DND News Report: Afghanistan and China have initiated direct trade through the newly constructed Wakhan Corridor Road, linking Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province with the Chinese border, in a development that could significantly reshape Kabul’s regional trade connectivity.
The 121-kilometer unpaved gravel road was officially opened on Sunday, October 4, 2026, connecting the Sarhad-e Broghil, also known as Boroghil, border area in Wakhan district to the zero point at the Chinese border near the Wakhjir Pass.
The newly built route provides Afghanistan with a direct overland connection toward China through the remote Wakhan Corridor and represents a strategic move by Kabul to diversify its trade routes, reduce reliance on traditional southern trade corridors and strengthen economic links with East Asian markets.
Afghanistan has already been expanding its regional trade connectivity through its border routes with Uzbekistan, while the opening of the Wakhan route provides another potential avenue for accessing international markets.
The newly constructed road passes through one of Afghanistan’s most remote and mountainous regions. According to details of the project, the 121-kilometer route includes 66 culverts, four major bridges and approximately 3,100 meters of retaining walls to facilitate movement through difficult terrain.
The road was financed through the Afghan Taliban government’s development budget at a total cost of 365 million Afghanis.
The project was completed in phases over a period of two years and was constructed by Afghan engineers without the involvement of foreign advisers, according to Afghan officials.
The opening of the Wakhan Corridor marks an important infrastructure development for Afghanistan, as the country seeks to expand trade links beyond its traditional routes and establish stronger economic connections with neighboring and regional economies.
The corridor runs through the narrow Wakhan strip of Badakhshan, a strategically located territory extending toward China, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Its connection with the Chinese border could provide Kabul with an additional route for future commercial exchanges with China and other East Asian markets.
The development also carries broader geopolitical and economic significance, as Afghanistan seeks greater regional integration through infrastructure, trade and transit projects despite the country’s challenging terrain and limited road connectivity. With the completion of the road to the Wakhjir Pass, Kabul has established physical road connectivity to the Chinese border, potentially creating new opportunities for bilateral trade and transit between Afghanistan and China.
