Khyber Pass

American  

[kahy-ber pas, pahs] / ˈkaɪ bər ˈpæs, ˈpɑs /

Sometimes Khaibar Pass

noun

1. the chief mountain pass between Pakistan and Afghanistan, west of Peshawar. 33 miles (53 kilometers) long; 6,825 feet (2,080 meters) high.

---

Khyber Pass British  

/ ˈkaɪbə /

noun

1. a narrow pass over the Safed Koh Range between Afghanistan and Pakistan, over which came the Persian, Greek, Tatar, Mogul, and Afghan invasions of India; scene of bitter fighting between the British and Afghans (1838–42, 1878–80). Length: about 53 km (33 miles). Highest point: 1072 m (3518 ft)

---

Etymology

Origin of Khyber Pass

First recorded in 1825–30; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Thousands of travellers and hundreds of trucks laden with goods were stranded last week by the closure of the Torkham border crossing, at the western end of the fabled Khyber Pass.

From Reuters • Sep. 15, 2023

They fled to the Pakistan border by car, and then crossed the Khyber Pass through the mountains on horses with Sofia and her younger brother.

From Washington Post • Dec. 15, 2021

Through Europe they drove to Istanbul and then crossed Iran and Afghanistan, reaching Pakistan via the Khyber Pass, before continuing to Delhi.

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2019

Supply trucks that trundle across desert into Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province or into Nangarhar via the mountainous Khyber Pass ground to a halt.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 18, 2018

He asked about the ride from Peshawar, the drive over the Khyber Pass.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini