Local Officials: China Pledges to Start Trade Via Wakhan With Completion

Local officials in Badakhshan said that Chinese authorities have assured them that the country will open its trade route with Afghanistan once the construction of the Wakhan road is completed.

According to Badakhshan local officials, the second phase of the Wakhan road project with China will be completed within the next two months, and at the same time, China will begin its trade activities with Afghanistan.

Mohammad Ayoub Khalid, the governor of Badakhshan, stated, “We have reached the Chinese border, where the barbed wire is located. The road has been connected, and work on its development is ongoing. It will soon be operational.”

Khan Mohammad, head of the governor’s office in Badakhshan, said, “Work on the road construction and other facilities is ongoing, and we hope that it would be ready for use in a short time. The Chinese ambassador has fully assured us that the trade route will be opened and the road will be operational.”

The reopening and commencement of activities through the Wakhan Corridor will have a positive impact on the country’s economic and trade processes.

Saleh Mohammad Alokozai, an Afghan businessman in China, discussed the importance of this road, saying, “This route could affect prices in Afghanistan’s markets, and it is a short and efficient route for exporting fresh and dried fruits from Afghanistan.”

According to officials in the Islamic Emirate, the connection with China through the Wakhan Corridor will significantly enhance the country’s trade and economic activities. They added that the construction of trade and security infrastructure at the border with China is also nearing completion.