China has created a new county in its far-western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, close to the borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in a move seen as reinforcing control over a strategically sensitive frontier.

The county, named Cenling, lies near the Karakoram Mountains and in proximity to the narrow Wakhan Corridor — a remote strip of Afghan territory that separates Tajikistan from Pakistan-administered Kashmir and links directly to China’s western border.

Authorities in Xinjiang announced the formation of the new administrative unit on March 26, though specific details about its boundaries and subdivisions have not been made public.

The county will fall under the administration of Kashgar Prefecture, a historic hub that has long served as a gateway between China and Central and South Asia.

The move marks the third new county established in Xinjiang in just over a year, following the creation of Hean and Hekang. Those earlier developments drew objections from India, which said parts of the jurisdictions overlap with its claimed territory in Ladakh, including areas of the disputed Aksai Chin.

Analysts say the creation of Cenling reflects Beijing’s growing emphasis on strengthening governance and security in its border regions. The area’s proximity to the Wakhan Corridor has long been viewed as strategically significant, particularly amid Chinese concerns about cross-border movement of militants.

The corridor has historically been seen as a potential route for members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which China accuses of seeking to carry out attacks in Xinjiang.

Experts note that expanding administrative structures in frontier areas can help Beijing tighten oversight, improve local governance, and reinforce stability in regions that have experienced ethnic tensions and security challenges.

Kashgar also plays a key role in China’s regional connectivity ambitions, serving as a starting point for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure network linking western China to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan-administered territory.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, met with Turkish Chargé d’Affaires to Kabul, Sadin Ay Yildiz, to discuss regional developments and the recent Kabul–Islamabad talks held in the city of Urumqi in China.

According to a statement issued by the Afghan foreign ministry, Muttaqi described the negotiations with Pakistan as positive and expressed hope that “minor technical issues will not hinder the progress of the talks.”

Muttaqi also assessed relations between Afghanistan and Turkey as positive and described Ankara’s previous role in mediation as valuable.

Yildiz likewise stated that positive relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are of special importance to Ankara and that his country will continue its efforts in this regard.

The United Nations has raised alarm over a significant funding gap threatening the continuation of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, as millions remain in urgent need of support.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only $211 million—equivalent to 12.3 percent—of the required $1.7 billion for Afghanistan’s 2026 humanitarian response plan has been secured so far, leaving 87.7 percent of the funding unmet.

OCHA stressed that the scale of humanitarian needs across the country remains critically high and called on donor nations to take immediate and concrete steps to bridge the funding gap.

The agency noted that the European Commission is currently the largest donor, contributing $62.6 million, followed by the United Kingdom, the Asian Development Bank, Switzerland, and Japan. Other key contributors include Germany, Canada, Denmark, Australia, and Italy.

The report highlights that the food security and agriculture sector faces the largest funding requirement, with only $49.2 million—about 7.6 percent—of the needed $651.1 million secured. In the health sector, $29.6 million has been funded out of a required $190.8 million, while education has received 30.2 percent of its needed budget.

OCHA further warned that several critical sectors remain severely underfunded, including nutrition (2.7 percent), emergency shelter and non-food items (3.4 percent), water and sanitation (4.5 percent), and coordination and support services (7.3 percent). Meanwhile, multipurpose cash assistance has received the highest level of funding at 65.6 percent.

The UN emphasized that despite ongoing international assistance, a substantial gap persists between humanitarian needs and available resources, underscoring the urgency for increased global support to prevent a worsening crisis in Afghanistan.