KABUL (Khaama Press): Chinese media have reported that the country may not fulfil the Taliban’s aim of connecting Afghanistan to China’s economy through the Wakhan Corridor. According to “South China Morning Post,” China considers this project a “suspicious economic case” and approaches it with caution.
This road connects Afghanistan via the Wakhan Corridor to Xinjiang, China. Previously, the Taliban’s governor in Badakhshan had announced the completion of the construction of the Wakhan Corridor road up to the Chinese border, officially linking Afghanistan to China through this province. He also mentioned plans to asphalt the road shortly.
This project had an estimated cost of around 370 million Afghanis and was initiated by the previous Afghan government to attract Chinese investments.
Construction of this 50-kilometer road began in May 2021 in the Badakhshan province but was halted due to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. However, analysts suggest that China, due to security concerns related to terrorism and separatism, restricts full access to its land border with Afghanistan.
Professor Zhu Yongbiao from Lanzhou University believes the project is primarily a way for the Taliban to demonstrate its governance capabilities to neighboring countries. He pointed out that the Wakhan Corridor road is largely unusable and has no economic viability due to the challenging mountainous terrain.
“The road itself is largely devoid of practical access and economic value,” he said, “adding that Afghanistan could not build highways in the high-altitude Wakhan Corridor.”
Mr. Zhao mentioned that China lacks customs facilities in this region, and it seems unlikely that China would invest in it. He emphasized that building a road in this area is highly expensive and offers no short-term economic benefits.
He also added the Wakhjir Pass is seen by China as a crucial counterterrorism front line, given its proximity to Xinjiang, home to a predominantly Muslim Uygur population.
“China must have its security considerations. This road is not economically worthwhile, but it must have security risks,” Zhu said. Currently, China lacks customs facilities in the area where Afghanistan borders Xinjiang, and there’s no indication they plan to establish one, South China Post said.
The Wakhan Corridor is a long, thin piece of land in northeastern Afghanistan that reaches towards China. It separates Tajikistan and Pakistan, running about 220 miles long and ranging from 8.1 to 40.4 miles wide. Around 12,000 people live in about 110 villages within this area.
