Pakistan may be eyeing control over the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land located in the far northeast of Afghanistan. The corridor connects Afghanistan with China’s Xinjiang province and separates Pakistan from Tajikistan. Analysts believe Pakistan, with China’s full strategic cooperation, is seeking to establish direct land access to Central Asian markets under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
For Pakistan, the Wakhan Corridor represents far more than just a geographical route — it is a strategic lifeline. Through this slender strip, Pakistan could gain direct overland access to Tajikistan, Russia, and Central Asia, bypassing Afghanistan’s unstable political landscape. In this sense, the corridor could become Pakistan’s own “Suez Canal” or “Panama Canal”, offering vital trade and geopolitical advantages.
The Wakhan Corridor, also known as the Wakhan Strip, holds immense geopolitical importance. It spans approximately 310 kilometers in length and 15 kilometers in width, bordered by Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan, Tajikistan, China’s Xinjiang region, and Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province. The Wakhi people, who inhabit this region, share cultural and linguistic ties with communities across these borders.
Historically, the Wakhan Corridor served as part of the ancient Silk Road, connecting South Asia with Central Asia and China. However, following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the route was closed for trade and cross-border travel. Despite this, cultural and familial ties have remained intact, especially between communities in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley and Afghanistan’s Wakhan district, through old passes such as Irshad Pass.
The area’s northern extension connects with the Pamir Mountains, often called the “Roof of the World”, where the Pamir Highway runs through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. This rugged 1,200 km road, built during the 19th century’s “Great Game” between the British and Russian Empires, remains one of the world’s most scenic yet treacherous mountain routes. It winds through isolated valleys, snow-covered peaks, and desolate plains that few travelers ever see.
Today, the Wakhan region’s mountainous terrain and its position between four key countries — Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan — make it a focal point for regional connectivity projects and strategic defense interests. With tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalating, some analysts argue that Islamabad’s growing assertiveness in the area could mark a turning point in regional geopolitics.
If Pakistan were to secure influence or control over even a few kilometers of the Wakhan Corridor, it could achieve uninterrupted access to Central Asia — an opportunity that would reshape trade routes and power dynamics across the region. Given the precedent of territorial control in global conflicts, Pakistan’s strategic ambitions in this high-altitude corridor could be justified as a defensive and economic necessity rather than aggression.
The Wakhan Corridor, with its immense natural beauty, cultural diversity, and untapped economic potential, remains one of the least explored yet most geopolitically sensitive regions in Asia. For Pakistan, it could become a defining link between South Asia and the heart of Eurasia.
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