Afghanistan Peace CampaignMinistry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development said that 60% of the construction work on this major regional project has been completed.
The Ministry of Economy has rejected a report by The Washington Post regarding security and economic challenges facing the Wakhan project.
Abdul Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister of Economy, told TOLOnews that Afghanistan, China, and regional countries have the political and economic will to advance this project, and there are no security challenges against it.
“The Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate strongly rejects The Washington Post’s report on Afghanistan’s isolation and the existence of security threats. The Wakhan Corridor can transform Afghanistan into a trade hub and a regional transit and connectivity center. There is political and economic determination in Afghanistan, China, and regional countries to complete this project,” said the deputy minister.
The Washington Post reported that the Islamic Emirate is attempting to turn the remote Wakhan region into an international trade center and connect Afghanistan to China. However, security challenges and a lack of financial resources could hinder the project’s progress.
The newspaper also analyzed different aspects of the Wakhan Corridor project, stating that, according to satellite images, no new construction has taken place in the past seven months, and the completed section of the road ends less than half a mile from the Chinese border.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development said that 60% of the construction work on this major regional project has been completed, but due to cold weather, the work is currently on hold.
Noor-ul-Hadi Adel, the ministry’s spokesperson, said: “60% of the construction work on this project has been completed, but due to the cold weather and snowfall, the road construction has been halted. Once the weather improves, work on the project will resume.”
Two weeks ago, Abdul Karim Fateh, Deputy Minister of Public Works, told TOLOnews in an exclusive interview that the survey for the Wakhan Corridor in Badakhshan has been completed, and the design process is currently underway. He added that once the budget is approved by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the ministry is prepared to start its construction.