I just got back from trekking in Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. I’ve already written a detailed travel guide to the Wakhan Corridor. Check it out if you’re planning a trip to the region.
While I was trekking in the Little Pamir, I learned that the Afghan government is building a new road there. The ultimate goal is to connect Sarhad-e-Broghil to the Little Pamir, and then connect the Little Pamir with the Wakhjir Pass (border with China).
I was on my way from Bozai Gumbaz to Chaqmaqtin Lake when I had a bit of a shock – there was a white land cruiser heading my way. At first, I thought I was hallucinating – I didn’t think there was any way a vehicle could get to the Little Pamir?
When they’d caught up to me, they invited me in and offered to give me a lift to Chaqmaqtin. I got in, and started asking some questions.
Firstly – where had they come from? Turns out there is a land border between Tajikistan and the Little Pamir, accessed from Murghab on the Tajik side. This border crossing is currently open only to Afghan/Tajik citizens, from what I understand.
The dudes in the car were Afghan engineers from other parts of Badakshan Province. They’d been sent to do some surveying on building a road to connect Sarhad-e-Broghil to Bozai Gumbaz. They were very friendly, and we went fishing at Chaqmaqtin Lake together.
We then parted ways, and they invited me to stay at their camp near Bozai Gumabaz on my way back to Sarhad-e-Broghil.
A couple days later I was at their camp. It consisted of a few tents, some excavators, and a dump truck.
I spent the night with them and learned some more. They’d already finished building a dirt track from Bozai Gumbaz to Kash Goz, and were surveying the route from Kash Goz to Borak. They’re hoping to have the road built in a few years.
I’m assuming that after they’ve connected Sarhad and the Little Pamir, they’ll build a road up the Wakhjir Valley to the border with China.
They also told me that they had a second crew of surveyors staying near Sarhad. This crew was working on building a road to Pakistan via Broghil Pass.
If a road connecting Sarhad and the Little Pamir ends up being built, it will definitely change the allure of trekking to this remote area. I’m glad I was able to visit this pristine area before Chinese trucks start rolling through.
Have you been to the Little Pamir post July 2019? I’m keen to hear any updates you might have about the roadworks going on there. Give me an update in the comments if you’ve got one!
Remember to check out my Wakhan Corridor guide if you haven’t already!
21-year old Canadian dude who loves to visit off-the-beaten-path places, climb tall mountains, and try delicious foods.
Very interesting! I have spread it on Twitter and will link from my own guide.
Yeah, I was really surprised to see all the roadworks going on there! Thanks for sharing it 🙂
Hi, thanks for sharing. I am an anthropologist and have conducted fieldwork with the road construction workers on the Sarhad side this year. I understand concerns regarding the potential impact on the region but it also needs to be emphasised that this will most likely take many years. The Tajikistan connection is easy access in contrast to the new road that has to be blasted into the rock between Sarhad and the Little Pamir. This is extremely slow and underfunded work. Engineers argue that it would take at least 6 years to reach Bazai Gumboz and even if they are faster it would possibly take close to a decade until a real connection to China materialises, considering how difficult border openings are in the Chinese context.