I happened to be looking closely today at a map of Afghanistan, and noticed that there is a small panhandle extending out of it, which connects Afghanistan to China, but also, perhaps more significantly, prevents Russia/ the Former Soviet Union from bordering Pakistan. What is the origin to this panhandle? I can guess that the British didn’t want the Russians getting their hands on what was then India and Pakistan together, but is there more of a story? Also, what is the region called? I couldn’t find it on any online maps.
From a relief map I found online, it appears to follow a particular mountain range. Perhaps there’s something significant in that.
Sorry, couldn’t get a name for the region or the range, either.
It’s called the Wakhan Corridor (or Vakhan) From the Encyclopædia Britannica
Excellent work, bibliophage.