Despite Nanga Parbat tragedy, 25 foreigners land in Islamabad for tourist missions

The foreign tourists came from different countries including Ireland and Canada.


APP June 27, 2013
The foreign tourists came from different countries including Ireland and Canada. PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/HUNZAGUIDESPAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Despite the recent killing of 10 foreign trekkers in Gilgit-Baltistan, around 25 foreign tourists including mountaineers and trekkers arrived in Islamabad Thursday to carry out their tourism missions.

Gunmen dressed as paramilitary forces had killed 10 foreign tourists on June 23 in an unprecedented attack in the Himalayas of Gilgit-Baltistan. The gunmen stormed into a base camp, killing Chinese and Ukrainian climbers in an area of the far-flung north not previously associated with violence or militancy.

"The incident targeting foreign tourists is condemnable. But our spirit is high. We will continue our mission," said one of the foreign tourists talking to media at the Chaklala airport.

The foreign tourists flew from Islamabad to Skardu to continue their activities in various parts of the mountainous region.

The foreign tourists came from different countries including Ireland and Canada.

Regardless of the deteriorating law and order situation, Pakistan continues to attract foreign tourists to the country. In 2012, around one million foreigners visited Pakistan.

Bodies of two tourists airlifted to China

The bodies of two Chinese tourists were airlifted to China Thursday after being autopsied here at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The bodies were handed over to their families in the presence of diplomats by the hospital administration, which were later transported to Noor Khan Airbase Chaklala.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal Khan escorted the bodies to China.

PIMS spokesman Wasim Khawaja said the bodies had been embalmed to save them from decomposition.

On June 23, nine foreign tourists, besides a Pakistani guide were shot dead in a pre-dawn attack at a Nanga Parbat base camp in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Around a dozen militants gunned down the tourists, including two Chinese, a Chinese-American, five Ukrainians and a Russian.

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Correction: In an earlier version of this story, Czechoslovakia was mentioned as a country. The error has been fixed. 

COMMENTS (69)

Giedrius | 11 years ago | Reply

I am from Lithuania, one of the alpinists killed in the attack was also from Lithuania. All I can say that I am deeply shocked, and saddened by what happened. The mountains have always been something of a sanctuary that is beyond the religion or country. This is a place that transcends religion, the rational mind, politics and all other things happening on the ground. I imagine this is why people go the mountains... To liberate themselves from these pre-constructed conceptions, to reach the deeper levels of consciousness that connects humanity, rather than separates it.

And now this happened.

The alpinist killed actually had an interview with the journalist before going to Pakistan, and the reporter asked whether he felt safe going there, with all the political instability. What he said was that despite the news reports, he feels very safe there, and people are friendly and supportive. While I appreciate Pakistan doing a proper investigation, I am afraid the "I told you not to go there" sentiment was overwhelmingly boosted now.

Weirdity | 11 years ago | Reply

@sherrry: "bad news for india"

Yes. Very very very bad news. 25 tourists have arrived in Pakistan. :-)

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