'Military Report of the Nushki-Chagai-Western Sinjarani Country' [‎22r] (48/302)

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It will be seen that, though none of them can be considered
as devoid of serious difficulties for the march of troops, there are
several from Nushki and from the line Nusliki-Sukaluk leading to
the Helmand, which can be regarded as practicable at the season
of the year during which there is water in the nawars. Ihe
routes leading to the Helmand from the line ■west of Sukaluk as
far as Koh-i-Malik Siah may be regarded as impracticable for any
thing but small Jcafilas.
The lines of communication south of the trade route have
now to be considered.
24. Dizak (Persia) to Nuskki viil Panjgnr, the RakJishan valley Route No. 55.
and Kharan, length 390\ miles, 22 stages .—The Rakhshan valley
route, from a military point of view, is, perhaps, one of the most
important roads leading out of Nushki. It was traversed in Feb
ruary 1901 by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kalat, accompanied by an
escort, numbering, inclusive of troops, levies, and followers, about
500 men, with 100 horses and mules and over 300 camels. It is fit
for camels throughout, and, judging from the report, could, with
little difficulty, be made fit for all arms.
The only places not now practicable for wheeled artillery
appear to be in the narrow passes between the Garuk and the
Drug valleys south of Kharan, and in the Tafui gorge south of
Nushki.
The water-supply along this route is good and capable of con
siderable development. Fuel is procurable at all stages, though
scarce at a few, and supplies are procurable at Naoroz Kalat,
Kharan, Isai (Panjgur), Dehak, and Dizak.
The importance of all routes leading west from Nushki de
pends, chiefly, on the importance of Seistan and of the Helmand
valley. But their value is also dependent, to a certain extent, on
the use that can be made of them as lines of communication in rear
of a possible future line of defence between Quetta and the sea.
25. Gwadur to^ Jalk via Talar pass, Parom, and Isfandak, Route No. 161.
length 321 miles, 17 stages .—This is one of the main routes from
the coast northwards to Jalk. It is fit for camels throughout in
fine weather, but owing to the number of kotals to be crossed would '
not be a good line on which to make a cart-road.
The following are the passes which render traffic difficult
In stage 3 the Talar drift; in stage 7, Garuk pass; in sta^e 9
Palamgwaz kotal (3,360'); in stage 10, Dar Damaffh kotal
(3,6910 ; m stage 11, Kesri kotal (3,942'); in stage 13, six kotals
averaging from 3,526' to 4,203'; in stage 15, Bonsir(4,786').
From Isfandak, stage 14, to Jalk over the Bonsir kotal tho
road is good throughout and could easily be made practicable for
wheeled artillery. r 4