Booked a Trekking tour K2 and Gondogoro La Pass in August

If you have time at to wait for an Islamabad-Gilgit/Skardu flight then that would help (warning: there are frequent cancellations of flights from ISB to Gilgit or Skardu due to adverse weather conditions and people on previously cancelled flights will get seats ahead of you, even for the day you've actually booked your flight).

KKH will always be subject to problems and closures every time there's a security alert. Flying up to Gilgit or Skardu would get you past the 'problem' areas but you do need to allow several days at either end of your trip to be sure of getting a flight unless you're exceptionally lucky - I wasn't, and had to travel by road up KKH each way for late May/late June 2013 trip.

It's true, lightning never strikes twice in exactly the same place and quite honestly who knows where the Taliban will strike next? (But if anyone has inside info, please post here a.s.a.p.)

Meantime, bear in mind the tour operator obviously is going to say your destination is "safe" but I guess you already realised that! Their livelihood is at stake and I wish them all good luck.

You are not alone.

The largest German trekking tour operators Summit Club and Hauser cancelled all this years treks to Pakistan, because they cannot guarantee the safety of participants. According to press releases the Pakistani Taliban are perfectly satisfied with the international publicity they got and announced further specific attacks on tourists. In this respect the proverb of "Lightening rarely strikes in the same place twice" may be somewhat optimistic (although I agree that the individual probability to be at the wrong place at the wrong time may be still small).

We also wanted to walk the Gondogoro La trek in August, and we already booked our flights. However, due to the unsafe situation we will probably cancel within the next few days after having observed the reaction of further large trekking tour operators.

The Talibans are certainly totally unwelcome in the Shia district of Skardu (contrary to the fundamentalist Sunni area of Chilas eg Nanga Parbat))..

Thank you everyone for your responses...I might end up going anyway " Lightening rarely strikes in the same place twice" I like that! lol

what makes you think that there may be more of a "substantial threat of terrorism against tourists" in Pakistan than exists elsewhere? I really would like to understand your comment, but unfortunately I can't.

Do you believe we should we all stay home and not travel anywhere because this situation exists?

The attack at Nanga parbat was horrific, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families who were killed. But I would no more cancel my trip to K2 trek than I would cancel a trip to New York. I figure my chances of being affected by a terrorist attack on KKH are a heck of a lot less than being affected by one here in the U.S. or in other places I sometimes visit.

I just returned from Pakistan and I am really questioning some of the responses here. Although the attack happened after I had left Pakistan, I sent my condolences to the families involved.
This attack was clearly well planned since it is quite a hike up there. The government evacuated the remaining climbers still on the mountain. Since the Taliban has warned that further attacks on tourists will be done I think to ignore this is dumb.
Even though some groups may say the taliban is not welcome here (baltistan valleys) I saw signs stating " death to America and Israel" there so infiltration is possible no matter what some locals and tour operators say.
So my advise at present is postpone your trip unless you want to be a martyr and give the taliban more fuel.
edited by dadima