Bordering On Intrigue: Afghanistan And China's Unique Territorial Nexus

Afghanistan and China share a 46-mile border, most of which runs 5,000 metres above sea level in the Pamir mountains. The border is located at the eastern end of the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of Afghan territory that separates Tajikistan and Pakistan. The only way to cross the border is through the Wakhjir Pass, which links Wakhan in Afghanistan with the Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang, China. The pass is located at an altitude of 4,923 metres and is not an official border crossing point.

The Wakhjir Pass is the only pass between Afghanistan and China

The Wakhjir Pass is situated at an altitude of 4,923 metres (16,152 ft) and is not an official border crossing point. The pass is surrounded by extremely difficult terrain and is inaccessible for at least five months of the year. Historically, it was a trading route between Badakhshan and Yarkand, forming a part of the Silk Road. Notable figures who have crossed the pass include the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang in 649 AD, Marco Polo, and the Jesuit priest Benedict Goëz in the early 17th century.

In 1895, the Wakhjir Pass was established as the border between China and Afghanistan by an agreement between the British and Russians. However, it was only in 1963 that the Chinese and Afghans finalised the border. Today, the pass remains closed to foreigners and is closely monitored by Chinese border guards.

The Afghanistan-China border has the sharpest official change of clocks of any international frontier, with a difference of 3.5 hours. The two countries share a tiny border of approximately 46 miles, most of which runs 5,000 metres above sea level in the Pamir Mountains.

The Afghanistan-China border has the sharpest official change of clocks of any international frontier

The Afghanistan-China border has the most significant official clock change of any international frontier, with a 3.5-hour time difference. Afghanistan operates on UTC+4:30, while China, despite its enormous size, has only one time zone, UTC+8. This is because, in 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong combined all the time zones in China to foster "national unity".

The border between the two countries is located in the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in northeastern Afghanistan that extends towards China. The corridor is bordered by Pakistan to the south and Tajikistan to the north, with China at its easternmost tip. The corridor is a product of geopolitical tensions in the region, serving as a buffer zone between the British and Russian empires during the "Great Game" in the 19th century.

The Wakhjir Pass, located at the eastern end of the Wakhan Corridor, is the only navigable pass between Afghanistan and China. It links Wakhan in Afghanistan to the Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang, China, at an altitude of 4,923 meters (16,152 feet). The pass is not an official border crossing point, and there are no roads traversing it. The terrain is extremely challenging and inaccessible for at least five months of the year.

The border between Afghanistan and China has the sharpest official change of clocks, with a 3.5-hour time difference, making it a unique and dramatic crossing between the two nations.

The Wakhan Corridor is a buffer zone between Afghanistan and China

The terrain in the Wakhan Corridor is notoriously difficult and rugged, with high mountain valleys and rivers. The corridor is higher in the east than in the west, with the Wakhjir Pass at an elevation of 16,152 feet and descending to about 9,964 feet at Ishkashim. The corridor is bounded by the Pamir River and Lake Zorkul in the west and the high peaks of the Pamir Mountains in the east. The northern border of the corridor is formed by the Pamir River, while the southern border is bounded by the high mountains of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges.

The Wakhan Corridor has a rich cultural and historical significance. It was a vital trade route for countless centuries, facilitating the movement of travellers and goods between East, South, and Central Asia. The corridor was a portion of the famous Silk Road, and early travellers used one of three routes to cross the corridor. The corridor also has a diverse religious history, with followers of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Islam practising their faiths in the region over time.

In recent years, there have been discussions and efforts to open the Wakhan Corridor to enhance trade ties between Afghanistan and China. However, the corridor remains closed to regular traffic, and there is no modern road. The Chinese side of the border, the Chalachigu Valley, is closed to visitors, except for local residents and herders. The Wakhan Corridor continues to be a site of geopolitical intrigue and a focal point for the interests of various nations.

China has economic interests in Afghanistan

Afghanistan and China share a border of about 46 miles, most of which runs 5,000 meters above sea level in the Wakhan Corridor. The Wakhjir Pass is the only possible route between the two countries and has been used as a trading route for centuries.

China has several economic interests in Afghanistan, including:

• Natural resources: Afghanistan has an abundance of natural resources, including rare earth metals, gold, aluminium, iron ore, copper, lithium, natural gas, coal, and oil. China has already invested in the extraction of these resources, with a focus on copper and oil.
• Market for Chinese goods: Afghanistan is a market for Chinese exports, particularly as other countries have imposed sanctions on the Taliban-led government.
• Regional connectivity: Afghanistan's location makes it a vital link between the markets of South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and China. China has been working to integrate Afghanistan into its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to advance its economic interests in the region.
• Stability: China seeks to promote stability in Afghanistan to reduce the risk of terrorism and extremism, which could threaten its interests and citizens in the region.
• Alternative supply route: Afghanistan has requested China to open the border in the Wakhan Corridor for economic reasons and as an alternative supply route to support its fight against the Taliban.

The Taliban's relationship with China

China and Afghanistan share a 92km border and have had diplomatic relations since the 18th century. China is Afghanistan's largest trading partner and has been making inroads into the country through investments and projects since the US withdrew its forces in 2021.

China has been stepping up its engagement with the Taliban, becoming the first country to appoint an ambassador to Kabul since the Taliban took power. Beijing is motivated by security concerns, particularly the threat of Uyghur militants using Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks against China. China has also invested in mining projects in Afghanistan.

The relationship between the two countries is transactional and defined by pragmatism and an underlying distrust. China does not officially recognise the Taliban as the rulers of Afghanistan but has negotiated issues of trade, investment, and aid with the Taliban government.

China's engagement with the Taliban can be traced back to the 1990s when it was one of the few countries that engaged with the group during its first stint in power. In the early 2000s, China became concerned about the possibility of Uyghur militants using camps in Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks against China. This led to increased engagement with the Afghan authorities and the Taliban, with China seeking to ensure that any trouble in Afghanistan did not spill over into its territory.

In recent years, China has hosted regional formats on Afghanistan and sponsored some bilateral trade efforts and aid provisions. It has also participated in peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. However, China has refused to take on a leadership role in the country, instead choosing to remain on the sidelines and let others take the lead in confronting actors and forcing them to resolve their issues.

China's influence and role in Afghanistan have grown over the years, and it could help broker peace in the war-torn country. However, China's relationship with the Taliban is complex and driven by pragmatic geopolitical calculations and security concerns.

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