Kashmir as a Melting Pot between India and Xinjiang

Kashmir has always been a point of contention between Central and South Asian powers. Many travellers, scholars, monks and historians have established a series of ties between the two regions stretching across politics, economy and culture. Kulbhushan Warikoo’s book The Crossroads: Kashmir—India’s Bridge to Xinjiang provides an illustrative account of power dynamics in the Central Asian region whilst tracing the history of the region’s unique and complex tapestry of politics, culture and diplomacy. Structured in three parts, the book traces the history of Kashmir as a cultural and economic bridge between India and Xinjiang, from ancient past to the present. By exploring various facets of Kashmir’s interaction with Xinjiang—trade, religion, art, literature, language and politics, the author writes about the impact of historical events like the Anglo-Russian rivalry, Chinese expansionism, the Partition of India, and the ongoing Kashmir conflict on India-Xinjiang relations. Thus, it is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of this critical ‘crossroads’ in the heart of Asia.