- The Wakhan Corridor serves as a critical connector between South and Central Asia, influencing trade, security, and diplomacy.
- Its strategic location affects Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and India, each with distinct geopolitical interests in the region.
- The corridor’s rugged terrain limits development but remains vital for regional influence and connectivity.
The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of land in northeastern Afghanistan, extending about 350 kilometres (220 miles) between Tajikistan to the north and Pakistan to the south. It connects Afghanistan to China’s Xinjiang region in the east and is historically significant as part of the ancient Silk Road.
From a Geographical Context, the corridor is bordered by Tajikistan (north), Pakistan (south), and China (east). However, it must be noted that the Wakhan Corridor separates the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Tajikistan.
This corridor is very narrow to about 16 kilometres (10 miles) at its easternmost point, meeting China’s border in the Xinjiang region this region is rugged, mountainous, and sparsely populated, mainly by the Wakhi and Kyrgyz people and in the past it offered a natural buffer zone among the neighbouring powers.
Already, The Taliban, which values the strategic importance of the Wakhan Corridor, have taken control of it. This move effectively squashed Pakistan’s hopes of gaining unimpeded access to Central Asia via Wakhan. Now the Taliban have ensured that Tajikistan must rely on Chinese territory for access to Pakistan, thereby maintaining Afghanistan’s role as a key conduit in the region.
Strategic Importance Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and India
Afghanistan
The corridor could serve as a potential route for trade with China if infrastructure were developed, boosting Afghanistan’s connectivity and economy. It provides Afghanistan with direct access to China, bypassing its reliance on Pakistan for international trade. The Wakhan Corridor is vital for managing security threats, including cross-border militancy and trafficking.
The new Taliban, though still very parochial in its mindset, has concluded that war and Jihad is not the answer and that the people of Afghanistan need good governance and a stable environment to do business.
Pakistan
The southern border of the corridor lies along Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region in PoK, making it crucial for controlling movements in this sensitive area. Its proximity to the Karakoram Highway (a key segment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC) makes it important for maintaining security and logistical operations.
Pakistan views the region as a means to maintain leverage over Afghanistan and counter India’s influence in the area. Wakhan Corridor also holds strategic value for Pakistan as it is the gateway to the passages through the Hindu Kush mountain range, Pakistan can strengthen its military posture and counter India from reclaiming the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
China
The corridor connects to China’s Xinjiang region, which is central to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Stability in this region is vital for China’s broader strategic goals. China is concerned about cross-border Islamist militant activities that could spill over into Xinjiang. The Wakhan Corridor provides a critical buffer zone. Through its engagement in infrastructure and trade projects, China seeks to expand its influence in Central and South Asia.
China’s military and strategic involvement in the Wakhan region has gradually increased over the years. It now wants to take advantage of its location at the nexus of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan. In 2017, China pledged over US$ 90 million to support infrastructure projects in northeastern Afghanistan, including fibre optic connections and a segment of road through Wakhan but this pledge is still unrealized.
India
The corridor’s southern boundary lies adjacent to the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which India claims as part of its territory. This makes the corridor strategically significant for monitoring developments in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India is wary of the growing China-Pakistan cooperation in the region, particularly in PoK, and views the Wakhan Corridor as a potential theatre of geopolitical rivalry. Also, India would like to establish the Wakhan Corridor as a trade route to maintain influence in Afghanistan and limit Pakistan’s access to Central Asia.
While India currently has no direct access to the corridor, its geographical position makes it a critical area of interest in India’s regional security strategy. The Wakhan Corridor’s location near Tajikistan, a key Russian ally, makes it relevant in broader Central Asian security considerations, indirectly influencing Afghanistan-Pakistan dynamics.
Historical and Modern Context
The corridor was established during the 19th century as part of the “Great Game” between the British and Russian Empires, serving as a buffer zone to prevent direct contact between their territories. Today, its rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure limit large-scale development, but its potential as a trade route and geopolitical asset remains significant.
The corridor became geopolitically significant in the late 19th century during the “Great Game” between the British and Russian Empires. To prevent direct contact between British India and Russian territories, the Wakhan Corridor was established as a buffer zone under Afghan control after the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1895.
In summary, the Wakhan Corridor is a strategically critical region due to its location at the crossroads of South and Central Asia. It holds immense importance for Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and India in terms of connectivity, security, and geopolitical influence, especially given its proximity to the disputed territory of PoK.
Conclusion
The Wakhan Corridor right now serves as a potential route for movement or logistical support for groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates from Afghan territory and targets Pakistan. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan, now under the Taliban regime, of harbouring TTP militants, while Afghanistan denies these claims. Although the Wakhan itself isn’t a hotspot, its geographical position ties it to the larger border security discourse and any move to occupy it by Pakistan will only escalate the conflict.
For China, the Wakhan Corridor connects Afghanistan to China’s Xinjiang region, which gives it strategic importance for Beijing. China is concerned about cross-border militancy and separatist movements in Xinjiang, especially from Uyghur militants. Stability in the Wakhan Corridor is crucial for China’s security objectives, which indirectly affects Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. Also, this corridor is the keystone when it comes to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
India’s interests in Afghanistan and concerns about Pakistan’s control over transit routes, including the Wakhan’s proximity to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), add a layer of complexity to regional rivalries. The Wakhan Corridor’s role in the ongoing Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict is not direct but strategically significant. Its isolation makes it less prone to immediate conflict, but its geographical position as a connector between South Asia, Central Asia, and China places it at the intersection of regional security, trade, and geopolitical interests.
As the conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan widens, this small strip of land that can be called the chicken neck of Central Asia has all the hallmarks for the next Great Game.
Reference:
- https://thefridaytimes.com/08-Jan-2025/strategic-importance-of-the-wakhan-border-for-pakistan-a-gateway-to-central-asia-and-china#:~:text=1)%20Geopolitical%20Significance,and%20resources%20in%20Central%20Asia.
- https://spinetimes.pk/wakhan-corridor-a-historical-and-geographical-overview/
- https://mepei.com/the-geopolitical-importance-of-the-wakhan-corridor-in-central-asia/
- https://thefridaytimes.com/08-Jan-2025/strategic-importance-of-the-wakhan-border-for-pakistan-a-gateway-to-central-asia-and-china
- https://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-articles/item/13827-the-wakhan-corridor-chinas-inroad-to-afghanistan.html
Balaji is a freelance writer with an MA in History and Political science and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Piyush Anand 
Prajwal K M