Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t1.30

v2.c13.s3.t1.30

The age-old relationship between India and Kashgar and other towns of southern Xinjiang became complicated in the 19th century due to the rivalry between the expanding British and Russian empires commonly known as ‘The Great Game’. Both powers established consulates in Kashgar and sought to manipulate the terms of trade in their favour by putting pressure on the Chinese authorities there. In the 20th century, political turbulence, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s, had an adverse effect on the trade between India and Xinjiang and many Indian traders were compelled to leave. In late 1940s, this trade dwindled almost to nothing and stopped altogether.