Photo of the Nanga Parbat base camp. PHOTO: facebook.com/hunzaguidespakistan
In a pre-dawn attack, gunmen dressed as paramilitary forces killed nine foreign tourists in an unprecedented attack in Gilgit-Baltistan.
At least three Chinese and five Ukrainian climbers were killed in the attack on the base camp, an unmanned area not previously associated with violence or militancy.
“We, the people of Diamer, condemn this heinous act against the innocent foreigners and demand a quick action against terrorists who might have entered the base camp either via Kashmir, Khyber - Pakhtunkhwa or Diamer,” said advocate Fidaullah, a former lawmaker in G-B legislative assembly.
“We want authorities to monitor the routes leading into Diamer from Kashmir and Kaghan-Naran of K-P to stop infiltration of terrorists into this region,” said Fidaullah who is a Pakistan Peoples Party leader.
Opposition leader in the G-B assembly Janbaz Khan termed the brazen attack a conspiracy against G-B as well as Pakistan.
“It’s a conspiracy and I have no doubt about it,” Khan told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
“Attack on tourists means attacking the livelihood of the people associated with it,” Khan said who himself belongs to Diamer valley.
Khan said the people of Diamer valley are hospitable and love to serve the tourists as it would provide them decent money in return.
“According to my information, the assailants just killed the tourists and fled without even touching their luggage.”
Prominent development specialist from the valley Gulam Ali Raikoti lamented the attack and said that the attack will badly harm the tourism industry which is already suffering because of past incidents.
“If the culprits of previous incidents had been punished, the situation wouldn’t have occurred this time around,” Raikoti told The Express Tribune from Islamabad.
He criticised media for wrongly linking Fairy Meadows to the incident. “Fairy Meadows is too far away from the place of shooting. Media should correct its facts.”
Meanwhile interior minister has suspended G-B chief secretary and inspector general police after the incident.
Tourists’ bodies
The bodies of the slain tourists were flown to Islamabad from Gilgit in an army plane at around 3.30pm.
“They have been dispatched to Islamabad for onward transportation to their respective countries,” said chief minister G-B Mehdi Shah.
Earlier, the bodies were brought to Gilgit from the base camp of Nanga Parbat.
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COMMENTS (97)
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@Rex Minor: He was NOT a US Defense Secretary when he said that.
where is TTP's confirmation cell? how do media get these confirmations?
what hidden hands? nonsense. Taliban accepting that they did this. who so ever supporting the Taliban are also involved in it. enough.
Why all the excitement? "Hidden hands" is an honest admission that the speaker is all at sea about who the perpetrators are. Await the day when the event itself will become "hidden".
TTP, and other such, will always claim credit promptly because they can project false power for the cost of a mere phone call.
@Char Latan: "Question: How many hidden hands does it take to change a light bulb?" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hidden hands can only change a hidden light bulb. Hence question invalid.
I hope that Pakistanis can now feell what Indians expereince when Paki state and non state actors carry out terror activities in India. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pls write to your PM asking that terror as state policy in Pakistan should be terminated forthwith. ( and no point in denying!)
This is getting as bad as it could possibly be for India. The movement into Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir of this maniacal breed spells nothing but unmitigated disaster for Jammu and Kashmir. Indian government needs to seriously talk to Pakistan and see how it can help them reign in this Frankenstein that the establishment in Pakistan has created. Else the Indian citizans of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir will have to bear the brunt of these maniacs.
Hitting in the soft spots - Should I connect the Ziarat Residency incident ?
@Butt:
Why should Maria tell you her source of information? NY Times and Washingto Post wouldn't tell you either. If you do not trust other bloggers why not verify it from Chch or the USA embassy?
Rex Minor
Two nations theory one loves conspiracy theory and the other---
The hands aren't hidden. They're public. And they're ours, stained red with blood. Its straight forward...these are mostly our local Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni religious political extremist militants. The only 'foreign' element maybe either the militants from neighbouring provinces such as K-P and Punjab, or the few Asian and international Arab and non-Arab fighters and supporters here and there.
Conspiracies only highlight our derangement and immoral cover-up of these crimes by these culprits, since we are historic accomplices.
@vasan: The only hidden hand is the one that protects TTP & the bin ladens of this world. People in Pakistan no longer accept this sick nonsense.
Strange that the the "true Muslim" TTP would accept the help of the kafir Indians. But in Pakistan or more accurately in the mind of many pakistanis anything is possible.wonder what the PTI guys would think of Imran khan calling for peace talks with the TTP brothers when at the same time they think TTP is controlled and funded by kafir Indians? I wonder how they square that circle in their mind? Interesting...
@Water Bottle: Nailed the whole 'Chuck-says-India-sponsors-trouble-for-Pak-via-Afghanistan' trash. But no use, this @Maria will still 'enlighten' other forums with the same unsubstantiated info. @Maria: Just in case you haven't read about it yet, Amrikee SoS Hagel has officially communicated that it wants India and India alone to take the Af lead after 2014. Its a different thing India doesn't wish to replace them. The point is, if Pakistan was as 'Paak' as you assume/imagine, don't you think US would have atleast acknowledged Pakistan & asked it to 'help set up Afghanistan'. It didn't, right? Its still droning the living daylights out of N-W Pak, right? It still doesn't respect Pak's sovereignty, right? The saddest part is that innocent civilians are losing their life, yet you wish to blame 'a foreign hand' and not assign the blame to the real murderers TTP.
this is just a conspiracy to defame Pakistan! A great many tourists are attracted towards PAKISTAN's natural beauty and by killing the foreigners in this way, its enemies are just trying to defame our country in front of the whole world.
@Nand:
"From this, I see that they are proforming well and beyond expectations"
Sorry. No sane Indian expects this out of his army. You are, perhaps, an exception.
Actually the troops in eastern side of neighbour can sleep well than the west.But your generals fooling your public as if there is a ghost on eastern side, but failed to find real ghost eating you on west
@A J Khan: Why should India waste its limited resources trying to do things to Pakistan that the Pakistanis are doing to themselves anyway? In any case, India does not possess the talent for such activities. Pakistan with its huge talent base and training skills is has way more talent for such acts.
Until we keep blaming others for our mistake we will not be able to solve problems of any in Pakistan. PM Nawaz Shariff and his assistant Imran Khan should accept this as our war, better it would be for Pakistan
"While there is a possibility that some Pakistanis might be involved, we can’t rule out the possibility that Indian Brahmins and Israel Jews are fueling unrest in Pakistan."
So much comedy following so much tragedy.
@amit (India):
"I am really sorry for the innocent tourists who have been killed. As an Indian, I cannot but wonder what if this had happened on Indian side of the border"
Just so you know, this has happened on this side of the border before. There was a Pakistani named Omar Said Sheikh (who's still in Pakistani jail, I presume), who came to India, posed as an Indian and murdered a couple of foreigners and kidnapped more.
He was caught and later released by the BJP government in exchange for the release of a plainful of Indian passengers hijacked by Pakistanis and taken to Kandahar.
The same man was later responsible for the beheading of Daniel Pearl.
This kind of conspiring, bordering on psychophancy and hate-mongering is dangerous in the neighborhood. India has genuine reasons to feel concerned at this madness across the border.
very nice. . Justify your incompetency, failure and stupidness by blaming 'hidden hand' shame!
Nawaz government is part of problem.
@MHJ: and @Kalchakra Did you not overlook something? The whole world is conspiring against you "poor" Pakistanis and maligning your good name! Most Indians, and the rest of South Asia, wish that Pakistan was located in another geography altogether so that we would have nothing to do with it. Thank God, Pakistan was partitioned and is now in no way attached to India. In hind sight, that's the best thing that ever happened to India.
Thank you to all those who are pointing their fingers to your Eastern neighbour. I thought my Indian Army was of no use, just playing golf and grabbing plots. From this, I see that they are proforming well and beyond expectations.
Question: How many hidden hands does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer: None. There is no electricity so the light bulbs don't burn out.
Save Pakistan. Kill Taliban
@Pakistani Ostrich: So I hope and pray that the chinese premier gives some tough-talk to kayani & co.
Wow, I agree 100%.
It is to be made clear by Pakistani government, the establishment and the army that either they want to eliminate terrorism or not?? There are no "Hidden hands" in this terror act. These are the same group who have earlier carried out massacre at Babusar Pass where tens of people from GB lost their precious life. If the PML N and other politico-islamic parties alienate themselves from these terror groups peace can prevail in Pakistan. Secondly the people of Pakistan whoever have ideological adherence with TTP and its splinters(SSP, LeJ etc) need to know that they have lost all their justification for the heinous crimes that these terrorist carry out. These terrorists neither represent islam or Pakistan. They have become an icon of terror and ignorance just like the Assasins of Hasan bin Sabah.
@kaalchakra:
"While there is a possibility that some Pakistanis might be involved, we can’t rule out the possibility that Indian Brahmins and Israel Jews are fueling unrest in Pakistan."
While there is a possibility that Kalachakra is mentally sound, we cannot rule out the possibility of Kalachakra being controlled by Aliens or Kalachakra having bumped his head against a boulder when he was 6 years old.
@truth: What was special abt these people?
May God bless you and provide you some wisdom to look at the bigger picture.
I am really sorry for the innocent tourists who have been killed. As an Indian, I cannot but wonder what if this had happened on Indian side of the border - I am fairly certain that a lot of comments would have been about how India needs to hand over Kashmir to Pakistan or how India is getting her dues for 'oppressing' Muslims or blocking 'Pakistan's water'. The only way to put an end to these terrorists is to stop supporting them. There aren't 'good' terrorists or 'bad' terrorists, they are just plain terrorists. And you can't breed rabid dogs to bite your neighbours without being bitten yourself. I beg the security chief's of Pakistan - not for India's sake, but for your own sake, please stop providing support to Jeehadi extremists. Today it is foreigners, yesterday it was Shias, sometimes it is Ahmadis or Hindus or Christians. Don't you think enough blood of your own people has been spilt by these 'strategic assets'.
It's an old Pakistani policy to blame the foreign hand and then close the case without investigation. This hidden hand is about to slash your throat and then you won't be around to blame anyone. It's time for Pakistan to DO or DIE; a mere condemnation of barbaric act means nothing.
Can't believe people still think hidden hands involved in this incident. TTP has accepted responsibility which means it is not just TTP, the religio political parties, the right leaning electronic media and most importantly the all those who want to convert pakistan into a wahabi state are responsible.
TTP has already claimed the responsibility and yet Pakistani people and their leaders claim there is Indian hand. The TTP guys must be pulling their hair out saying "We did this. How can we convince these morons that we are capable of mean things? We should get the credit, not those kafir Indians!".
i live outside Pakistan and visits tribune daily for atleast 20-30 times, but today after this sad news i am just trying to keep away from any news from Pakistan. we as a nation hitting the abyss but this abyss depth is never ending.
It looks like some serious discrimination against Muslims must be going on in Pakistan. There can be no other explanation.
Are you all addressing any of their genuine grievances?
Pakistan has become a champion of headline news. Every day attack. And yet, we still being let to believe that there are NO terrorist heaven in Pakistan. This is sickening.
@Maria: Care to provide the link where US Defense Secretary says that. If not go hide in a corner.
it seems ISI and army busy only in building defence housing society
I love the hidden hand theory! It's so much fun. The hidden hand theory almost went out of fashion in Pakistan. Now its back with a vengeance!
Politicians first need to stop about "foreign hand" at the drop of hat and instead focus on finding these killers. Looking at Google earth, its a very remote place which these killers are not familiar with since they needed guides to get to that place. With one guide killed and the other escaped, these terrorists should be lost. A massive air search should be able to locate at least some of them quickly along with local folks knowledge. But sadly as is the case with every attack in Pakistan the killers are never/rarely found. Is it incompetence or turning a blind eye by the establishment?
PMLN and PTI trying to protect Taliban by blaming on unseen foreign hands.
There are four questions which define the problem - when, where, who, and why - we already know when and where, and who is answered by Express Tribune as,
"TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan called The Express Tribune and said the group’s faction named Junud-e-Hafsa carried out the brutal attack."
and the why is answered by,
"He said the killing was revenge against the US drone attacks and killing of TTP chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud."
Islam is a Religion of Peace +++++++++++++++++++++++ And it is clear to me that no muslim could have been involved in this!
@Khan BABA: "Our intellengence agancey is famaous in the world, beacause it provides correct and timely information from" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Like it did in the case of OBL.........................................!!
@Maria: "The fact that so many Indians are commenting here under real and phony names only proves the point." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I think all the Indians who are commenting here are directly involved in this ghastly murder. Just like a murderer always visits the scene of the crime. Madam, you should be a detective...maybe you are with your understanding of criminal psychology.
@Maria: Madam, you seem to have forgotten your favorite request that UN should finance a wall around Pakistan ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Like a Burqa on the country.
"...At least three Chinese and five Ukrainian climbers were killed in the attack on the base camp, an unmanned area not previously associated with violence or militancy..."
The terrorists of the all kind 'good','bad' and ' strategic assets' should be eliminated. Only thing positive, i am sorry to use this word 'positive' for this sad sad news, is that the three chinese nationals have been killed. Which means if china orders the perpetrators of these murderer be punished , the khakhis won't have will to 'pussy foot' with the militants, the army will have to go after the terrorists! So I hope and pray that the chinese premier gives some tough-talk to kayani & co.
I think senior officers and generals of Pakistani Armed Forces have no will to fight any longer! This well-paid and well-looked after group of people are only good for 'posing' as a fighting force! Not only they couldn't win a single war against India but they don't have any will even to finish a small outfit like TTP! What a waste.....!
Khan BABA: Our generals are playing golf and our PM is eating siri paye in Lahore. And its not a joke, its the bitter truth!
@truth: What was special abt these people?
I can help you here - the victims were Chinese and Ukrainians; both countries are major weapon suppliers to Pakistan military. It is another matter, these weapons are not used for defending the lives of common Pakistanis.
@Chaudhry: Yes, but who carried it out is the Question? Pakistan is not the only country, USA is the leader of conspiracy theories. We know that Bhuttos were targeted to die and who were the consiparators and what happened to them? The military strong man was ufront to convict Zulfiqar but in the case of BB there was no front man? Who were the conspirators for the murders of Knnedys? Who carried out sept. 11 terror attacks and what happened to them? Thousands have been tortured, hundreds of thousands have died from aerial and artillery bombing, more are dying each day in the ground war and the war of drones. How many are left?
We have victims and quetions but no independently proven reports or the peoples responsible for the events. Making claims or extra judicial killings are no proofs. Thank God, we can still freely think in times that others are planning to stop this as well.
Rex Minor
I dont understand this hiddenhand nonsense. If u guys believe TTP is sponsered by India, why does your govt want to talk to them Why dont u ask your all pervasive army and ISI to annihilate them Why do u keep striking deals with them and see them not honouring. Otherwise why dont u guys accept it is your own home grown terrorists, you cant do anything but surrender to them.
Saudi Arabia is funding the TTP to scare Pakistani and spread their version of Islam.
What is our ISI is doing? This is a question of every Pakistani from the ISI Chief,COAS, Presedent and Prime minister, Our intellengence agancey is famaous in the world, beacause it provides correct and timely information from the rest of world, but when such incident happend inside the country, There is no any information about attack? It means our army and ISI become so weak, India or any other country can take over our country in few seconds,
i dont understand the hype over this incident. hundreds of people dies of hunger, killings, shootings etc in this country. What was special abt these people?.
Yes the hidden hand is out their hiding in the public , its called TTP, the same TTP that vowed to fight along with the Pakistan army against India.
@awais: I think we all know that the criminals targeting innocent people in Pakistan are funded by foreign agencies. This is not a conspiracy because none other than US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that India uses Afghanistan as a base to support criminal actions in Pakistan. The fact that so many Indians are commenting here under real and phony names only proves the point.
The military should test some sort of a missile soon to cheer up the Pakistani people.
Is there any other country in the world whose security and intelligence apparatus gets so much money and is yet entirely useless. Seems like Pakistan is on par with Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi etc.
40,000 people have dies in this blood shed. This incident is just "sonay pay suhaga" for no better words. Where are our intelligence agencies? Why can't they control these people. It doesn't matter whether taliban are Islamic fundamentalists or CIA funded group. What matters is that they have constantly committed the most heinous crimes against Pakistanis and should have been stopped a long long time ago. Pakistan is just embarrassing now wish I wasn't born here.
Express Tribune says, "TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan called The Express Tribune and said the group’s faction named Junud-e-Hafsa carried out the brutal attack."
What hidden hands? Taliban are openly admitting they have done it. Problem is PMLN and PTI have soft spot for the Taliban that is why no action is taken.
Please America keep on bombing with your drones. Our own forces have failed. Please help us.
TTP claims responsibility for killing tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan- EXPRESS TRIBUNE< PAKISTAN
Talibans are safe in pakistan than normal peoples....
Great News. Even after TTP spokes person speaking and another out fit of Pak claiming the attack what hidden hands? Ha Ha
What is this strange and meaningless talk about "conspiracy" Whom do these politicians want to fool? Are they trying to defend the TTP? There is no conspiracy. The murderers have called out loudly to claim "credit" For Gods sake let us get together and end this terror by the same methods used by the terrorists. Or be ready for destruction at their hands.
What hidden hand? TTP has accepted it. Take action.
Why All the Time We will Pay Price
From #KKH to Base Camp it Took 2 Days to Reach Base Camp #Nagaparbat. President Alpine Club Islamabad.
Chudary Nisar Applaud Role of #NLI for Recovering Dead Bodies from Base Camp In Chaklala Air Base with #Chines #Ambassador.
Three are three Faces through which we can get Base Camp Two from #Astore side one towards #Chilas Side: Advocate Iqbal in P.T.V Live Program.
In July High Level of Pakistan's Delegation is Planning to Visit China while #PM- #NAwazShraif has Ordered Saad Rafique #Railway #Minister to Prepare Railway Link Proposal which will Connect "Kashgar-to-Gawadar" and Delegation has to convince Chinese to make it #ASAP.
In all of this Since Last #TwentyFour Hours, where it Took two Days from K.K.H to Base Camp, Where 10 to 15 #culprit's, Gone.
This Shows Our Preparation for Security threats. We have to see our Level and Slogans First.
Demand #Justice #Protection #Security and #NLI #Mountain #Warrior for Protection of Our #Motherland First.
Time to make #NationalSecurityPolicy of Pakistan.
Why there is Complete Silence In Punjab !
@MHJ: " Indian hand in this incident could not be ignored" MHJ sahib, you have a talent. Khuda bless you.
CIA, RAW and MOSSAD are responsible.
How many times have I read this hidden hands bull**...there were no outsiders involved...it is only Pakistani Islamic militants that are killing your country...go into the madrasahs and find those mullahs who preach killing the infidel...stop that and you will eliminate source of the foot soldiers of terrorism...that is the only way...it is not a conspiracy from the outside...it is the enemy within Islam...
When TTP has accepted responsibility, the hidden hands have been exposed.
Yes, the government should investigate as which are the hidden hands behind TTP? Who is funding TTP? Is there any foreign country behind TTP?
The 'hidden Hand has already claimed the killings. Whom are you kidding. TTP is behind every dirty job. The State should show some spine. They should respond in strenght and with will.
well let's name those 'hidden hands' and openly said it was done by India. carried out by TTP.
Instead of shouting 'conspiracy' at the top of your lungs, since you don't have any 'doubts', fill up the following sentence...
The people who killed the 9 tourists and a Shia Pakistani and let the Sunni Pakistanis go free were from ----. belonging to the religion ----, belonging to the group ----, sponsored by ----, working for ----.
What hidden hands ? TTP has claimed the responsibility and you are still calling hidden hands?
Maybe Raymond Davis had stay behind colleagues?
Well, at least they're shifting the blame to terrorists from infested regions within our country, instead of parroting the usual mantra of blaming other countries. The truth is that terrorists have spread their roots far and wide in every area of the country and are bleeding it dry. It is time for decisive action.
My heart cries And I'm deeply saddened about today's news. But I'm also very very angry Not only on Ehsan ula Ehsan But aslo on This attention Seeking politician .Saying killers could've entered from north no east no no no maybe west .Why media is asking them questions its makin by blood boils where is "KIYANI" @ET please don't stop my comment
Excuses from Government. Pakistan doesn't need any hidden hands when there are many enemies within the country working hard to destroy it. GB Government and Nawaz Sharif should present more plausible excuses then this one.
Indian hand in this incident could not be ignored.
We are a conspiracy theory loving nation. While Talban have already accpted thr responsibility, where is the hidden hand in it? This is another spin by the establishment o point finger towards india and afghanistan!!
These statements only fuel support to TTP as if they are not sole responsible.
when will we stop with this 'hidden hand' nonsense? ttp has claimed responsibility for this, there are no hidden hands. government must launch immediate operations in north Waziristan...even better would be to nuke this whole area. then there will be no need for drones