Correct Answer:
C. Tajikistan
The correct answer is Tajikistan. The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow panhandle of Afghan territory that separates Pakistan's northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan from Tajikistan, effectively creating a bridge between South and Central Asia.
Geography of the Wakhan Corridor
- A Narrow Strip of Land: The Wakhan Corridor is approximately 350 km long and 13β65 km wide, stretching from northeastern Afghanistan to the border with China. It was created in the 19th century as a buffer zone between the British and Russian empires during the "Great Game."
- Connecting Pakistan and Tajikistan: To the south, the corridor shares a border with Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. To the north, it borders the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region of Tajikistan. Thus, the Wakhan Corridor directly separates and connects the two countries.
- Notable Neighbors: The eastern tip of the corridor touches the Xinjiang region of China, making it a strategic tri-junction. However, the corridor does not border Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan directly; those countries lie further north and west beyond Tajikistan.
- Strategic and Cultural Significance: The corridor follows the Wakhan River valley and is home to the Wakhi and Kyrgyz peoples. It remains one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions on earth, yet it is a crucial geographical link between Pakistan and Central Asia.
Thus, the Wakhan Corridor connects Pakistan with Tajikistan through Afghan territory.