Focusing on the Pamirian Knot, this study explores the impact of imperial strategies and colonial boundary-making on the mountainous borderlands of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Tajikistan. It highlights the ecological similarities and socio-economic differences among the Kirghiz and Wakhi communities across these nations. Through a historical lens, the book examines exploration, map-making, and the consequences of political interventions, revealing how borders shape identities and mobility in these regions. Fieldwork and archival research spanning over thirty years enrich the analysis.
By emphasizing on the Pamir region a comprehensive overview of path-dependent and recent developments in a remote mountain region is provided in this book. Overall neglect in the mountainous periphery is contrasted by shifting the centre of attention to the Pamirs situated at the interface between South and Central Asia. From colonial times to now there has been a debate on grasping and locating the area. Here field-work based contributions are collected to provide a variety of perspectives on the Pamirs highlighting transformation and transition in Post-Soviet societies as well as in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The similar ecological environment across borders features the common ground while analyzing development processes in a set of case studies that aim at highlighting certain aspects of regional development.
Exploration and espionage during and after the Great Game
The Wakhan Quadrangle became a battleground for colonial competition among Afghanistan, China, Great Britain, and Russia, known as the “Great Game.” Various international travelers were commissioned to document routes, military details, and strategic information in this remote mountain region inhabited by scattered communities. Among these explorers were indigenous intermediaries skilled in geodesy, who recorded observations on local customs, culture, and economy while blending in with the populace. Munshi Abdul Rahim, an explorer sent to Wakhan and Badakhshan in 1879–1880 by the first British Political Agent in Gilgit, produced a significant report that serves as the centerpiece of this work. His account was written during a pivotal time for Wakhan, leading to the division of the independent principality and the migration of many inhabitants. The narrative is preceded by an introduction to the “Great Game” and its implications for Central Asia. Munshi Abdul Rahim’s observations highlight the roles of those providing ‘political’ and ‘non-political’ information, exploring the distinction between exploration and espionage throughout history. The author’s insights are grounded in over 40 years of archival research and fieldwork.
Mit Beiträgen von: Andreas Benz, Jochen Hippler, Hermann Kreutzmann, Talat Mahmook, Christian Müller, Anke Oppermann, Georg Pfeffer, Bettina Robotka, Linus Strothmann, Christian Wagner und Siegfried Wolf
