Khunjerab Pass (el. 4693 m./15,397 ft.) is a high mountain pass on the northern border of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Northern Areas of Pakistan) with the People's Republic of China. The name comes from the Wakhi for Blood Valley.
It is the highest paved border crossing in the world. It is also the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. This section of the road was completed in 1982, superseding two other passes (the Mintaka Pass and Kilik Pass - both unpaved) previously used by travellers.
The long flat pass is often snow-covered during the winter season and is closed from October 15 to May 1. There is excellent grazing on the Chinese side of the pass, and domesticated yaks and dzu (a cross between yaks and cows) may be seen from the road. On the Pakistani side, the highway travels about 50 km across the extensive Khunjerab National Park before reaching the security outpost of Dih. From there, it is another 35 km to the customs and immigration post at Sust.
Since June 1, 2006, there has been a daily bus service across the boundary from Gilgit, Pakistan to Kashghar, China and road widening work has begun on 600 kilometers of the highway.
In 2007, consultants were engaged to investigate the construction of a railway through this pass to connect China with Pakistan.
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