Prof. Kulbhushan Warikoo is a renowned scholar and expert in Himalayan and Central Asian Studies. Born in Srinagar, Kashmir, in 1951, he has taught for over 30 years at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, where he also founded the Central Asian Studies Programme.. He has an impressive bibliography of 22 books to his credit, including notable titles like Himalayan Frontiers of India, Religion and Security in South and Central Asia, Xinjiang: Chinas Northwest Frontier and Eurasia and India: Regional Perspectives. Prof. Warikoo has travelled extensively to conduct his research in Xinjiang and various Central Asian countries including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and the Siberian republics of Khakassia, Buryatia, Tuva and Altai, among others.
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4285em; color: rgb(98, 98, 98); font-family: roboto, san-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Anglo-Russian rivalry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries reached unprecedented heights. The two imperial powers engaged in a war of nerves, each vying for control over the vast territories of Central Asia. The British were quick to realize Kashmirs potential as a strategic listening post to monitor Russian activities beyond the formidable Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges. Kashmirs close sociocultural and economic ties with Xinjiang (in present-day China), and other Central Asian regions since ancient times, facilitated the British in their endeavours to contain Russian designs in Central Asia</p><div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4285em; color: rgb(98, 98, 98); font-family: roboto, san-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Crossroads traces the history of Kashmir as a melting pot between India and Xinjiang. Exhaustively researched, this authoritative account unravels the intricate power dynamics in the region. It sheds light on IndiaXinjiang relations as a crucial historical determinant, providing valuable insights into contemporary relations between Delhi and Beijing. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the complex tapestry of regional history and politics. The study also offers important lessons for understanding Chinese premeditated strategy in Hunza, Gilgit and beyond, presenting Kashmirs perspective on the Sino-Indian border in the Ladakh sector.</p></div><div><br></div>
