The Wakhan Corridor, located in Badakhshan Province in northeastern Afghanistan, is a narrow strip of land 350km long and 13–65km wide, bordered by Pakistan to the south and Tajikistan to the north. Its borders were established in 1895 by the British and Russian Empires as a buffer zone. The corridor also shares a 70km border with China, with the Wakhjir Pass (4,923m) providing the only navigable route into Xinjiang Province—though it is not an official crossing.
Read this Outside Magazine article for more Wakhan Corridor photos and a fascinating account of what happens if you accidentally cross the border here—in this case, into Tajikistan. For a retro glimpse into Kyrgyz life in the eastern corridor, see a 1975 Italian documentary film about the community.
Unlike many other parts of Afghanistan, the Wakhan District remained secure throughout the 2001–2021 war between the Taliban and the Afghan government and coalition forces. During this period, neighbouring Yamgan, Warduj, and Zebak Districts periodically fell under Taliban control, but the Wakhan remained stable due the local Shia Ismaili Muslim population’s opposition to Taliban ideology and patrolling Tajik military forces who had standing orders to cross the border if an invasion occurred. A Chinese base near the Wakhjir Pass also added another layer of security. As a result, the Wakhan was one of the safest areas to visit in Afghanistan during the war. Post-2021, it remains secure, as does the rest of the country under Taliban rule.
These Wakhan Corridor photos document a week-long journey in the mountains north of Sargaz village. For those wanting to experience rural Afghan life or to hike, ski, or climb among its many 5,000–7,000m peaks, the country does not disappoint!
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