Afghanistan opens potential China trade route to Persian Gulf

The proposal was discussed during a recent meeting in Beijing between Bilal Karimi, Afghanistan’s ambassador to China, and senior Chinese officials, including Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asian Department at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan. According to a statement from the Afghan Embassy in Beijing, the talks focused on activating the Wakhan Corridor, consular cooperation, and deepening bilateral engagement.

This strategic move comes as China is reportedly reassessing its reliance on Pakistan as a primary transit hub for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) due to growing security concerns and risks to Chinese interests there. Sources indicate that rising militant attacks and instability in Pakistan have prompted China to explore alternative connectivity routes, potentially reducing its exposure in Pakistan.