Nation, Territory, and Globalization in Pakistan: Traversing the Margins (Routledge Contemporary South Asia Series)

This book provides a unique multilocal and multivocal analysis of the interlinkages between space, travel and history in the formation of the Pakistani nation-state. By focusing on the Karakoram Highway, which since opening in 1978 has had an extraordinary life channelling global, national, and local movements, the author critically analyses how the national imagination was remapped. Constructed by the Pakistani state constructed as a major development project that furthered the national interest and solidified state control over the remote and disputed region of northern Pakistan, mapped as part of greater Kashmir, the highway acted as a symbol for an imagined national identity. The author shows how the highway offered Pakistan a pre-Partition history and a fixed territory, by providing a historical link to the Silk Route and a contemporary geographical linkage to Central Asia. Examining how the diverse travelers along the Karakoram Highway landscape the nation-state in particular locales, he shows that global flows of development, trade, labour, and tourism have remapped the Pakistani nation-state and reshaping the local. This book provides a fresh perspective on the troubled nation-state of Pakistan, fore-fronting everyday lives in the making of the nation. Recent attention on the region is dominated by issues of militancy and Islamic extremism and ignores the historical and cultural contexts. This unique book concentrates on the everyday experiences of ordinary Pakistanis and offers an important contribution to the growing interest in Pakistan, providing an accessible study of the life of a highway in the making of Pakistan. The Karakoram Highway Was Constructed By The Pakistani State In The 1970s As A Major Development Project That Furthered The National Interest And Solidified State Control Over The Disputed Region Of Northern Pakistan. Focusing On This Highway, This Book Provides A Unique Analysis Of The Links Between Space, Travel And History In The Formation Of The Pakistani Nation-state. The Book Discusses How The Highway Was A Symbol For An Imagined National Identity, And Goes On To Look At How It Offered Pakistan A Pre-partition History And A Fixed Territory, By Providing A Historical Link To The Silk Route And A Contemporary Geographical Linkage To Central Asia. Examining The Influence Of The Diverse Travellers Along The Karakoram Highway, The Book Shows How Global Flows Of Development, Trade, Labour, And Tourism Have Remapped The Pakistani Nation-state And Reshaped The Local. Providing A Fresh Perspective On The Nation-state Of Pakistan, This Book Is An Important Contribution To Studies On South Asian History, Anthropology, Politics And Geography. Cover 1 Nation, Territory, and Globalization in Pakistan 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements 12 Maps 14 Introduction 18 1. Mapping liminal territories: Frontierization and the making of the Gilgit Agency 34 2. Landscaping the colonial state: Rerouting the Gilgit Agency 50 3. Reorienting national horizons: The Silk Route imagined 70 4. Emplacing the Karakoram Highway: From tourist spots to truck stops 94 5. Policing destinations: Tradition, gender, and spaces of power 114 Conclusion 126 Epilogue 134 Notes 136 Bibliography 144 Index 160 Traversing the Margins Introduction -- Mapping Liminal Territories : Frontierization And The Making Of The Gilgit Agency -- Landscaping The Colonial State : Reorienting The Gilgit Agency -- Orienting National Horizons : The Silk Route Imagined -- Emplacing The Karakoram Highway : From Tourist Spots To Truck Stops -- Policing Destinations : Tradition, Gender And Spaces Of Power -- Conclusion. Chad Haines. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.