If you did your research, you would know that almost every website indicates that the town in Afghanistan is called Ishkashim.
Dude, you were being rude by starting your post with 'if you did your research' when I am asking a perfectly legitimate question. Don't gaslight and play the victim. You will lose.
There is a town in Tajikistan called Ishkashim, and another one in Afghanistan, on the other side of the river called also Ishkashim. But it's never been possible to go to the afghan Ishkashim without an afghan visa.
As stated before, one could go to the afghan market (every Saturday) on an island in the middle of the Pyanj river, but that's it, no more than that. And technically speeking, the market is in Tajikistan, not in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, last reports I got is that this market didn't take place for quite some time now.
I think the risk of getting eaten by a snow leopard is as low as is mathematically possible to calculate. I speak with herders who've spent their entire lives in the mountains, and they tell me they've never seen one. Only the tracks on the ground.
Wish you luck and hope you'll have a great journey!
You can't cross the border post without a visa but you can go to the Afghan market without a visa because it's located in the no-man's-land...
Snow leopards are not a problem at all.
Michel
In fact I don't think there is a single recorded case of a snow leopard attacking a human anywhere in the world.
According to Wikipedia, there are a sum total of two recorded instances of humans getting attacked by wild snow leopards. Both in Kazakhstan, during Soviet times.
I hope the OP plans on bringing a better attitude along for hitchhiking. I don't think those prepared to offer him rides will appreciate the macho talk.
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