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ISLAMABAD, July 29, 2026: Former MPA Haji Ghulam Mohammad has challenged the rationale behind promoting the Dorah Pass route as a future Pakistan-Central Asia connection, arguing that the corridor’s apparent advantage in distance does not outweigh concerns related to strategic reliability, regional politics, and long-term connectivity.
Speaking with ChitralToday, Haji Ghulam Mohammad said the Broghil Pass-Wakhan Corridor through Upper Chitral deserved serious consideration as a more reliable and strategically sound alternative to the Dorah Pass-Badakhshan option.
He recalled that officials of the National Highway Authority (NHA) had already raised questions over the feasibility of the Dorah Pass route during a briefing to then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, when he (Ghulam Mohammad) was serving as a member of the provincial assembly.
According to him, NHA officials had pointed out that while the Dorah route appeared shorter at first glance, its supposed advantage weakened significantly after entering Afghanistan, where the corridor would require a much longer stretch before reaching Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
He said the NHA assessment presented to the provincial government showed that the Dorah Pass route would require around 150 kilometres of additional travel through Afghanistan before connecting to Dushanbe.
“The question is not merely about kilometres on a map rather it is about whether a route can guarantee reliability, security, and uninterrupted connectivity over decades,” he quoted the NHA officials as saying, adding that dependence on Afghan territory could create serious uncertainties due to the complex nature of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
Haji Ghulam Mohammad said NHA officials had also stressed that broader regional and geopolitical factors could not be ignored before committing to a corridor dependent on transit through Afghanistan.
In comparison, he argued, the Broghil Pass route presented a more practical and strategically stronger option as it would require only a limited 10-kilometre passage through Afghan territory before connecting towards Tajikistan.
“The Broghil option reduces dependence on Afghanistan and provides greater strategic value. According to the NHA assessment shared with the provincial government, only around 10 kilometres would pass through Afghan territory before connecting towards Dushanbe, compared to nearly 150 kilometres under the Dohra option,” he said.
The former lawmaker also highlighted what he described as NHA concerns over the difficult terrain and high construction costs associated with the Dorah route.
He said officials had pointed out that the corridor would encounter challenging mountainous conditions after crossing into Afghanistan.
He recalled that NHA officials had argued that the Broghil corridor could prove comparatively more economical, as certain sections would not require the same scale of excavation and tunnelling expected under the Dohra option.
Supporters of the Dorah Pass route in Lotkuh valley of Lower Chitral, however, maintain that its shorter distance and direct connectivity advantages could make it a viable option for future regional trade links.
Rejecting these arguments, Haji Ghulam Mohammad said he believed the Dorah option was unlikely to move forward in the future because the government was aware of the security and strategic complications involved.
He said regional geopolitical realities, including India’s role in Afghanistan, were among the factors requiring careful consideration, adding that NHA officials had also highlighted such concerns during their briefing to then chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti.
Related:
Broghil Holds Edge Over Dorah as Safer Route to Central Asia