And yet, it's not logical, as Spock would say.
Nor are those carrying out these atrocities necessarily drawn from locals.

There is far more chance of ending your days in a traffic accident etc etc than being shot to death in some remote area of the world.
It may be a good concept to stay away from popular haunts of the ferengi, whether it be a well-known hotel for climbers at Nanga Parbat base camp, or a bar on the island of Bali.

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Dave

You're right that many of them might not be locals, I guess I should have said that I generally avoid areas where there are any people that are actively trying to kill me, regardless of where they're from.

But I disagree that it is not logical, for a couple of reasons. While you might be right that I'm at much risk riding the streets of Moscow as travelling in the tribal areas in Pakistan, you're missing the point. While I could be struck by a meteorite or hit by a bus in Moscow, this is my home, I feel comfortable with the risks here and rightly or wrongly I think I can--and indeed have--dealt with the risks here by keeping my wits about me.

Moreover, I travel for relaxation and enjoyment and to interact with the local populace, but guess what--if I have to worry about there being a militant checkpoint around every corner, or whether my innkeep or the waiter is alerting the local nutjobs as soon as I've checked in, I won't relax or enjoy the trip, or have any desire to deal with locals. So what exactly is the point of travelling to such places? To see some natural beauty? I can see that in many places. Just to say I went there? Sorry, not interested...

Hi everyone, one of the famous Turkish climber a firend of mine was at the base camp during the attack. I know that he is safe now, but sadly the news are true.

Anybody from Pakistan can tell about these groups that attacked foreigners? I didn't heard about that kind of attacks in that area nowadays or in last years.

Details are here;

Gunmen stormed a hotel in Nanga Parbat, a remote part of northern Pakistan, on Sunday and killed nine foreign tourists and a Pakistani guide near the foot of one of the world's tallest mountains, police and security officials said.

Five Ukrainians, three Chinese, a Russian and their guide were killed in the attack in a remote resort area near the base camp for the 8,125-metre snow-covered Nanga Parbat peak, a popular destination for adventurous trekkers, officials said.

“Unknown people entered a hotel where foreign tourists were staying last night and opened fire,” Ali Sher, a senior police officer in Gilgit-Baltistan province, told Reuters.

Sher had earlier said 10 foreign tourists were killed, but officials revised the tally as fresh reports arrived from the area.

A Pakistani militant group known as Jundullah claimed responsibility for the attack.

“These foreigners are our enemies and we proudly claim responsibility for killing them and will continue such attacks in the future as well,” Jundullah spokesman Ahmed Marwat told Reuters by telephone.

The same group has claimed reponsibility for a series of attacks on members of the country's Shia Muslim minority, in northern Pakistan, including an ambush in February 2012 when gunmen shot 18 bus passengers by the roadside.

The gunmen fled after the attack on the hotel, which took place at about 1 am on Sunday, Sher said.

A senior government official said a large number of security personnel had been sent to the area.

“Since the area is very remote with no roads or transport, the bodies will have to be retrieved by helicopter,” the official said.

Gilgit-Baltistan, which borders China and Kashmir, had been considered one of the more secure areas of Pakistan, but has witnessed a spate of attacks by militants targeting members of Pakistan's Shia minority in recent years.

It was the first time foreign tourists had been attacked in the province, which is famous for its natural beauty. Pakistan receives few foreign tourists, but a trickle of visitors is tempted by the spectacular mountain scenery in its northern areas, where the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya mountain ranges converge.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have strongly condemned the incident.

For me, the significance of this event goes beyond the terrible tragedy for the victims and their families and friends, and the impending loss of income of those local people in Gilgit Baltistan whose livelihood is based on tourism. I have been planning a RTW route for awhile, and I have wanted to travel the route from Kashgar, China into Pakistan and then on through Lahore to India. Prior to this event, the Gilgit area seemed plagued with sectarian violence, such as that which occurred in August 2012, but not a place where foreigners were likely to be targeted. Now, however, if foreign tourists are going to be gunned down while they sleep by Taliban, this probably rules me out (though I don't plan to leave for another 20 months). Every rider will need to make his own calculus, perhaps weighing the principles of not bowing to terrorists and the beauty of the KKH vs. the potential personal dangers. Yes, you are more likely to be hit be a truck in Delhi. But for my personal trip, as a US citizen (who has lived abroad for 20 years) with three college aged children back at home, I don't think I'll include Gilgit on this trip. Lots of great roads, cultures, people, food, etc on other routes. This is very disappointing for me - my last trip to Pakistan was 30 years ago - and I was keen to go back. Who knows, maybe things will change in the next year? But at least recently, it appears to me that Pakistan is becoming more challenging rather than easier. Time to get the maps back out...

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CJ
2014 Monster 1200S, 2007 X Challenge, 2016 1200GSA, 2024 CRF300L Rally

It is depressing that such wonderful places are riven by such strife and that a handful of murderous loonies can have such a deleterious effect upon locals and visitors.

Pray for a quick resolution and a return to safety, I guess

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That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...

For what it is worth. I was hoping to go to this area next year to climb broad peak and an attempt on K2. I have decided in light of recent events not to go. I believe there is a great deal of difference between being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being part of a target group.

These bad guys aren't especially clever but they are cunning and it is not likely that their next targets will be climbers in the high Himalaya.
Apart from that, a year is a long time for things to change, but I do understand that you need to make such climbing plans well ahead of the due date, for many reasons.

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Dave

Well said Omie. Some of the comments here are a disgrace to the forum. We're supposed to be travellers, citizens of the world, who try and engage with different peoples and cultures, esp those giving through tough times and needing friends from the outside world. Of course we should do everything we can to stay safe and avoid certain regions if they are manifestly dangerous - though there are those of us who choose to go to danger zones BECAUSE they are danger zones. But to talk as if we should abandon certain countries, turn our backs on them, because FOX news says so...that's totally against the virtues that attracted me to this site and community

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That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...

why pakistan..
whereelse can you meet these marvellous friends.
Photos tell all.

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

 

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Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

Great post pecha. Pakistan and Pakistanis are wonderful. Every traveller should try and go there at some point, taking all necessary care, when required, of course

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That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...