But that genius missed Geography classes.The path is through Kulma(Or Qolma) Pass(which is only border crossing in Tajikistan-China border),which remains open only through May to November(that too 16th-30th of each month,but after 2011,its changed.see the link below).also,Its a Pass Mainly for Tajikistan-China bilateral business.No other country is allowed to use that Pass.In other word,There is no route to Tajikistan except via Afghanistan(If you don't wish to go through China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan route,which is pretty lengthy.It takes Chinese some 15 days more to get into Tajikistan).
Google Map doesn't provide you every kind of details...just putting a route through China means nothing at all.
Comment no 40# is for you,and any other Pakistanis who can think they can bypass Afghanistan.
Here is Kulma Pass....
Kulma Pass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
here is a news how around the year trading is performed via Kulma Pass....
Some restrictions imposed on passing via Kulma crossing during winter period | Tajikistan News-NA «Asia-Plus»
here is all the border crossings of Tajikistan,plot which one you're going to use....
Tajikistan border crossings | Caravanistan
The first thing we have to remember about Central Asia is that 5 stans used to be part of former Soviet Union, which had extensive road and railway network. Some of these are being improved upon. I will now present a series of maps:
Old historical Silk Road
detailed Xinjiang map showing road passes to Kyrgyzstan (9,Ulugqat/Erkeshtam and 9,Baykurt, Torugart) and Kazakhstan in the north (6/7 and Burqin)
Torugart Pass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Investment Projects Implementation Group- Bishkek - Naryn - Torugart
Erkeshtam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
proposed China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway
Afghanistan in China's Emerging Eurasian Transport Corridor - by Richard Weitz
So even if Kulma pass is not ideal, the main transit route between China and Central Asia with both rail + road is going to be via Kyrgyzstan (Torugart and Erkeshtam pass). Khorgos gateway is the main planned route via Kazakhstan:
Home
Kashi is Chinese for Kashgar
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program
If you follow all the maps above and take into account the planned railway projects, as long as Pakistan can reach Kashgar by Khunjerab pass, it will get connected to one of the main planned China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and road route, which will extend to EU via Russia in the north and via Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey in the south. Both Tajikistan and Afghanistan will be connected to this route for their own reason, but Afghanistan itself holds no bargaining position to dictate any condition on Pakistan for any kind of connectivity to Central Asia. Besides, security in Afghanistan is still a big if and no guarantee when it will improve.
Currently Erkeshtam/Irkeshtam is the main pass from Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan for road transport:
Irkeshtam Pass: Osh-Kashgar | Caravanistan
Irkeshtam Pass: Osh-Kashgar
The Irkeshtam pass is the easy border crossing between Kyrgyzstan (Osh – Sary Tash) and China (Kashgar), and really, it’s not that easy (the landscape is spectacular though). The other border crossing from Kyrgyzstan into China is the
Torugart pass. Tajikistan’s crossing with China, the
Qolma Pass, is still closed to foreigners.
Many people manage to cross between Kashgar and Osh in one long day, but it is not certain, so stock up on food (there are some dining options at the border, though). The Irkeshtam pass is busy year-round. The Kyrgyz checkpoint at the pass operates from 9am to 11am and 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday. An early start is recommended.
In China, the new border is 143km inland at Wuqia/Uluqqat. All your documents and luggage are checked at the actual border. The process of passport checks seems to have been streamlined now, so there is less time-wasting, but from the mountain top border to Wuqia, several checks to show your passport are normal. Guards are generally friendly on both sides.
The whole road from Osh to Kashgar has been rebuilt in 2013 and is in a good state. You can exchange RMB into som or US$ and vice versa at the border.
Border closures
The border operates year-round, but with long closures during Chinese and Kyrgyz public holidays. For instance, in 2014, the border was closed for the Chinese national holiday from 27th of September until 9th of October, even though the holiday was only 1-7 October.
So choose your time buffer wisely.
Wikipedia has an overview of
Kyrgyz holidays and
Chinese holidays.
Buses
It’s quicker and cheaper to do the route by shared taxi, but if you want, there is a Kashgar – Osh – Kashgar bus: see the following chapters for more details on the schedule.
2 new bus routes should open soon or have already opened. One bus will run between Kashgar and Jalal-Abad, and another will run between Artux and Osh. No details yet here, please let us know if you find out.