Pakistan Bypasses Afghanistan With New Corridors Through Iran and China

AI Summary

Pakistan has opened new strategic land routes through Iran and China to connect Central Asian markets to Pakistani ports, bypassing Afghanistan. This move improves transit options for exports and is part of broader regional trade and infrastructure diversification.

Pakistan has approved and operationalized new land routes to connect Central Asian markets to Pakistani ports and beyond, utilizing strategic corridors through Iran and China to bypass Afghanistan entirely. This shift was solidified in April 2026 when Pakistan Customs launched the first export consignment from the Karachi Export Processing Zone to Kyrgyzstan via the Sost Dry Port in China under the TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) regime. Pakistan’s decision to diversify transit away from Afghanistan follows the indefinite closure…