China Explores Wakhan Corridor Route With Afghanistan As Risks Rise In Pakistan | Exclusive

Last Updated:February 06, 2026, 12:49 IST

The discussions come at a time when China is reassessing its reliance on Pakistan as a key transit hub for trade and infrastructure under its flagship Belt and Road Initiative.

Afghanistan and China have held high-level talks on activating the Wakhan Corridor, a strategic move that could allow Beijing to bypass Pakistan amid growing security concerns and mounting risks to Chinese interests there. The discussions come at a time when China is increasingly reassessing its reliance on Pakistan as a key transit hub for trade and infrastructure under its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), driven by what sources describe as rapidly deteriorating law-and-order conditions and Islamabad’s failure to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and assets.

According to diplomatic sources, rising militant attacks and persistent instability in Pakistan have pushed China to actively explore alternative trade and connectivity routes. Earlier reports by CNN-News18 indicated that Beijing is keen to reduce its exposure in Pakistan and has already begun a slow withdrawal from some operations, reflecting unease over security guarantees linked to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Against this backdrop, Afghanistan has proposed a direct land route with China through the Wakhan Corridor, positioning itself as a potential alternative gateway for regional connectivity.

The proposal was discussed during a recent meeting in Beijing between Bilal Karimi, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s ambassador to China, and senior Chinese officials, including Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asian Department at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan. According to a statement issued by the Afghan Embassy in Beijing, the talks focused on strengthening political, economic and trade relations between the two countries. Key issues on the agenda included the activation of the Wakhan Corridor, consular cooperation, and other matters of mutual interest aimed at deepening bilateral engagement.

During the meeting, Chinese officials reaffirmed Beijing’s respect for Afghanistan’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, while emphasizing China’s commitment to continuing cooperation with Afghanistan across various sectors. Both sides stressed the importance of sustained dialogue and practical engagement to advance bilateral relations and promote broader regional connectivity, signaling a willingness to move beyond political contacts toward tangible infrastructure and trade initiatives.

The Wakhan Corridor itself is a narrow, roughly 350-kilometre-long strip of land in northeastern Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province. It serves as a high-altitude buffer separating Tajikistan to the north and Pakistan to the south, while providing Afghanistan with a direct, albeit challenging, land link to China’s Xinjiang region. While the terrain is remote, mountainous and underdeveloped, strategic analysts note that even limited activation of the corridor would reduce China’s dependence on Pakistan and offer Beijing an alternative route aligned with its evolving BRI calculus.

News world China Explores Wakhan Corridor Route With Afghanistan As Risks Rise In Pakistan | Exclusive

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