The opening of a new 50 km long trade road from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province to the Chinese border is being considered as the first ‘major achievement’ of the Taliban government, while it is also being described as a ‘huge success’ for China.
A new 50-kilometer trade road from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province to the Chinese border has been inaugurated, making traffic on the route possible after nearly a century.
A new 50-kilometer trade road from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province to the Chinese border has been inaugurated, making traffic on the route possible after nearly a century.
The project, which was launched on September 17, is being hailed as the Taliban government’s first “major achievement” while also being hailed as a “huge success” for China.
According to Afghan officials, the project will provide Afghanistan with a closer and alternative route to China by road, while also bringing trade, economic and tourism benefits.
The Wakhan is a narrow strip between Pakistan and Tajikistan, which separates Pakistan from other Central Asian countries.
Wakhan District is in Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan, which borders four countries: China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
The Wakhan Corridor has been a transportation highway for thousands of years. Historians say that it was the ancient Silk Road, which ran from India to China. Marco Polo also traveled through this route, while Buddhism also spread through this route.
During the British rule, the Durand Line was drawn as a result of the Treaty of 1893, and the Wakhan district became a buffer zone between the Soviet Union and British-held territory.
As a result of this division, the Wakhan highway was closed for traffic.
China realizes the importance of this route, but the dream situation of law and order, extremist organizations and later American domination never allowed this wish to be fulfilled.
Now that the highway has been re-opened, CGTN spoke to analysts to find out how the opening of the project could boost trade between the two countries and what impact Pakistan could have on it.
Defense analyst Brigadier (retd) Ayaz Khan said that “Pakistan should not be worried about the Wakhan road, but Islamabad should benefit from it.”
In a conversation with, he said: ‘Broghal Pass in Chitral district of Pakistan is the place from where one can easily reach Wakhan. From here, Pakistan’s connection with Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries will continue.
At the same time, he said that the opening of the Wakhan trade route can reduce the dependence on CPEC.
Brigadier (retd) Ayaz Khan added that the important thing is that the matter which could not be possible in a century, was made possible by the Taliban government.
He said: ‘Taliban is trying to improve its economic situation. This is why the decision to trade on Wakhan was ultimately made.
The Taliban allayed China’s concerns and made the situation favorable for them
China and Afghanistan have been well aware of the importance of the Wakhan Corridor. Both, especially China, wanted easy access to Afghanistan through a safe route.
However, the changing regimes, unstable conditions and law and order situation in Afghanistan did not give an opportunity to any government of Afghanistan to take advantage of it, nor did China give importance to it for these reasons.
It is also worth mentioning here that although there are several routes to reach Afghanistan from China, most of them are dangerous and difficult.
According to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Chinese media, after the Taliban government came to power, China has not only appointed an ambassador to Afghanistan for the first time, but also plans to renew a mineral agreement with them to build a road from Wakhan district to the Chinese border. has also launched, which shows China’s priorities and future policy.
On the other hand, China, which has been investing here for a long time with close ties with Pakistan, now has a safe and stable route.
According to various domestic and foreign media reports, the reason for China’s advance towards Afghanistan is the political instability in Pakistan and the declining economy of the world and China as a result of the Corona epidemic.
According to Professor Sarfraz Khan, former director of Peshawar University’s Department of Area Study Center, not only the declining economy is a concern for China, but Beijing is planning geopolitically keeping in mind the ongoing rivalry and rivalry with the US.
In a conversation with Prof. Sarfaraz Khan, he said: ‘Pakistan can come under the pressure of the US at any time, seeing the IMF loans and the ruthless policy of the US. The next government’s preference may be America instead of China. In such a situation, China needed an alternative way to save CPEC and improve its economy.
He further said that China understands that under the pressure of America, it can be banned from reaching CPEC in Pakistan.
But through the new Wakhan road, China will be able to directly reach Chabahar in Iran and reach Gwadar.
According to Professor Sarfraz, China will benefit immensely from the Wakhan Road. China has regained access to copper, lithium, coal and other minerals as well as alternative routes.
He said: ‘Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistan will be reduced due to this road, which Pakistan will not like. On the other hand, China will also deliver goods directly to Afghanistan instead of Pakistan.
