Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban is pushing forward with an ambitious plan to transform Afghanistan’s remote northeast into a major global trade corridor by building a highway through the rugged Wakhan Corridor, linking the Afghan heartland directly to China. The project aims to bypass Pakistan, significantly reduce travel times between Central Asia and China, and open up trade in valuable minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and gold.
Three years after the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan remains politically isolated and economically fragile. While the regime has begun paving a 30-mile stretch of dirt road near the Chinese border, satellite images show no recent construction at the critical Wakhjir Pass, where the highway is supposed to connect with China. The completed segment currently ends in rough, mountainous terrain, making further progress uncertain.
Taliban officials acknowledge that the government lacks the necessary funds to complete the project and are hoping for Chinese investment. However, despite numerous agreements between Beijing and the Taliban on mining projects, China has so far refrained from committing to large-scale infrastructure development. Security concerns and Afghanistan’s restrictive policies, particularly those affecting women, have deterred foreign investors and limited economic engagement.
On the Chinese side of the border, satellite imagery reveals recent improvements to existing roads and the construction of additional border security posts, while Afghan state media has celebrated even minor progress on their side. In Kabul, some businesses are preparing for an increase in Chinese trade. A newly opened Chinese hotel and restaurants catering to Chinese visitors suggest growing economic ties, but experienced traders report a decline in new Chinese business ventures in Afghanistan, citing investment risks and security threats.
