Khyber Pass

The Khyber Pass is a famous mountain pass located in the Khyber District of Pakistan. It sits within the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The pass runs along the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It traverses part of the Spin Ghar mountains.

This narrow route connects the town of Landi Kotal to the Peshawar Valley at Jamrud. Because of its location, it has served as a vital trade route for centuries. It also acted as a strategic military choke point for many different states.

The geography of the pass is defined by its rugged terrain. The pass begins at Kadam, which is located near Jamrud, west of Peshawar. The summit of the pass is at Landi Kotal.

From this summit, the path descends into the Peshawar Valley. The total length of the pass proper extends from Jamrud to Landi Kotal. However, a lesser section of the pass runs further west into Afghanistan until it reaches the town of Loya Daka. The pass is also part of Asian Highway 1 (AH1).

Local tribes have long controlled the social and economic life of the pass. To the north lie the lands of the Shalmani and Mullagori tribes. To the south is the Afridi Tirah region. The villages within the pass itself are inhabited by Afridi clansmen. For centuries, Pashtun clans like the Afridis and the Afghan Shinwari have viewed the pass as their own preserve. They have historically levied tolls on travelers to ensure safe conduct. This practice served as a main source of income for these groups. Consequently, resistance to any challenge to Shinwari authority has often been fierce.

History shows that the Khyber Pass has been a gateway for many invasions. Ancient empires used the pass to move military expeditions into the Indian subcontinent. The Achaemenids and the Sassanids sent armies through this route. Nomadic invaders like the Saka, Yuezhi, and White Huns also traversed the pass. Later, Mongol leaders such as Duwa, Qutlugh Khwaja, and Kebek used it. During the Islamic period, rulers like Mahmud Ghaznavi, Timur, and Babur utilized the pass for their invasions. Even the last major Islamic conqueror, Ahmad Shah Durrani, crossed this mountain path.

Beyond warfare, the pass was a critical component of the Silk Road. This was a massive trade network connecting East Asia to Europe. The Parthian Empire fought for control of such passes to profit from luxury trade. They moved items like silk, jade, and rhubarb from China toward Western Asia. The pass helped the region of Gandhara become a major trade center. It connected Bagram in Afghanistan to Taxila in India. Through this connection, Indian luxury goods like ivory, pepper, and textiles entered the Silk Road commerce. The pass even facilitated the spread of Greek influence and Buddhism.

In the 19th century, the British East India Company sought to secure the pass. This was part of the "Great Game," a period of competition with Russia. The region saw shifting control between the British, the Sikhs, and the Afghans. In 1837, the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh captured the pass. His general, Hari Singh Nalwa, built the Jamrud Fort to safeguard the area.

After 1880, the British took control. They built roads, telegraph lines, and railways to improve the infrastructure. The Khyber Pass Railway opened in 1925, running from Jamrud to the Afghan border.

In the modern era, the pass has remained a site of significant logistical importance. Following the partition of India in 1947, the pass became part of Pakistan. During the War in Afghanistan, it was a primary route for resupplying NATO forces. Almost 80% of the NATO and US supplies brought in by road moved through the Khyber Pass. However, the route has faced periods of instability. In 2009, Pakistan conducted military operations in the Jamrud district. In 2010, a misunderstanding involving an airstrike led to the closure of the pass. This caused a convoy of NATO trucks to queue at the closed border. Despite these challenges, the pass remains a vital link between nations.