Wakhan quadrangle

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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.