Pamir Highway & Taliban offensive 2021

[Christian77]

300 retreating Afghan soldiers have fled a Taliban offensive and crossed the river into Tajikistan, very close to where the Pamir Highway comes down from Shurobod Pass. https://khovar.tj/2021/07/iz-oroti-mark ... ii-kdam-t/

With the surge of Taliban victories, this phenomenon may spread to (the more sparsely populated) districts that are directly across the river from the Pamir Highway route (not the original highway, but rather the "Kulob/Southern" route). One analyst is even speculating that the Taliban has been so successful so fast that they may take Ishkashim (Wakhan Corridor), even though it is of minimal strategic or economic value.

The soldiers crossing are either disarmed by the Tajik border forces, or they already handed over their weapons to the Taliban in exchange for safe passage. I'm not worried about them. I'm worried that the Pamir Highway between Shurobod Pass (near Kulob) and Khorog and even all the way to Ishkoshim will be closed to foreigners. Tajik border guards (now backed by regular army forces) will have their hands full with Afghans, and won't want the distraction of random foreign tourists. Or maybe the Taliban victory will be so fast that there will no longer be many more crossings. Who knows... Keep an eye on this if you plan to do a Pamir Highway trip...

[bwv812]

Given the rapid rate of Taliban advancement, I would think most border areas will be under their control fairly shortly. As it is, they're already almost there.



https://preview.redd.it/daej1xb1jz871.j ... f47c8e5603

[Christian77]

The Taliban have announced (a few hours ago) that they have taken Ishkashem/Eshkashem, known to tourists as the start of the Wakhan Corridor.

[Christian77]

Afghan soldiers are now (today) crossing onto the Pamir Highway (southern route) between Qalaikhumb and Kulob. In this case, right by the turn to Dashtijum: https://www.bomdod.com/2021/07/05/vulus ... iror-kard/

[mazeno]

warning:
my antivir says the site (bomdod) is infected (with a scam)

[ccc]

It seems the Islamic Emirate is taking more and more control over the country.

[Christian77]

The Taliban have taken Nusay district across the river from Qalai Khumb. So if you can still drive the highway, you should be able to easily see Taliban soldiers at the bridge.

[Christian77]

The Taliban have also take Sheghnan district, across the border from Khorog. Looks like another 24 hours and the entire border minus the upper Wakhan and Little Pamir will be under Taliban control (in Tajikistan terms thats the areas next to Ishkoshim, Khorog, Rushon, Qalaikhumb, and the entire southern route of the Pamir highway along the river).

[Christian77]

50 Afghan soldiers have crossed to Langar on the Tajikistan side of the Wakhan Corridor. Several hundred have crossed near Khorog. They are crossing everywhere now. Over 1000 in total.

Full numbers here: https://khovar.tj/2021/07/oid-ba-vaziya ... ii-kdam-t/

[AreWeThereYet?]

Just a question of time before the Taliban follow them to go fishing for some hostages methinks. I wouldn't want to be cycling there these days.