Between these main passes innumerable tracks
follow the "durras," or lines of watercourse, over the ridges of
the Hindoo Kush and Paghman, which afford easy passage to men on
foot and frequently also to "Kuchi" camels. These passes (so far
as we can learn) could, any of them, be readily made available
for mountain artillery with a very small expenditure of
constructive labor and engineering skill. In Koh Dahman nearly
every village of importance lying at the foot of the eastern
slopes of the Paghman (such as Beratse, Farza, Istalif, etc.)
covers a practicable pass over the Paghman, which has its
continuation across the Shoreband valley and over the ridge of
the Hindoo Kush beyond it. But between the Khak Pass and the
Irak, the various routes across the Hindoo Kush, whether
regarded as routes to India or to Kandahar, although they by no
means converge on Kabul City, must necessarily pass within
striking distance of an army occupying Kabul. Such a force would
have, first of all, thoroughly to secure its communication with
the Oxus, and a strong position at Kabul itself.
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