The Taliban administration has banned citizens of the United States and Pakistan from entering the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow mountainous region in northeastern Afghanistan bordering Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan. The announcement was reported by the news agency IRAF.
Afghan authorities said the decision was made due to "security concerns and rising tensions along the borders." Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have sharply deteriorated in recent months, particularly in border areas.
The Wakhan Corridor is a strategically important 295-kilometer strip of land connecting Afghanistan to China and potentially providing access to Central Asia. Control over the corridor is seen as a key factor in regional influence.
Afghan analysts suggest the ban may be a response to earlier threats from Pakistani military circles, who reportedly discussed Islamabad’s ambition to gain access to Central Asia via the Wakhan and Tajikistan.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for the resumption of joint patrols in the corridor. "China supports the swift restoration of bilateral monitoring to ensure peace and stability along the border," stated China’s foreign ministry.
Analysts believe the entry restrictions could strengthen the Taliban’s control over the area, but may also further strain relations with Pakistan and impact the broader geopolitical dynamics in the region.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 28, 2025