Safety on KKH / Pakistan

LaReponse · Apr 28th, 2009, 22:23

Hello,

Is there anyone who can update us about safety on Karakoram Highway / Pakistan? I don't mean the news you can find on cnn, aljazeera and so on but someone who has recently visited this area or is staying there?

Thank you very much,
Daniel

Shiver me Timbers · Apr 29th, 2009, 01:51

Hi, I'll try and get in touch with a Pakistani friend of mine who is very familier with the area.

LaReponse · Apr 29th, 2009, 04:39

Thank you Conor, I appreciate your great help in all questions concerning Pakistan. I have planned to go from Kashgar to Islamabad on late June and I'm a bit concerned about the last progress around the districts of Buner and Swat. It would be fantastic if you (and all others who might be able to) could keep me updated about that region.

Thanks again,
Daniel

Shiver me Timbers · Apr 29th, 2009, 04:48

No problem, I just e-mailed him so hopefully will have a response soon. I'm planning on heading back to Pakistan at the end of the year, so I'm also keeping an eye on things. Buner and Swat border the KKH region, although I'd imagine the Pakistani army would do everything to keep the highway itself out of Taliban control, as Pakistani-Chinese trade would be threatened then.

Shiver me Timbers · Apr 30th, 2009, 04:44

OK my friend in Peshawar replied, he says the KKH is completely unaffected, and is perfectly safe to go, and he doesn't expect this to change anytime soon.

He says

"Army is engaged in Buner at the moment and that is totally in a
different direction of KKH, and now there has been signed a peace-accord with the local insurgents in Swat valley the life is returning to normalcy there.

Traveling on KKH is absolutely safe and it's noting to do with Buner operation."

So take from that what you will. Like I said in another post, although these areas seem close to each other on a map, the terrain means one valley can effectively be in another world to neighbouring valleys.

RPG · Apr 30th, 2009, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiver me Timbers

... now there has been signed a peace-accord with the local insurgents in Swat valley the life is returning to normalcy there.

Oh yes, I'm sure it's perfectly normal in Swat. In fact, I'm thinking of going there with my wife and daughters for a ski vacation.

LaReponse · Apr 30th, 2009, 15:22

I think we are able to classify the term "normalcy" under these circumstances. Hope we can have updates about the progress posted in this thread.

Thanks again Conor, I think I will get back to this posting by June.

Shiver me Timbers · May 13th, 2009, 21:49

LaResponse, here's a map from the BBC showing areas under Taliban control and those with a Taliban presence. The KKH does not pass through any of them - it goes through the green areas you can see north of Islamabad. The green area in the far north of the map is Chitral, another popular desination for tourists.

Here's the link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8046577.stm

LaReponse · May 13th, 2009, 22:04

Wow. This map is great. It really helps to get a better impression of Taliban controlled areas. Thank you so much, Conor!

I'll be on the road from next week on, but will always have a look to this thread. I will be in Kashgar at about June 10th. So still a lot of time and many things can change until I'll be there. I will always be happy if you (and everyone else) could keep me up to date.

Thank you very much again,
Daniel

Shiver me Timbers · May 13th, 2009, 23:28

I'll try. And if you do make it to Pakistan this summer, be sure to report back with all the up-to-date details. I'm planning on returning at the end of the year, so would appreciate some first-hand travellers reports.

Cheers!

Conor.

Shiver me Timbers · Jun 1st, 2009, 23:55

Some more news in this post

capt_mahajan · Jun 2nd, 2009, 00:00

Quote:

The green area in the far north of the map is Chitral, another popular desination for tourists.

Wondering if that is still true. According to what little I know,Chitral is one of the districts the Taliban are fleeing to, after the recent Pakistani army offensive in Swat/Mingora.

Wazen · Jun 15th, 2009, 14:32

All of the locals are currently saying the same thing:
Chitral is the place to be! Smoking is very open out there, and no one has said anything bad about the Shandur pass from Gilgit to Chitral.

However, I was advised not to take the Peshawar route from Rawalpindi to Chitral, as it passes through some sketchy territory

Last night, a news flash came on TV about another suicide bombng in Dera Ismali Khan, located in the NWFP, and perhaps on the route from Peshawar to Chitral? Either way, I decided to take the long way across Shandur pass from Gilgit to Matsuj, then to Chitral.

Also, the dutch guy going to Iran was living in Peshawar for a couple weeks. He said there were two suicide bombings while he was there, I am gussing from May-ish.

....Also....

My bus from Rawalpindi to Skardu did not take the KKH!!
It went through Kaghan Valley, probably because of the situation half way, around the Swat area.

Better to play it safe

Shiver me Timbers · Jun 16th, 2009, 03:26

Great stuff Wazen, thanks for that! Did you stay with Jafar at the Tourist Garden in Mastuj?

AwayFromHome · Jun 16th, 2009, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiver me Timbers

I'll try. And if you do make it to Pakistan this summer, be sure to report back with all the up-to-date details. I'm planning on returning at the end of the year, so would appreciate some first-hand travellers reports.

Cheers!

Conor.

You have more guts than I.
Maybe family responsibilties contribute to my adversity to undertake such adventures (obviously dunno about you, and not judging).

But good for you brave souls - may your kind profiligate!

Apr 28th, 2009, 22:23	#1
LaReponse Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Munich Posts: 34	Safety on KKH / Pakistan Hello, Is there anyone who can update us about safety on Karakoram Highway / Pakistan? I don't mean the news you can find on cnn, aljazeera and so on but someone who has recently visited this area or is staying there? Thank you very much, Daniel

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Apr 29th, 2009, 01:51	#2
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	Hi, I'll try and get in touch with a Pakistani friend of mine who is very familier with the area.

Apr 29th, 2009, 04:39	#3
LaReponse Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Munich Posts: 34	Thank you Conor, I appreciate your great help in all questions concerning Pakistan. I have planned to go from Kashgar to Islamabad on late June and I'm a bit concerned about the last progress around the districts of Buner and Swat. It would be fantastic if you (and all others who might be able to) could keep me updated about that region. Thanks again, Daniel

Apr 29th, 2009, 04:48	#4
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	No problem, I just e-mailed him so hopefully will have a response soon. I'm planning on heading back to Pakistan at the end of the year, so I'm also keeping an eye on things. Buner and Swat border the KKH region, although I'd imagine the Pakistani army would do everything to keep the highway itself out of Taliban control, as Pakistani-Chinese trade would be threatened then.

Apr 30th, 2009, 04:44	#5
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	OK my friend in Peshawar replied, he says the KKH is completely unaffected, and is perfectly safe to go, and he doesn't expect this to change anytime soon. He says "Army is engaged in Buner at the moment and that is totally in a different direction of KKH, and now there has been signed a peace-accord with the local insurgents in Swat valley the life is returning to normalcy there. Traveling on KKH is absolutely safe and it's noting to do with Buner operation." So take from that what you will. Like I said in another post, although these areas seem close to each other on a map, the terrain means one valley can effectively be in another world to neighbouring valleys.

Apr 30th, 2009, 15:22	#7
LaReponse Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Munich Posts: 34	I think we are able to classify the term "normalcy" under these circumstances. Hope we can have updates about the progress posted in this thread. Thanks again Conor, I think I will get back to this posting by June.

May 13th, 2009, 21:49	#8
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	LaResponse, here's a map from the BBC showing areas under Taliban control and those with a Taliban presence. The KKH does not pass through any of them - it goes through the green areas you can see north of Islamabad. The green area in the far north of the map is Chitral, another popular desination for tourists. Here's the link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8046577.stm

May 13th, 2009, 22:04	#9
LaReponse Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Munich Posts: 34	Wow. This map is great. It really helps to get a better impression of Taliban controlled areas. Thank you so much, Conor! I'll be on the road from next week on, but will always have a look to this thread. I will be in Kashgar at about June 10th. So still a lot of time and many things can change until I'll be there. I will always be happy if you (and everyone else) could keep me up to date. Thank you very much again, Daniel

May 13th, 2009, 23:28	#10
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	I'll try. And if you do make it to Pakistan this summer, be sure to report back with all the up-to-date details. I'm planning on returning at the end of the year, so would appreciate some first-hand travellers reports. Cheers! Conor.

Jun 1st, 2009, 23:55	#11
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	Some more news in this post

Jun 15th, 2009, 14:32	#13
Wazen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii Posts: 307	All of the locals are currently saying the same thing: Chitral is the place to be! Smoking is very open out there, and no one has said anything bad about the Shandur pass from Gilgit to Chitral. However, I was advised not to take the Peshawar route from Rawalpindi to Chitral, as it passes through some sketchy territory Last night, a news flash came on TV about another suicide bombng in Dera Ismali Khan, located in the NWFP, and perhaps on the route from Peshawar to Chitral? Either way, I decided to take the long way across Shandur pass from Gilgit to Matsuj, then to Chitral. Also, the dutch guy going to Iran was living in Peshawar for a couple weeks. He said there were two suicide bombings while he was there, I am gussing from May-ish. ....Also.... My bus from Rawalpindi to Skardu did not take the KKH!! It went through Kaghan Valley, probably because of the situation half way, around the Swat area. Better to play it safe

Jun 16th, 2009, 03:26	#14
Shiver me Timbers Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asia Posts: 1,874	Great stuff Wazen, thanks for that! Did you stay with Jafar at the Tourist Garden in Mastuj?