Afghanistan’s new road to China ends at a closed border
Afghanistan's Taliban government celebrated the opening of a road leading to the Chinese border at Wakhjir Pass on October 4, though the border remains closed with no indication of when Beijing might open it to commercial traffic.
At an altitude of nearly 4,900 metres, the new road through Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor in Badakhshan province now reaches the Chinese border at Wakhjir Pass. Built at a cost of 365 million afghanis ($5.5m) over two phases, the unpaved gravel road ends at a frontier that remains officially closed, with no Chinese customs facility on the other side.
Snow closes the pass for at least five months of the year, and people cross it only sporadically when passable. The road represents a significant infrastructure achievement for the Taliban government, though its practical utility remains limited until Beijing decides to open the crossing.
Strategic corridor
The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow 350-kilometer stretch of land entirely within Afghan territory, connecting it with China while lying between Tajikistan to the north and Pakistan to the south. Its unusual shape resulted from 19th-century competition between Britain and Russia, with the border between Afghanistan and China not settled until 1963.
The area has gradually become one of Asia's most sensitive geopolitical crossroads, where China's security concerns, Afghanistan's economic ambitions, and regional connectivity projects intersect. The Taliban hopes to transform the corridor from an isolated border area into a gateway connecting Afghanistan to Chinese and Central Asian markets.
Long-delayed project
Serious discussion of a road through Wakhan began in 2009, but the project stalled due to rugged terrain and security concerns, particularly that Uighur fighters might use the corridor as an entry point into China. Construction began in 2019 but was interrupted by the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
The presence of [United States] and foreign forces and the security situation prevented the road project from being implemented. Beijing considered those circumstances to be limiting the prospects for developing the corridor.
The Taliban resumed construction in September 2023, funding it from Afghan government resources without Chinese financial support. The road reached the Chinese border in January 2024, with a second 71-kilometer phase completed in March 2025.
Security concerns
China views the Wakhan Corridor primarily as a security issue rather than an economic project. During a 2025 visit to Kabul, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for bilateral patrols in the corridor and urged the Taliban to crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a Uighur separatist group.
An Afghan government source stated that China links the border's opening to effective security guarantees, particularly regarding preventing armed groups from entering Xinjiang. China shares land borders with 14 countries but Afghanistan remains one of only two (along with Bhutan) without a direct overland crossing for trade.
Regional implications
Afghanistan seeks to reduce dependence on Pakistan and Iran for trade routes, both of which have been frequently closed. The Wakhan project is part of efforts to diversify trade outlets, though a seasonal gravel road cannot replace major crossings like Torkham.
Iran also views the corridor as a strategic opportunity to strengthen overland connections with China through Afghan territory. Former Afghan defense minister Miakhel suggested regional parties may be obstructing the project amid geopolitical changes in the region.
The Taliban envisions the corridor as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, potentially connecting South Asia with Central Asia. However, China continues to prioritize extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan while maintaining cautious approach toward opening Wakhjir Pass.
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