Last updated at 10:38pm, July 28, 2026; three minutes read time.
Zulfiqar Ahmad
Islamabad: The proposed connectivity routes between Chitral and Central Asian states has come under discussion with regional experts and local stakeholders calling for a detailed assessment of options and several voices favouring the Broghil Pass route over Dorah Pass due to security, geographic and strategic considerations.
The debate over the two mountain routes – one in Lower Chitral and the other in Upper Chitral – has emerged amid discussions that Pakistan may explore future connectivity options linking its northern areas with neighbouring regions, including Afghanistan, China and Central Asia.
Supporters of the Broghil route argue that, although it is a few kilometres longer than the Dorah option, its location near the Wakhan Corridor could provide potential links with Tajikistan and other Central Asian states without passing through much of the war-torn and security risk Afghanistan.
They believe investment in infrastructure, border management and security arrangements could allow the route to contribute to regional trade, tourism and economic integration.
The Dorah Pass, which connects Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province with Lower Chitral, has also been highlighted as a possible future option because of its shorter distance and potential benefits for cross-border movement and tourism.
However, analysts and local representatives have raised concerns over security challenges linked with the route, citing Afghanistan’s instability and difficulties in developing infrastructure in sensitive border regions. At present, the forces of Taliban regime have come under deadly attacks in the districts of Afghanistan bordering Chitral by a new outfit called Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF).
Sardar Nawaz Khan, a Chitral-origin development practitioner based in Canada, told ChitralToday that the route selection should not be based solely on distance and required a broader assessment of security, geography, regional stability and long-term economic sustainability.
“Connectivity decisions require an assessment of the wider environment, including security, geography and economic realities,” he said, adding that Broghil’s location near the Wakhan Corridor required careful evaluation as part of Pakistan’s future connectivity strategy.
Discussing the Dorah Pass option as a possible route linking Pakistan with Central Asian states, Khan said its shorter distance could involve greater challenges due to Afghanistan’s instability and Pakistan’s fragile relations with the country.
Referring to Afghanistan’s prolonged conflict history, he said reliance on sensitive routes through Afghanistan could create risks for communities, infrastructure and economic activities.
He described Broghil Pass as a potentially safer option. “Although the Broghil route is a bit longer, it is far safer in every respect, and there are no such security concerns or hostile populations along the way,” he said.
Khan also referred to the vision behind the Lowari Tunnel project, crediting former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for supporting an internal connection between Chitral and the rest of Pakistan.
“The Awami National Party (NAP) and Mufti Mahmood wanted Chitral to be connected to the then NWFP through Jalalabad. However, Bhutto’s political vision anticipated the challenges that the future might bring,” he said.
Advocate Siraj Ali Khan, a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) provincial council member from Upper Chitral, also called for further evaluation of the Broghil route, saying it could potentially serve as a corridor linking South Asian and Central Asian markets.
He said the Dorah Pass option faced major challenges because of Afghanistan’s security situation, particularly regarding border management, regional stability and long-term connectivity prospects.
Khan said Broghil offered greater security advantages compared with Dorah Pass, which he described as more vulnerable due to strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and continuing security concerns.
He added that many residents of Chitral supported the Broghil option and urged authorities to consider local perspectives before finalising any future connectivity strategy.
He said the PPP’s Upper Chitral chapter would organise an all-parties conference shortly to build political support for selecting Broghil Pass over Dorah Pass.