Geo News reported on Sunday morning that 10 foreign trekkers, 5 Ukrainian,3 Russian, and 2 Chinese and 1 Pakistani quide were killed by gunfire at 1 am at Fairy Meadows on the west side of Nanga Parbat. May they rest in peace. The last several weeks while in Baltistan, all of the hotels and jeep drivers told me that foreign tourism was way down this year. This will kill it. There was already heightened security on the KKH two weeks ago. The police captured 7 taliban between the Sangla Pass and Besham.The police would not allow buses or vehicles with foreigners to proceed up the KKH from the checkpoint near Dubair, about 20 minutes north of Besham, after 4 pm and convoys were formed to leave at 6 am the following morning. Security will be tightened, and more difficult for travel.My Pakistani friends say that this is the end of tourism. Baltistan is still peaceful, unfortunately the road to get there is not so secure.
Why didn't guards/Army/security personnel stop the gunmen? They were paid bribes to look the other way?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23018706
This will kill off what little tourism still exists in the Northern Areas!
This was on my itinerary for an upcoming trip after changes to trekking. Sorry for the victims and their families.
I dont think this area, esp Fairy Meadows would have any type of security. Its very remote and is just a couple of cabins. Not a typical terrorist target.
The terrorists have attacked the most unlikeliest group of people at the most unlikeliest of places.
This is the first ever attack on foreign tourists in the province of Gilgit-Baltistan and obviously the motive is to further harm the image of the country and to instill fear in the heart of future foreigners.
I have been telling prospective foreign tourists not to worry while travelling in the northern areas as tourists are not targetted and it's relatively safe to travel. But I will not say that anymore.
I am sorry for the poor souls who lost their lives in vain.
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