The Khyber Pass (1070 meters) is a
mountain pass which connects Pakistan and Afghanistan, cutting through
the northeastern part of the Spin Ghar Mountains. The pass was an
integral part of the ancient Silk Road and is one of the oldest known
passes in the world. Throughout history the pass has been an important
trade route between Central Asia and South Asia and a strategic military
location. The summit of the pass is located at Landi Kotal. Well known
invasions of the area have been predominantly through the Khyber Pass,
such as the invasions by Darius I and Alexander The Great and also
include Genghis Khan and later Mongols such as Duwa, Qutlugh Khwaja and
Kebek. Among the Muslims coming to South Asia were Mahmud Ghaznavi,
Muhammad Ghori and the Turkic-Mongols.
To the north of the Khyber Pass are the Mullagori tribe, while to the south is the Afridi Tirah, while the inhabitants of villages on the pass itself are Afridi clansmen. Throughout the centuries the Pashtun clans, particularly the Afridis and the Shinwaris, have regarded the Pass as their own and use to levy a toll on travelers for safe passage.
After the World War 1 the British built a heavily engineered railway through the Pass called "The Khyber Pass Railway" from Jamrud (west of Peshawar) to the Afghan border near Landi Kotal. The railway was opened in 1925 and during World War 2 concrete "dragon’s teeth" (tank obstacles) were erected on the valley floor due to British fears of a German tank invasion of South Asia.
During the 1960s, the Khyber Pass saw a huge influx of hippies from the west, and was often referred to as the "Hippy Trail". Busloads of hippies would travel between Kabul and Peshawar through the Khyber Pass.
To the north of the Khyber Pass are the Mullagori tribe, while to the south is the Afridi Tirah, while the inhabitants of villages on the pass itself are Afridi clansmen. Throughout the centuries the Pashtun clans, particularly the Afridis and the Shinwaris, have regarded the Pass as their own and use to levy a toll on travelers for safe passage.
After the World War 1 the British built a heavily engineered railway through the Pass called "The Khyber Pass Railway" from Jamrud (west of Peshawar) to the Afghan border near Landi Kotal. The railway was opened in 1925 and during World War 2 concrete "dragon’s teeth" (tank obstacles) were erected on the valley floor due to British fears of a German tank invasion of South Asia.
During the 1960s, the Khyber Pass saw a huge influx of hippies from the west, and was often referred to as the "Hippy Trail". Busloads of hippies would travel between Kabul and Peshawar through the Khyber Pass.
0 comments:
Post a Comment