years of war in the country, the Afghan people are witnessing the completion of such a major project in one of Afghanistan’s most remote areas,” Tolo News paraphrased Najib as saying. This project is said to have cost 365 million Afghanis ($5.6 million) and was funded by the Taliban’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. According to Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs’ website, (https://www.dpmea.gov.af/ps/node/1218) this trade route will benefit Afghanistan by providing direct access to imports from and exports to China. The minister highlighted that China is Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, with annual trade exceeding $1 billion between the two countries. The website claimed that the Wakhan Corridor is now the “closest, safest, and most reliable” route for China to export its goods not only to Afghanistan, but to the Central Asian countries, and beyond: to the Arab world, Turkiye, Iran, and the European countries. That assumption is questionable; China has direct borders with three Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan – and has invested millions in upgrading its trade and transit infrastructure to the region. China already has well-developed rail links with Kazakhstan. The Khorgos Gateway, which opened for operations in 2012 on the China-Kazakhstan border, is the world’s largest dry port. And construction on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is underway. It’s unclear why China would choose to route exports to Central Asia via Afghanistan. The benefits for Afghanistan are more obvious. Due to the ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, trade across their border has come to a halt. That cuts off landlocked Afghanistan’s primary trade and transit route for reaching third countries. If the Wakhan Corridor route becomes fully operational, it will provide an alternative route for Afghanistan to trade with the regional countries, particularly with China. Afghanistan could then connect directly with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), rather than linking itself to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as previously discussed. In 2016, Afghanistan – then under the Republic government – and China (https://www.freiheit.org/south-asia/china-navigates-new-afghanistan-taliban-its-rulers#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20China%20and%20Afghanistan%20agreed%20on,China%2DPakistan%20Economic%20Corridor%20(CPEC)%20and%20Gwadar%20Port) signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate Afghanistan into the BRI. The following year in December, foreign ministers from Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan (https://english.www.gov.cn/news/top_news/2017/12/27/content_281475991415468.htm) agreed to discuss ways to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan . In 2023, Afghanistan – now ruled by the Taliban – (https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/china-pakistan-and-the-taliban-cpec-in-afghanistan/) again reiterated its intention to join CPEC. This was also discussed during (https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/will-the-next-china-afghanistan-pakistan-trilateral-meeting-be-a-win-for-all-sides/) last year’s trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue in Kabul . However, there has been no further progress in this regard due to the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Taliban government views the new road via the Wakhan Corridor as an opportunity to lessen Pakistan’s leverage. Islamabad has a history of closing the border crossings between the countries, affecting trade and inflicting heavy losses on Afghanistan’s economy. Thus, the de facto regime is jubilant with the inauguration of the Wakhan transit road. As per (https://www.dpmea.gov.af/ps/node/1218) Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs’ website , “With the opening of the Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan will be forever freed from the pressure of neighboring countries, which often exploit the Karachi route, Gwadar Port, and Chabahar for political purposes and cause heavy financial losses to our traders and compatriots every year.” Even though the inauguration of the route is expected to alleviate the transportation challenges for the residents of Pamir and Wakhan, its role as a trans-regional route, or even just connecting Afghanistan to China, seems to be a distant dream. Despite the Taliban regime’s completion of the road, (https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-china-border-road-trade-terrorism/33875730.html) China still has not opened its border with Afghanistan , arguably due to security concerns vis-à-vis the crossing. Moreover, China neither sent its representative to the inaugural ceremony on October 4, nor did it acknowledge the road’s completion diplomatically. China built the road that the Taliban’s Wakhan transit road aimed to link up with over a decade ago. The goal wasn’t to increase trade, but to secure its militarized border with Afghanistan by advancing access for its armed patrols. The Taliban refer to the transit route as a trading link to gain access to Chinese markets; Chinese media refers to this approximately 76-kilometer-long border as a “major counterterrorism front line.” This media framing aligns with (https://jamestown.org/chinese-security-narratives-in-the-new-afghan-context-xinjiang-and-the-recycling-of-the-etim-threat/) Chinese officials’ narrative that Uyghurs in the region have frequently visited the corridor in order to “return to Xinjiang for Jihad.” China’s major security concern in Afghanistan is the potential threat from the members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group that seeks self-determination for the Uyghurs and independence of Xinjiang province from the Chinese government. According to some estimates, (https://thechinaproject.com/2023/10/19/uyghurs-in-afghanistan-fear-taliban-buying-huawei-surveillance-tech/) there are over 3,000 Uyghurs living in Afghanistan . China has asked the Taliban to ensure that Uyghur separatists (https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/challenges-to-chinas-growing-interests-in-afghanistan/) would not be allowed to use Afghan soil as a base for their activities in Xinjiang. Besides this, China wants the Taliban to extradite Uyghurs affiliated with ETIM to China. China’s lukewarm reaction to the Taliban’s completion of the Wakhan transit route emanates mainly from its security concerns. Until the Taliban completely secure the route and convince Beijing that it will not be used as a route by ETIM members to infiltrate Xinjiang, the use of the Wakhan Corridor as a trade route between the two countries will remain a distant dream. Authors (Muhammad Murad) (Muhammad Murad) Guest Author Muhammad Murad Muhammad Murad is a Ph.D. Political Science Candidate at the University of Bonn, Germany. (https://thediplomat.com/authors/muhammad-murad/) View Profile Tags (https://thediplomat.com/category/china-power/) China Power (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/countries/afghanistan/) Afghanistan (https://thediplomat.com/countries/china/) China (https://thediplomat.com/tag/afghanistan-infrastructure/) Afghanistan infrastructure (https://thediplomat.com/tag/china-afghanistan-border/) China-Afghanistan border (https://thediplomat.com/tag/china-afghanistan-connectivity/) China-Afghanistan connectivity (https://thediplomat.com/tag/china-afghanistan-trade/) China-Afghanistan trade (https://thediplomat.com/tag/wakhan-corridor/) Wakhan Corridor (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscribe for ads-free reading Advertisement (https://thediplomat.com/category/blogs/) Latest Stories (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/why-the-china-u-s-naval-encounter-at-sabina-shoal-is-different/) (Why the China-US Naval Encounter at Sabina Shoal Is Different) (Why the China-US Naval Encounter at Sabina Shoal Is Different) Why the China-US Naval Encounter at Sabina Shoal Is Different (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/new-zealands-climate-report-tests-its-pacific-leadership/) (New Zealand’s Climate Report Tests Its Pacific Leadership) (New Zealand’s Climate Report Tests Its Pacific Leadership) New Zealand’s Climate Report Tests Its Pacific Leadership (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/chinas-ai-industry-brings-both-gains-and-challenges-for-its-fragile-economy/) (China’s AI Industry Brings Both Gains and Challenges for Its Fragile Economy) (China’s AI Industry Brings Both Gains and Challenges for Its Fragile Economy) China’s AI Industry Brings Both Gains and Challenges for Its Fragile Economy (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-indian-governments-job-statistics-are-misleading/) (The Indian Government’s Job Statistics Are Misleading) (The Indian Government’s Job Statistics Are Misleading) The Indian Government’s Job Statistics Are Misleading Advertisement Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Get the Newsletter Advertisement Related (https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/what-chinas-new-county-reveals-about-its-afghanistan-policy/) (What China’s New County Reveals About Its Afghanistan Policy) (What China’s New County Reveals About Its Afghanistan Policy) What China’s New County Reveals About Its Afghanistan Policy By Philip Acey The administrative change hints at China’s plan for greater integration with Afghanistan – and beyond to Central Asia. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/chinas-afghanistan-pakistan-mediation-efforts-cast-doubt-on-its-influence-in-both-countries/) (China’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Mediation Efforts Cast Doubt on Its Influence in Both Countries) (China’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Mediation Efforts Cast Doubt on Its Influence in Both Countries) China’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Mediation Efforts Cast Doubt on Its Influence in Both Countries By Muhammad Murad Beijing has proved unable to end or even shape the conflict – especially in Pakistan. (https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/managed-instability-chinas-quiet-preference-for-a-contained-afghanistan/) (Managed Instability: China’s Quiet Preference for a Contained Afghanistan) (Managed Instability: China’s Quiet Preference for a Contained Afghanistan) Managed Instability: China’s Quiet Preference for a Contained Afghanistan By Syed Basim Raza and Muhammad Shoaib Beijing appears to have realized that sustainable peace in Afghanistan will require more effort than it can spare. (https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/will-beijings-taliban-gamble-work/) (Will Beijing’s Taliban Gamble Work?) (Will Beijing’s Taliban Gamble Work?) Will Beijing’s Taliban Gamble Work? By Muhammad Shoaib and Syed Basim Raza China is gambling that economic incentives will solve the problem of terrorism. Past experience suggests that’s a losing bet. Most Read (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/what-i-learned-from-a-year-of-interviewing-a-thai-sex-worker/) (What I Learned From a Year of Interviewing a Thai Sex Worker) (What I Learned From a Year of Interviewing a Thai Sex Worker) What I Learned From a Year of Interviewing a Thai Sex Worker By Toh Oon Hoe Decades of research have identified economic privation as a leading cause of entry into the country's illegal sex trade. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/tajikistan-turkmenistan-to-import-indian-surface-to-air-missile-systems/) (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan to Import Indian Surface-to-Air Missile Systems) (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan to Import Indian Surface-to-Air Missile Systems) Tajikistan, Turkmenistan to Import Indian Surface-to-Air Missile Systems By Catherine Putz Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed that Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are newer customers for the indigenous Akash medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile system. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/why-pakistan-tested-an-extended-range-version-of-the-fatah-iv/) (Why Pakistan Tested an Extended Range Version of the Fatah-IV) (Why Pakistan Tested an Extended Range Version of the Fatah-IV) Why Pakistan Tested an Extended Range Version of the Fatah-IV By Usman Haider and Abdul Moiz Khan Pakistan is likely looking to counter the Indian Air Force’s future strategy of launching air-launched missiles from standoff ranges. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/wolf-warriors-in-sheeps-clothing-chinas-new-subnational-diplomacy-in-australia/) (Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia) (Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia) Wolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in Australia By John Fitzgerald Beijing’s diplomatic officials are adopting the language of the Albanese government to press their demands upon local governments and communities. (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/china-capitalizes-on-americas-scientific-brain-drain/) (China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain) (China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain) China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain By Catherine Tan For generations, the flow of global talent was almost entirely one directional. Now China is increasingly attracting top researchers from U.S. institutions. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-proliferation-of-illicit-drones-in-southeast-asia/) (The Proliferation of Illicit Drones in Southeast Asia) (The Proliferation of Illicit Drones in Southeast Asia) The Proliferation of Illicit Drones in Southeast Asia By Rueben Dass The past two years have seen the growing use of off-the-shelf commercial drones for criminal and militant activities. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/what-the-new-china-north-korea-bridge-really-means/) (What the New China-North Korea Bridge Really Means) (What the New China-North Korea Bridge Really Means) What the New China-North Korea Bridge Really Means By Lee Sang Yong 12 years after construction finished, the New Yalu River Bridge is finally open. Will North Korea's economy open too? (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/after-8-months-in-power-how-much-has-the-bnp-changed-bangladesh/) (After 8 Months in Power, How Much Has the BNP Changed Bangladesh?) (After 8 Months in Power, How Much Has the BNP Changed Bangladesh?) After 8 Months in Power, How Much Has the BNP Changed Bangladesh? By Saqlain Rizve It remains to be seen how willing the new government is to change the institutions that it now controls. (https://thediplomat.com/category/blogs/) Latest Stories (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/why-the-china-u-s-naval-encounter-at-sabina-shoal-is-different/) (Why the China-US Naval Encounter at Sabina Shoal Is Different) (Why the China-US Naval Encounter at Sabina Shoal Is Different) Why the China-US Naval Encounter at Sabina Shoal Is Different By Bao Yinan It’s a new kind of close encounter. Will it become a new normal? (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/new-zealands-climate-report-tests-its-pacific-leadership/) (New Zealand’s Climate Report Tests Its Pacific Leadership) (New Zealand’s Climate Report Tests Its Pacific Leadership) New Zealand’s Climate Report Tests Its Pacific Leadership By Olya K-Mehri Wellington’s latest environmental assessment highlights the growing economic risks of climate change, raising questions about whether government policy can keep pace. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/chinas-ai-industry-brings-both-gains-and-challenges-for-its-fragile-economy/) (China’s AI Industry Brings Both Gains and Challenges for Its Fragile Economy) (China’s AI Industry Brings Both Gains and Challenges for Its Fragile Economy) China’s AI Industry Brings Both Gains and Challenges for Its Fragile Economy By Dmytro Spilka China’s exports are surging, driven by AI-related technologies. National security-driven export bans could change that. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-indian-governments-job-statistics-are-misleading/) (The Indian Government’s Job Statistics Are Misleading) (The Indian Government’s Job Statistics Are Misleading) The Indian Government’s Job Statistics Are Misleading By Santosh Mehrotra and Kingshuk Sarkar Behind the surge in EPFO numbers lies an uncomfortable question: is Delhi measuring new jobs or merely recording existing workers differently? Regions (https://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia/) Central Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/east-asia/) East Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/oceania-region/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/) Southeast Asia Topics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/economy/) Economy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/environment/) Environment (https://thediplomat.com/topics/opinion/) Opinion (https://thediplomat.com/topics/politics/) Politics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/security/) Security (https://thediplomat.com/topics/society/) Society Blogs (https://thediplomat.com/category/asean-beat/) ASEAN Beat (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-defense/) Asia Defense (https://thediplomat.com/category/china-power/) China Power (https://thediplomat.com/category/crossroads-asia/) Crossroads Asia (https://thediplomat.com/category/flashpoints/) Flashpoints (https://thediplomat.com/category/oceania/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/category/pacific-money/) Pacific Money (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-debate/) The Debate (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-koreas/) The Koreas (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-pulse/) The Pulse (https://thediplomat.com/category/tokyo-report/) Tokyo Report (https://thediplomat.com/category/trans-pacific-view/) Trans-Pacific View More (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features (https://thediplomat.com/category/interviews/) Interviews (https://thediplomat.com/category/photo-essays/) Photo Essays (https://thediplomat.com/category/podcasts/) Podcasts (https://thediplomat.com/category/videos/) Videos Archives (https://magazine.thediplomat.com) Magazine (https://thediplomat.com/category/a-new-japan/) A New Japan (https://thediplomat.com/category/by-other-means/) By Other Means (https://thediplomat.com/category/apac-insider/) APAC Insider (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-life/) Asia Life (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-scope/) Asia Scope (https://thediplomat.com/category/whats-next-china/) China, What's Next? (https://thediplomat.com/category/indian-decade/) Indian Decade (https://thediplomat.com/category/james-holmes/) James Holmes (https://thediplomat.com/category/new-emissary/) New Emissary (https://thediplomat.com/category/new-leaders-forum/) New Leaders Forum (https://thediplomat.com/category/sport-culture/) Sport & Culture (https://thediplomat.com/category/tech-biz/) Tech Biz (https://thediplomat.com/category/tokyo-notes/) Tokyo Notes (https://thediplomat.com/category/zachary-keck/) Zachary Keck The Diplomat (https://thediplomat.com/the-diplomat/) About Us (https://thediplomat.com/contact-us/) Contact Us (https://thediplomat.com/write-for-us/) Write for Us (https://thediplomat.com/about-us/advertise/) Advertise (https://thediplomat.com/syndication/) Syndicate (https://thediplomat.com/terms-of-use/) Terms of Use (https://thediplomat.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Newsletters (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscriptions Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/feed/) (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) (Newsletter) (https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMIaoowwwhqCyBA) (Google News) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/thediplomat) (LinkedIn) (https://www.facebook.com/diplomatmagazine) (Facebook) (https://bsky.app/profile/thediplomat.com) (Bluesky) (https://x.com/Diplomat_APAC) (X) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmksR2jAphI96PPCwvPO02g) (YouTube) © 2026 Diplomat Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.