Introduction:
Daman-e-Pakistan means literally regions which are somewhat ‘subsidiary’ territory or ‘periphery’ of Pakistan, which can symbolically represent the beautiful plain area, the rocky chunk, the lesser developed, but culturally very rich territory. Sometimes it is used to refer the margins of the mountain and plains or region located at limit of Pakistan such as north province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir.
Concept and Meaning:
- Literal Meaning: The name ‘Daman’ literally has Urdu origins; it means the foothills or the skirt of a mountain. Together with Pakistan, the word indicates regions located close to the mountainous edges of this country.
- Symbolic Usage: It usually represents the concept of natural landscapes, uninhabited territories and relation between mountains and plainlands in Pakistan. It is also in poetic and literary work to refer to the areas that nurture the nation with awesome terrains and tenacious communities.
Geographical Context:
Daman-e-Pakistan can be associated with regions such as:
1. The Northern Areas: Such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Swat Valley and Khagan Valley where down thrusted valleys lie in flat areas after crossing high mountain ranges.
2. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): Lowland of the Hindu Kush and other mountains zone.
3. Baluchistan: The sub montane area of the Suliman and Kirtman mountains.
History:
According to literature, the term “Daman-e-Pakistan” is poetic which can simply mean foothills or edges of mountains or in the zone abstract meaning of Geographic, historic and cultural segmentation of the geographical area of Pakistan. Although not a formal administrative division it marks areas that have always been important as the historical, cultural and geographic foundation of Pakistan. Such provinces include a part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Gigli Baltistan and Arko Northern and western parts of Pakistan have been inhabited by ancient civilizations for past few thousand years Pakistan located at the foothills or edges of its mountains.
Historical Context:
1. Ancient Civilizations
The hills and dells of northerly and cowboy movie Pakistan have been frames of olden people for thousands of years.
- Gandhari Civilization: Ancient Gandhari is positioned in the territories of contemporary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the southern area of Panjab. Such city was Taxila and Tacti Baha which grew to be important education and cultural hub.
- Indus Valley Civilization: Preliminary archaeological remnants of human occupation are evidenced in Baluchistan and stretching into the Mergers sites (7000 BC).o KP and parts of Baluchistan were within the geographical borders of the Achaemenid Persian Empire in the mid 6th century BCE’s When Alexander the Great invaded India in 327 BCE, he passed through Gandhari and the Khyber Pass that left behind a tradition of Greek and local hybridism in art, culture, governance, of its mountains.
Historical Background:
1. Ancient Civilizations:
Northern and western parts of Pakistan have also their share of the foothills and valleys which have nurtured civilizations for millennia.
- Gandhari Civilization: Theravada Buddhist civilization of Gandhari was also cradle of arts and commerce that existed in today’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Punjab. These included Taxila, and Takht-i-Bahi which emerged to assume the status of a city through learning and culture.
- Indus Valley Civilization: For a brief period it stretched to parts of Baluchistan; however, some of the oldest cities such as Mergers (700 BC) can also be regarded as the oldest inhabitants settled down here.
2. Greek and Persian Influence:
KP and Baluchistan formed part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire around the mid 6th century BC.
Alexander the Greatfirst arrived in the region in 327 BCE through Gandhari and Khyber Passs leaving behind great architecture, art and culture as well as Hellenized government structures.
3. The early Muslim Periodic The arrival of Islam in the 7th and 8th hundred years CE caused the lower slopes of what is now Pakistan to serve as Arabs and Persians’ gateway to India. Consequent users of the Khyber Pass to the Indian subcontinent were other stir utilizers which incorporated Mahmud of Ghazi and other Muslims who also brought with them the religion of Islam as well as other architectural styles and forms of governance
4. Durian empire and Afghan intervention Weak/The Durian Empire and the Afghanistan Factor During the eighteenth century these areas on the peripherals of
- Cultural Exchange: These areas turned into boiling pots of civilizations, where centers in Central Asia, Persia and South Asia interacted to produce distinctive patterns of civilization and patterns of architecture.
- Tribal Autonomy: The Kalakand, Hazara and FATA regions have been occupied by a sturdy tribal population (Pathans and Baluch) who retained part of their social structure, and the degree of self-governance even during the foreign occupation.
Daman-e-Pakistan Overview:
Daman-e-Pakistan is poetic and symbolic This means the region which is below the hills is superior to our motherland Pakistan and naturally they form first line of defense as border between plain and mountainous. Therefore this term is defined as the regions that are important historically, geographically and politically in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Baluchistan Gilgit-Baltistan and some part of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Himalaya (in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan) FOOTNOTE: Karakoram Gigli Baltistan Hindu Kush of KPK Suliman Range of Baluchistan South KPK Is a poetic and symbolic term that refers to areas near the base of the high and great mountains of Pakistan in fact is a simple geographical line separating the plateau country from the mountain country. Literally it refers to the regions of high natural endowments, rich and important cultural historical and strategic particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and some portion of A J&K. Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan the Himalayas The world famous list of towns is becoming longer and the following place can also be added to this list: Hindu Kush (Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province) Sulaiman mountain range (Baluchistan and South of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) They are poetic and symbolic which mean the regions are at the foot of the hills superior of our motherland Pakistan and naturally they act as border line between the plain and the mountains. This term is defined as areas of natural, historical and political importance to which the four provinces of the country mostly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan and some parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir belong. Himalays (in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan) FOOTNOTE: Karakoram (Gilgit-Baltistan) Hindu Kush in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Suliaman Range (Baluchistan and South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Pothohar region is a poetic and symbolic title that in actuality describe areas that are situated at the base of Pakistan’s giant mountains.
Natural Beauty and Tourism:
Search and indebtedness of our country’s scenic prettiness is an important part of our civilizations.
Valleys: Most of them like Gilgit and Hunza, Neelum and Swat, Kaghun and the rest are still there.
Mountain Passes: Such centre of gravities include Khyber pass, Bolan pass as well as Babusar pass.
The mother rivers and streams: Those rivers which are originated by Indus River such as Saif-ul-Muluk, Attala Lake and others but the famous one Include 1: Saif-ul-Muluk 2: Attala Lake 23.
Adventure Sports: Skiing at Malam Jabba, paragliding, mountaineering and hiking rocks, polo match Chitral.
Geographical and Historical Importance Khyber and Bolan easily accessible entrance to the Sub continent was used by every feature geography and culture from Alexander to the Mughal and the Mongol Indus River and tributary.
Adventure Sports: Mountain trips: namely: Ski vacations, trekking, rock climbing: polo- All in Chitral and Malam Jabba.
Historical Contexts & Importance of Kandahar.In historical context, Kandahar is one of those places through which Khyber Pass also known as Bolan Pass opened the door to the Subcontinent for people such as Alexander the great, Mughal and Mongols and other rivers coming from the Indus River such as Kandahar River etc.
Adventure Sports: Skiing at the base of Malam Jabba local hiking and some face painting with some polo match in Chitral.
Location and Historical Value Both Khyber Pass and Bolan pass are entry points into the subcontinent through which every geographic feature and culture from Alexander to the Mughal’s and Mongol’s have passed through and Indus river tributaries.
Tactical and War Importance Till recently we have had Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass route through which Subcontinent has been entered even by giants such as Alexander and followed by the Mughals and Mongols and streams Con tributary rivers such as Saif-ul-Muluk, Attala Lake and other Indus based rivers for instance.
Conclusion:
The Daman-e-Pakistan is the best description of the combination of the towering mountains and the plains of Pakistan. These foothill areas are of great interest because of their geographical features, culture and geo-political significance.