‘The strategic importance of the Euphrates valley railway’ [‎60] (141/204)

( 60 )
first would necessitate a continuance by the Khaibar
Pass to Peshawar, or by the Bolan Pass to Shikar-
pur. The difficulties of the Khaibar have been
proved by our own troops; they would be great for
any troops, except these had a common cause and
object with the mountain tribes around ; and if such
contingency were to arise, there might be left to the
new-comers a choice of passes. The Bolan is not
new to us, and is one much used by our Kabul and
Bokhara-going Indian merchants. The second, or
Kashgar road, is now engaging marked attention in
a commercial rather than strategical point of view;
and whether communications to that town and to
Yarkand be carried on through the Pamir high
lands, or through Leh, or both, in either case over
immense elevations, must remain a question for the
future to decide.
On commencing the present paper, I had pur
posed to seek, in contradistinction to the political
and general geography of Central Asia, a separate
argument, as it were, in the Central Asian Question.
But even had your patience not been tried by a
longer exposition, under the former head, than
originally contemplated, I think that an understand
ing on the position and character of the States
between Europe and British India will suffice to
remove all doubt as to the nature of the question
thence arising. If Russia ask herself what is her
next move, and whither do her conquests tend.