Foreigners killed at Fairy Meadows

The terrorist attack near West Face of the Nanga Parbat mountain is a conspiracy aimed at destabilization of Pakistan’s economy. If the government and law enforcing agencies act fast the terrorists behind the massacre can easily be arrested, because it would take anyone at least 18 hours to get out of the region. Around 250,000 people’s lives in Gilgit-Baltistan will be affected directly if the tourism industry cripples.

Don't go. I was in Chorit (village close to Nanga Parbat) the day it happened. The Pakistani authorities seemed to know that there was a problem - driving through Astore village en route for Chorit we were stopped at police checkpoint where there were also two Army officers. Detained for half an hour and closely questioned (why would two 70-year old British women pose such a threat - they even searched our luggage). Eventually they said they had to get advice from their superior officer, by phone. Just glad to be safely back home in UK but very sorry for GB tourist industry which must be compromised by this murder of innocent tourists. Also very sorry for dedicated mountain guides who offer such amazing hospitality to foreign tourists.

Chorit? Did this happen on the astore valley side of Nanga Parbat? The BBC article wasn't clear I just assumed it was Fairy meadows. I had a lovely guide for Nanga Parbat who is from Chorit Village

It seems that the FCO is now advising against all but essential travel to Gilgit-Baltistan. Does that invalidate travel insurance for British trekkers who might otherwise still want to go?

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan

This story increasingly sounds like an "inside job" that was carried out with the permission of the security services. But the question is, why? What do the security services have to gain from a bunch of dead mountain climbers?

If this massacre was committed with the "permission of the security services", I suggest staying alive as at least part of the reason.

Another report from the BBC (apologies if a link has already been posted:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23027031

scoodly

I'm still going. I did feel pretty sickened and depressed by the attack, hopefully they catch the b*stards. I'm off to do Snow Lake-Hispar La in August and if I hadn't booked all my tickets I might have second thoughts. As it stands, I will be flying into Skardu and probably jeep (with security) on way back - that's if the KKH is open - and the recent troubles will always be at the back of my mind. However, I travelled through Mauritania and Mali (before the insurgency) and everyone kept saying not to go - I had the best time ever there but I did keep in touch with current news by looking on the Thorntree, local news etc. I know you can't ignore the risk, but I think the likelihood of something happening are slim, I know there is more risk of getting knocked off a bike in London as I have seen many accidents with my own eyes. The chance of having a car accident travelling up the motorway would statistically be much higher. I certainly wouldn't chance my arm in hotspots like Syria or Helmand, but I think if you do your research and take precautions then you should be ok. However, I would respect anyone for cancelling their trip as there is obviously an increased risk in Pakistan now and it would always be at the back of your mind.

As for the Baltoro glacier, that place has army checkpoints all the way along it so I would've thought it would be pretty safe there - though the threat from India is always there in the background.

Re - "rather than post offensive, delusional conspiracy theories on here"

To be fair to him, I wouldn't call it a theory.

How is it 'deluded' for him to have suggested that this was a conspiracy (in the sense of a group of people getting together) to throw even more shards of glass into the milk shake? Having said that, it is true that saying it doesn't alter the situation at all (nor do the protestations that Islam doesn't condone this sort of thing, change anything either). If an Islamist kills an off duty British soldier in the UK, the protestations that Islam doesn't condone this doesn't change anything nor tackle the problem that Islamists view this sort of thing as a legitimate response to losses of their own.

Where are we taking this discussion? Who knows who did it? 55,000 Pakistan have lost lives since 9/11. They were all Muslims.
this country is under fire.

first it needs to be clear who is responsible for this attack, there are always people who know exactly who did it. all this security in the area might be easy to bribe...... and there is the indian-pakistan border problem as well.
frankly , i would not go, just for the simple fact that all these checkpoints, waiting for having papers stamped, bagagge searches,....plus the recent attack on mountaineers would spoil my holiday.

very sad for the locals there who depend on this income. they are the ones that suffer the most after such an attack