Mawlawi Abdul Manan Hassan, Deputy Commander of the Taliban Border Police, has conducted an inspection of outposts and border facilities belonging to the group in the Wakhan region. Wakhan, due to its border with China, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, is considered one of Afghanistan’s most strategically significant areas.
According to a statement issued by the Taliban Border Police, Abdul Manan Hassan instructed forces stationed in the area during his visit to expand their cooperation and engagement with local residents of Wakhan.
This visit comes amid a series of high-level Taliban inspections of Wakhan since the beginning of the current year. Several senior officials have traveled to the region, particularly to Afghanistan’s border areas with China. Approximately three weeks earlier, a 1,000-strong unit affiliated with Hibatullah Akhundzada also visited the area.
According to sources, this military unit was established with the objective of securing mines, particularly gold mines in Badakhshan province, and most of its personnel are drawn from Taliban members originating from southern provinces. Some of these forces have also been deployed in border areas of Badakhshan.
Despite the increased Taliban presence in Wakhan, reports indicate that several border facilities and military posts left over from the previous Afghan government have deteriorated due to neglect and lack of maintenance, rendering them effectively unusable.
Videos circulating on social media show that the accumulation of sand and debris inside one of the former government border posts in Wakhan has covered parts of the facility, making its use difficult.
Meanwhile, observers argue that the Taliban’s focus on Wakhan is not solely security-related but is also linked to expanding economic cooperation with China. In recent years, China has developed its political, economic, and diplomatic relations with the Taliban and has participated in certain mining and investment projects in Afghanistan.
Beijing has consistently expressed concerns regarding the presence of armed groups, including Uyghur militants, in Afghanistan, and has urged the Taliban to prevent any threats to China’s security interests.
Some analysts also believe that the increased presence of senior Taliban officials in Badakhshan is connected to internal shifts within the group and changes in the local balance of power in the province. They argue that the declining influence of certain local commanders and the growing deployment of non-local forces in Badakhshan are part of a broader trend observed in recent years.
Beyond its security importance, Wakhan also holds significant economic value. The Taliban have repeatedly stated their intention to establish a direct overland route between Afghanistan and China via the Wakhan Corridor—a passage they say could facilitate trade expansion, attract investment, and reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on transit routes through other countries.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
