Journey from Bagh Azad Kashmir to Dev Sai, Hunza and Khanjrab

After "Berg Chinar" and "From Kashmir to Kailash", the third book of Azad Kashmir's renowned teacher, columnist and intellectual Professor Riaz Asghar Malouti, "To the Threshold of China" is an informative and healthy journey through Kagan Valley and Gilgit Baltistan Is the letter Healthy because reading it stimulates the movement to see healthy places. Prof. Riaz Asghar Malouti has described in this book the observations and impressions of the long ten day journey from Malout, Bagh District Azad Kashmir to Dara Khanjrab Pass. He also described the history and geographical situation of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in detail.

This travelogue begins with the 2005 Martyrs of Earthquake Memorial. From Malout, he commemorated the martyrs at Balakot after traveling to Dina Kachili Muzaffarabad, Garhi Habibullah, and Balakot. In Kagan Valley we traveled from Naran, Lake Saif al-Muluk, Jhalakhad, Batakandi, Babu Sartap to Chilas and then on Karakoram Highway. The Karakoram Highway actually passes through Mansehra via Thakot, Diamer, Dasu Chilas, while the Naran Kagan route is an alternative, which is open only from May to September. After passing through Raikot, they took the road to Astor to reach Dev Sai. Passing through Dev Sai to Skardu, Dev Dasai is one of the highest plains in the world. Its elevation ranges from 12,700 feet to 16,000 feet.

Dev Sai is the land of beautiful and colorful flowers but it is the most difficult place for human population. Important places related to Dev Sai are Chilam Chowki, Mani Berg, Shiv Surjheel, Kala Pani and Bada Pani. From Chilam Chowki and Dev Sai, they tried their best to reach Mani Berg but could not get permission. Prior to the partition of 1947, the route between Gilgit, Baltistan and Kashmir was through Mani Berg but the encroachment of Pakistan and India has made this beautiful area a no-go area for its inhabitants which is against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

After visiting Satpara Lake and various places in Skardu, Prof. Riaz Asghar Malouti and his colleagues set out for Gilgit which was a difficult journey along the Indus River where road was under construction at many places and they had to wait for hours. During this trip he visited Haramush, Denver Bazaar, Jaffarabad and other places. From Gilgit he left for Hunza and Khanjarab, the land of dreams. On the way, they managed to reach Basan, Naseerabad, Murtazaabad, Aliabad, Karimabad, Gilmat, Ataabad, Sost and finally Khanjrab Pass.

As well as being a travelogue to the doorstep of China, there is also a critical view of the situation and events. He mentions the blue lakes but does not forget the shock of forcible partition of Kashmir. He also discusses the Karachi Agreement between Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The painful aspect of the Karachi Agreement is that it deprived the people of Gilgit-Baltistan of their basic rights for decades

Prof. Riaz Asghar Malouti has also reviewed the economy and civilization of Gilgit-Baltistan in "To the Threshold of China". He said that everyone there is busy with their work and men and women are seen working there. Professor Muluti Hunza and the people there seem to be very impressed with the way of life. He says that Hunza is a very beautiful area with a population of 100 educated people. There are no cases in police stations or courts. There is a calm atmosphere. People's health is excellent. Hunza's cleanliness can be compared to that of European countries. In this regard, he appreciates the spirituality of the Shia Ismaili community, which has done what is not seen anywhere in Pakistan or Kashmir in the Hunza region.

This travelogue consists of 160 pages with beautiful illustrations. Important books of Kitab Bagh, Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad can be obtained from the floors