Peshawar  -  Nestled atop the Khyber Pass, the historic town of Landi Kotal in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has long stood as a witness to centuries of trade, conquest, and cultural exchange between South and Central Asia.

Positioned strategically at over 1,000 meters above sea level in Khyber District, about seven kilometers inside Pakistan from the Pak-Afghan border, Landi Kotal has served as a vital junction linking the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent with Afghanistan through the Torkham border.

“Landi Kotal is a historic town that served as a gateway to the subcontinent and a route for kings, monarchs, and invaders who marched into India via the Khyber Pass,” said Bakhtzada Muhammad, Deputy Director of the Archaeology and Museums Department.

The region’s historical significance dates back thousands of years. From the semi-nomadic Aryans to the Gandhara civilization, many ancient peoples passed through the rugged terrain of Landi Kotal.

The Persians, who conquered the area in the 6th century BC, integrated it into the Achaemenid Empire, fostering the spread of Gandhara culture and the introduction of reading and writing to areas such as Swat, Dir, and Peshawar.

“Landi Kotal’s prominence continued with the arrival of Alexander the Great in 327 BC. His journey through the historic Khyber Pass and the strong resistance from local tribes such as the Afridis and Yousafzais are etched in history, as are his interactions in Taxila with Chandragupta Maurya, the future founder of the Maurya Empire,” Bakhtzada added.

He said this famous town has witnessed the rise and fall of empires—from the Indo-Greeks, who introduced Greco-Buddhist art, to Mahmud of Ghazni, who spread Islam in the region after defeating Hindu ruler Jayapala in 1001 AD.

The Mughals, led by King Zaheeruddin Babur, also passed through Landi Kotal on their way to the subcontinent and defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526 at the First Battle of Panipat. Thereafter, his successors ruled the subcontinent for over 300 years.

Later, King Ahmad Shah Abdali launched campaigns into India from Peshawar, before the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured the region, including Landi Kotal, in the early 19th century. The British also recognized Landi Kotal’s strategic value, constructing the Khyber Pass Railway in the 1920s to reinforce military logistics.

One of its historic sites is the Landi Kotal Fort, which during British rule was a modest structure consisting of a keep and an outer fort with accommodation for five British officers and 500 native officers and men. From 1899, like other posts in the Khyber, it was garrisoned by the Khyber Rifles, an irregular corps of militia recruited from the tribes of the Khyber Agency.

In 1925, the heavily engineered Khyber Pass Railway was opened, linking Jamrud to Landi Kotal. Though now defunct, remnants of its colonial architecture and rail lines still draw history enthusiasts and the railway is often regarded as a marvel of engineering.

“Landi Kotal was not just a military town—it was once a bustling stop along the Silk Road, hosting traders and travelers who exchanged stories, goods, and cultures—especially from the Central Asian Republics, Afghanistan, and the Indo-Pak subcontinent,” said Dr Muhammad Younas Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Studies Department at Islamia College, Peshawar.

“The bustling Landi Kotal Bazaar remains a symbol of its rich legacy, where traders and businessmen from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and beyond continue to gather in a vibrant fusion of languages, cultures, and traditions,” Younas Khan added.

Following Pakistan’s independence in 1947, the town of Landi Kotal entered a new era of progress and development while preserving its ancient traditions and culture. On April 17, 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited Peshawar and Landi Kotal, where he was warmly welcomed by tribal leaders and Maliks.

With the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Landi Kotal now stands on the cusp of rapid progress and transformation through robust development programs aimed at the socioeconomic upliftment of nearly one million tribal residents.

A key initiative in this regard is the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC), a major infrastructure project designed to boost trade and connectivity for regional prosperity.

Even in the modern era, Landi Kotal remains deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. Its scenic vistas, historic forts, and oral traditions continue to attract tourists, historians, and adventurers alike.

“Reviving the Khyber Pass is not just about trade—it’s about reclaiming our history,” says Asghar Afridi, a local tourist guide in Landi Kotal. “This route once connected empires and civilizations. It can now connect people again.”

Besides the Khyber Pass, another nearby tourist attraction is a peculiar yet memorable landmark—a banyan tree placed “under arrest” in 1898 by a drunk British officer named James Squid. A signboard still hangs on the tree, notifying passersby of its bizarre arrest.

The historic town of Landi Kotal is more than a relic—it is a bridge to the future. As the world watches the evolving geopolitical landscape of South and Central Asia, Landi Kotal stands at the crossroads of history.

Whether as a historic passage for ancient empires or a modern trade route for emerging economies, its importance remains undiminished. Landi Kotal stands as a proud reminder that history and development can go hand in hand to create a future of shared prosperity.