View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Knowledge Repository Open Network Revival of Indo-Central Asian Links Across Poonch-Rawalakot Road in J&K: A Study in Costs and Benefits DISSERETATION Submitted to the University of Kashmir for the Award of the Degree Of MASTER OF PHILISOPHY (M.Phil) In History By TAWSEEF AHMAD BHAT Under the supervision of Prof.Mushtaq A.Kaw (Professor History) CENTRE OF CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR SRINAGAR -190006 2013 CENTRE OF CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR NAAC Accredited Grade ‘A’ CERTIFICATE I solemnly declare that the Dissertation entitled “Revival of Indo- Central Asian Links Across Poonch-Rawalakot Road in J&K: A Study in Costs and Benefits,” submitted by me in the discipline of History under the supervision of Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Kaw, is my own contribution. This piece of research work is original, and does not contain any piracy. It has not been submitted, so far, anywhere for the award of any degree. Attested Signature Prof. Mushtaq A. Kaw Tawseef Ahmad Bhat Supervisor Scholar Countersigned Prof. Aijaz A. Bandey Director CCAS Acknowledgement The present work is a modest attempt to account for the entire dynamics of the Poonch-Rawalakot road spanning over two parts of Kashmir, one administered by India (J&K) and another by Pakistan (PAK). In its compilation, I consulted a hoard of works handed down to us by a number of scholars on or around the same subject. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of them for their inspiration. Special thanks are due to my supervisor, Prof. Mushtaq A. Kaw, for his able guidance and support that he provided to me despite heavy engagements, both academic and administrative. He critically scanned every word and sentence, and suggested changes from time to time. Honestly speaking, the present work would not have seen the day of the light without his kind patronage and timely guidance. Besides, he maintained a sense of humor to console me in the events of stress and strain, and inspired me with confidence and trust. In fact, I cherished doing this work under his able expertise, knowledge, thought and fatherly and friendly dispensation. Indeed, I have no words to thank him for all this. I am also deeply indebted to Prof. Aijaz A. Banday, the present Director, Centre of Central Asian Studies (CCAS), University of Kashmir, Srinagar, for his patronage and invaluable suggestions. I am equally beholden to Prof. G.M.Mir, Director, Area Study Programme, CCAS, for his love, affection and advice. Former Director, CCAS, Prof. G.R. Jan, also deserves a word of thanks for all the support that he extended to me for the pursuit of the present work. Further, I put on record my sincere thanks to the whole faculty of the CCAS for their support, help and encouragement. I also owe thanks to entire Library staff, especially Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad of CCAS, Allma Iqbal Library, J&K State Archives Department Jammu and National Archives Delhi for facilitating the study and collection of relevant research material on the subject. I owe my sincere thanks to all my respondents, young and old, officials and non-officials, civil and police personnel, for their kind cooperation and the necessary inputs they provided to me during my field work in Poonch. I would fail in my duties if I do not acknowledge with gratitude the kind support of my valued respondents like Mr. Jatinder Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Mr. Shamsheer Hussain, Senior Superintend of Police Poonch, Major A.K. Payai, Army Major Poonch, Mr. Abdul Hamid, District Manager Industries Poonch and Trade Facilitation officer Poonch, Mr. K. K. Kapoor, Retd. Chief Education Officer Poonch, Padmi Shri Awardee Mr. S.N.Khajuria, Chairman Border Area Peace committee Poonch, and Mr. Pawan Anand, President of Cross-LoC Traders Association Poonch and owner of Anand Hotels. This is besides all those who came across the LoC from Rawalakot Pakistan to Poonch in the train of bus service on specified days, and incidentally when I was conducting the field work in the area of my research. Sincere thanks are also due to my colleagues and fellow scholars, relatives, friends and other well wishers who spared their precious time in discussing issues related to my research work. Last but not the least, I am highly thankful to my Late Mamaji Gh. Mohammad Sofi, who introduced me in the world of academics. Finally, this acknowledgment would be incomplete if I fail to express my indebtedness to my beloved parents, whose moral boosting, unending affection and indispensable support proved very useful to me in the long run, and this study is the outcome of their affectionate dispensation. They showed extraordinary patience and waited long to see the present work complete. Above all, God has been kind enough to me in guiding me to the right path and keeping me in good health during my studies. Tawseef Ahmad Bhat Research Scholar, CCAS Srinagar Dated: Contents Acknowledgement Page No. Chapter I Introduction 1-11 Chapter II Poonch-Rawalakot Road: Broad Features 12-25 Chapter III Poonch-Rawalakot Road: Trade Organization 26-42 Chapter IV Closure of Poonch-Rawalakot Road: Costs and 43-48 Complications Chapter V Revival of Poonch-Rawalakot Road: Underlying 54-66 Forces and Factors Chapter VI Revival of Poonch-Rawalakot Road: Bottlenecks, 67-68 Benefits and Opportunities Chapter VIII Summary and Conclusion 94-103 Bibliography 104-111 Chapter I Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction Silk Route: A Structural Frame work The term Silk Route was coined by Ferdinand Von Richtofen, a German geographer, explorer and expeditioner to China during the latter half of the 19th century (1877 A.D). The route spanning over nearly 4,000 miles (65,000) Kilometers, refers to a network of interlinked trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian space, connecting East, South, and West Asia with the Mediterranean and European world and parts of North and East Africa.1 It originated from China, traversed the Kun Lun and Tien Shan mountains towards south of the Takalamakan desert, and moved through the Kashgar city onto Samarkand, Persia, Mediterranean and Roman world.2 Trade on the Silk Route was a significant factor in the development of the great civilizations of China, India, Egypt, Persia, Arabia and Rome.3 Quiet precisely, it had large number of offshoots which were supplemented by the sea routes extending from the Red Sea to East Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia.4 The trading commodities mostly consisted of the Chinese silk, spices, tea, and porcelain, Indian ivory, textiles, precious stones and pepper, Roman gold, silver, fine glassware, wine, carpets, and jewels etc. The horses, slaves and hoards of specialized farm and cottage products supplemented the commodity structure on the Silk Route. However, 1 Killion Ulric, A Modern Chinese Journey to the West: Economic Globalization and Dualism, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2006, p.65 2 Susan Whitfield, The Silk Road: Trade Travel War and Faith, Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2004, p. 162 3 Niklas Swanstrom, “China and Greater Central Asia: New Frontiers,” Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, Silk Road Paper December 2011, p. 16. 4 A Modern Chinese Journey to the West: Economic Globalization and Dualism, p.71 Chapter I Introduction the said route was not alone meant for commodity exchange but also for the spread of knowledge, ideas and cultures.5 Its history goes back to the rule of Han Lyu Tche also known as Wu-di in China (141-87 B.C). To fight the northern tribesmen (Xiongnu) Wu-di sent his general Zhang Qian6 to Central Asian tribal chief, Yuezhi, for purchase of famous Iranian war horses. However, Zhang Qian and his men were captured and held by the enemy Xiongnu tribesmen for ten years. Anyhow, he escaped from there and reached back to the friendly Yuezhi tribe in 128 B.C. Subsequently, however, he was captured The Silk Road and its offshoots Source: www.silkroadproject.org/tabid/177defaul.aspex. by another rival group, and on escape, he returned to China in 125 BC. with the unforgettable experiences in mind about different overland routes connecting China with Central Asia. Based on his information, China opened up trade with Rome across 5 Francis Wood, The Silk Road: Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002, pp. 13–23. 6 Luce Boulnois, Silk Road: Monks, Warriors & Merchants, Hong Kong: Odyssey Books, 2005, p.66. Chapter I Introduction different routes across the Eastern and Western Turkistan, India, Afghanistan, Persia, Middle Eastern, Aral, Caspian and the Black Sea.7 In all, however, Kashgar was the junction of routes and sub-routes of Eurasian space, and contributed to the onward transportation of specialized goods to the world markets since 3rd-2nd century B.C: Badakshan for lapis-lazuli (precious stone), Khotan for jade, India for ivory, Khwarizm for turquoise and China for paper, silk and gunpowder, to name a few only. The transcontinental trade was also instrumental in the acculturation and dissemination of cultures, religions, arts, crafts, ideas etc. In a way, such a network of routes and sub-routes developed over a long span of time, served as veins of human civilizations and cultures. Poonch-Rawalakot Route: Incidentally, Kashmir was a contributory to the Grand Silk Route as its different offshoots criss-crossed Kashmir at several entry and exit points. These traversed the Pamir’s, Hindukush, and the Greater and Middle Himalayas, and facilitated exchange of men, material, ideas, thought and technologies from time to time.8 Besides, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, Ladakh and Gilgit routes,9 Kashmir was connected with Central Asia through the Poonch-Rawalakot sub-link road.