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Avoiding Pakistan Avoiding Pakistan
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Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 8 May 2009
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Avoiding Pakistan
As much as I would like to visit the KKH, I'm beginning to think that it might be rather unwise with the Pakistani Military upping their efforts recently.

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting to India from Iran? I have been given the impression that the Iranian port of Chahabar will be the best idea for shipping to india. Does anyone have any experience of this or other suggestions?

Duncan
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Old 8 May 2009
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If I have any suggestions about Pakistan, they are that it really isn't the dangerous, failed state that it's made out to be. I would be far more worried, for eg, about robbery in South America or being abducted in Iraq and ending up being beheaded on Al-Jazeera TV than I would be about Pakistan. It is extremely easy to avoid known trouble-spots and what goes on there is very localised.

Granted the KKH at Besham goes a bit close to Swat Valley, but you can avoid this by simply going up the Kaghan Valley from Mansehra to Chilas. And you wouldn't regret the scenery there anyway.

Mark

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  #3  
Old 8 May 2009
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Originally Posted by ilesmark View Post
If I have any suggestions about Pakistan, they are that it really isn't the dangerous, failed state that it's made out to be. I would be far more worried, for eg, about robbery in South America or being abducted in Iraq and ending up being beheaded on Al-Jazeera TV than I would be about Pakistan. It is extremely easy to avoid known trouble-spots and what goes on there is very localised.

Granted the KKH at Besham goes a bit close to Swat Valley, but you can avoid this by simply going up the Kaghan Valley from Mansehra to Chilas. And you wouldn't regret the scenery there anyway.

Mark

overlandcruiser.net
I agree. I would go again in a heart beat. I'd avoid Swat and Chitral, but go from Quetta to Multan, then Islamabad and up. No worries along that stretch.
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Old 10 May 2009
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Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to get my Pakistani visa and will play it by ear whilst on the road. Some parts of Pakistan are probably no more dangerous than parts of Manchester where I live at the moment!

Duncan
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  #5  
Old 11 May 2009
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from warrington to pakistan......and beyond
Hi there from Peru
Agree with other posters! We went through Pakistan and the people were lovely. The security is tight with anything around foreign travellers and you will, probably, have your own security escort anayway - unless you loose them!

Best wishes for the journey!

Cathy and Bernard

Catherine Birchall Homepage

PS - we live in Warrington! Well, we will if we ever come back................!
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Old 11 May 2009
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Hi Duncan,

I fully understand your concerns as my wife and I felt exactly the same way about 2 weeks ago when we were in Iran. We are now in India just having crossed Pakistan. I agree with the others in that right now you should be good to cross the country without incident. We would not hesitate to cross again. But your route will have to be the following up until Lahore, after that I have no idea as we did not go north (tire issues):

Taftan to Dalbandin
Dalbandin to Quetta
Quetta to Sukkur
Sukkur to Multan
Multan to Lahore

The Quetta to Sukkur is the important one to remember as it takes you away from some trouble spots. There are more direct routes from Quetta to Multan but they are dangerous right now.
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  #7  
Old 12 May 2009
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Thankyou Brian and Marie!

I shall heed your directions providing I can get myself a visa.

The funny thing is people from the area give contradicting advice. Iranians who I've spoken to say avoid Baluchistan, Baluchistanis say avoid Iran, Turks say avoid Iran and Indians say avoid Pakistan. I guess it's the same in the UK!

My main plan is to play it by ear once on the road. Thankyou all for your inputs. Now to sort out visas.

Safe riding!

Duncan
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