ISLAMABAD: Pakistan dismissed speculation on Thursday about taking over Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, following complaints by officials in Islamabad of cross-border militant attacks, with the foreign office reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighboring country.
The Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in northeastern Afghan region, connects Afghanistan to China and separates Tajikistan from Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in recent years, with Islamabad accusing the Afghan administration in Kabul of “facilitating” such cross-border violence. Afghan officials, however, have consistently denied the claim.
Tensions escalated between the two countries following reports of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged militant camps in Afghanistan in December. Afghan officials reported the strikes resulted in civilian casualties, warning Pakistan of consequences.
“The Wakhan Corridor is a part of Afghan territory,” foreign office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said during the weekly news conference. “For us, Afghanistan is a neighbor of Pakistan. We recognize its sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is no question of Pakistan having designs on one of its neighbors.”
Stretching approximately 350 kilometers, the corridor also holds strategic significance as a potential trade and transit route, particularly within the frameworks of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Khan highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries and Pakistan’s commitment to fostering strong ties with Afghanistan.
“[Afghanistan] is an important neighbor,” he said. “Both countries understand the importance of this equation, the importance of good relations between two neighbors.”
“We wish Afghanistan the best,” he added. “And we want to nurture and develop strong, vibrant relations the way it should be between two neighbors.”
While addressing the broader bilateral relationship, he noted ongoing diplomatic efforts to address security concerns, particularly regarding the presence of the TTP on Afghan soil.
“One of the key problems right now is the sanctuaries that the terrorist group TTP enjoys on Afghan soil. The two sides are in contact on this,” he said, adding that diplomatic engagements between the countries were multi-layered and often go unreported.
