RASC News Agency: The Washington Post has reported that satellite imagery confirms a complete halt in the construction of the Wakhan Corridor highway, a strategic trade route between Afghanistan and China, since August of last year. The images, obtained by Maxar Technologies, a commercial satellite imaging firm, reveal that no visible progress has been made on the project over the past seven months. The report highlights that while Chinese companies have signed multiple agreements for the extraction of Afghanistan’s vast rare mineral reserves following the Taliban’s return to power, Beijing has shown notable reluctance in committing to large-scale infrastructure investments in the country. This hesitation persists despite Taliban assertions that Chinese firms are eager to facilitate trade through the Wakhan Corridor.
According to The Washington Post, the Wakhan trade route holds immense geopolitical and economic significance, as its completion would bypass Pakistan entirely and dramatically shorten transit times between China and Central Asia. The corridor has the potential to unlock Afghanistan’s vast mineral wealth encompassing lithium, cobalt, and gold bolstering its role in the global supply chain. Advocates of the project view it as a step toward restoring Afghanistan’s historical position as a pivotal hub along the ancient Silk Road, aligning with China’s long-term vision of modernizing global trade through a vast intercontinental network of land and maritime corridors.
Despite these strategic advantages, The Washington Post underscores that Beijing remains hesitant to invest in Afghanistan’s large-scale infrastructure projects due to multiple logistical and security concerns. The report emphasizes that completing the Wakhan Corridor would require the construction of high-durability bridges and the elimination of river crossings that become impassable due to seasonal flooding an engineering and financial challenge that China appears unwilling to undertake at this stage.
