The Wakhan Corridor

Afghanistan is bordered by many countries. Some borders are extensive - as in the borders with Iran and Pakistan. Some borders - not so much. The border with China is not very extensive at all and it is found in a place very remote and far from the rest of Afghanistan. The Wakhan Corridor, the most eastern part of Badakhshan province, is where the border with China is found; as well as borders with Tajikistan and Pakistan. It is also a strategic area which huge potential for trade with China (see the New Silk Road) and ramifications for security (especially in light of the growth of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement). The people who live in this mountainous region (Wakhi and Kyrgyz) are mostly untouched by the war. The area is a harsh place for crops and agriculture so the people rely on livestock for most of their food and other needs. The inhabitants are uneducated and few know how to read. Health care is non-existent and the infant and maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world. A photographer has taken some awesome photos of the Wakhan Corridor.  - See a collection of 21 photos "Welcome to the Gorgeous region of Afghanistan That Has Been Untouched by Decades of War", Business Insider, November 11, 2014.