China closes key trade route with Pakistan for four months

Islamabad: China has announced the temporary closure of the Khunjerab Pass, a critical land trade route connecting Pakistan and China, for a duration of four months. This decision contradicts Pakistan’s recent commitment to keeping the high-altitude pass open year-round, as declared by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar in October at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

The Khunjerab Pass, situated at an elevation of over 4,600 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level, serves as the highest paved international border. It experiences seasonal closures due to extreme winter weather conditions. The pass, connecting Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region, recently reopened in April 2023 after a nearly three-year closure since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Kakar had announced plans to transform the pass into an all-weather border during his visit to China last month. However, a notice from the Khunjerab Port management in China’s Xinjiang region stated that the pass would be closed from December to March. The closure is pending official approval from China’s State Port Management Office, requiring diplomatic negotiations and revisions to the agreement on border ports and management systems between the two nations.

As part of the strong alliance between China and Pakistan, the two countries collaborate on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with over $65 billion allocated for infrastructure development in Pakistan, including roads and railways.

Until official approval for year-round access is granted, Khunjerab Port will continue seasonal customs clearance, with regular closures during the winter months. In case of specific requirements, the Khunjerab Port management in Xinjiang will apply for temporary openings of the pass.

During his visit to China, Prime Minister Kakar emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing customs and logistics services at the pass to facilitate trade and people’s movement. The current developments raise questions about the feasibility of transforming Khunjerab Pass into an all-weather model and underscore the complexities involved in managing a key trade route in the challenging terrain of the region.