The History of the Wakhan Corridor: A Geopolitical Flashpoint

MAYANK YADAV

Recent reports indicate that Pakistan’s military is planning an offensive to capture the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in northeastern Afghanistan that connects Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to Central Asia. This potential move has sparked concerns over its implications for regional peace and stability. If successful, it could significantly tighten the strategic alignment between Pakistan and China, further encircling India while jeopardizing India’s connectivity prospects with Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The Wakhan Corridor, approximately 210 km long and ranging from 13 to 65 km in width, holds immense historical and geopolitical significance. This rugged terrain has connected South Asia, Central Asia, and China for centuries, serving as a vital passage for traders, pilgrims, and empires. Historically part of the Silk Road, the Wakhan Corridor facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture. Influenced by empires such as the Achaemenids, Greeks, and Kushans, it linked the Indian subcontinent with Central Asia. Buddhist pilgrims from China also traversed the corridor to visit monasteries, spreading Buddhism westward.

The Great Game Era

The modern geopolitical importance of the Wakhan Corridor emerged during the 19th-century “Great Game,” the rivalry between the British Empire and Tsarist Russia. To avoid direct conflict between British India and Russia, the corridor was established as a buffer zone under Afghanistan’s control.

In 1895, the Durand Line was extended to include the Wakhan Corridor, formalized by the Pamir Boundary Commission. This ensured that the region acted as a neutral zone, keeping British India and Russian territories apart and making Afghanistan a landlocked buffer state.

Cold War and Beyond

During the Cold War, the corridor remained strategically important but largely inaccessible. Its location near volatile regions such as the Soviet Union and Pakistan kept it under geopolitical scrutiny. Today, its proximity to China and Central Asia makes it a critical focal point for regional powers, especially in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

What Should Be India’s Stance?

Given the strategic implications of Pakistan’s interest in the Wakhan Corridor, India must adopt a proactive and multifaceted approach to safeguard its regional and strategic interests. Diplomatically, India should assert its opposition to any Pakistani offensive in the corridor, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability. Strengthening alliances with Central Asian nations, particularly Afghanistan and Tajikistan, is essential to counter Pakistan’s ambitions and to underline shared interests in preventing instability.

At the same time, India should highlight the connection between Pakistan’s interest in the Wakhan Corridor and its occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), framing any move in the corridor as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and an extension of Pakistan’s destabilizing policies. Furthermore, accelerating infrastructure projects like Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) would provide India with alternative routes to Central Asia.

Finally, India must bolster its military and intelligence presence in the region to counter any fallout from Pakistan’s actions, ensuring that it remains prepared for all eventualities. By balancing diplomacy, infrastructure development, and strategic preparedness, India can effectively safeguard its interests and maintain its influence in South and Central Asia.

The Wakhan Corridor, with its historical and strategic significance, remains a crucial element in the geopolitics of South and Central Asia. Pakistan’s potential move to capture it represents a dangerous escalation that threatens regional stability. India must treat this development with utmost seriousness, aligning its stance on the Wakhan Corridor with its position on PoK. Thus, for India this is a pivotal moment to reaffirm its strategic interests, safeguard its regional influence, and ensure that its future connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia remains unhampered.