I've applied for my Pakistan visa and I've just been told by the Pakistan Consulate in the UK that the may not allow me to cross the border from Pakistan to Iran and stipulate that on the visa. I've heard that the Taftan border is now closed does anyone have any up to date info on this?

Thanks in advance

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...n-update-63430

info is very sketchy at the moment

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https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

No one seems to actually know anything at the moment, it's all hear-say and that includes the embassy haha. I'm looking into freighting from Mumbai to Dubai at the moment so I have a backup plan. I've got some quotes (£350) for sea and £480 for air) but I can't find any info on which is best for clearing customs in Dubai. Does anyone have any info? This is very important and is starting to stress me out. Once I get any solution I'll post the info so people can find an alternative around Pakistan.

Thanks in advance guys.

The Taftan border is an important trade hub for the Pakistani's. In the past the border has been closed numerous of times for short periods lasting upto several weeks.

Over the past year there have been executions of shia muslims traveling by bus between Quetta & Taftan. In terms of safety the route has deteriorated considerably. It runs close to the afghan border through a long stretch of desert.

As an alternative have a look at the Bahu Kalat (Iran) - Jewani (Pak) trading border connected by the Makran Highway (N10) to Karachi. This road is brand new connecting the port Gwadar to Karachi.

I know it's less known border post but once questions start to cross this border it can become an alternative to the volatile Taftan border post.

Same for the Zero Border between Turkey - Iran, it's a less known border compared to the busy Dogubajazit border but a good and practical alternative.

Good luck!

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Arno
Overland by 4x4 truck

Btw: for shipping to the UAE - Sharjah has the busiest harbor for international trading and sees quite a few foreigners shipping cars to/from Iran. Customs see carnet de passage documents and such and can help you clear your stuff.

I know others who have magically shipped their vehicle to the Dubai harbor with an odd cargoship from Iran had totally freaked out customs & immigration causing days and days of delay. The vacuumed the vehicle with portable gaschromatographs - so be warned. These things can pick up the smallest trace of anything.

Make VERY sure the gear you ship is squeaky clean - UAE customs are in total shark mode for any illegal substance. My truck got searched by dogs - but the search dog was too happy with our own dog :-)

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Arno
Overland by 4x4 truck

Are you sure, that this crossing point is open, and specifically it is open for foreigners, who aren´t from Iran or Pakistan?

I was under the impression, that you´ll need special permits to travel to the Makran region (...but my info is out of date, could be different now), and also that the little control, that the government has on the Taftan-Quetta route, does not extend further south.

Just arrived in Quetta from Multan, a tough ride with many broken spokes & repairs needed to keep my vintage bike going. Three hours to cover 60 kms has been standard for the past week. A combination of rough roads and heat. Had to do an extra 400 kms via Sukkur, Jacobabad as expected. Now at the Hotel Bloom Star for a few days getting cleaned up and rested for the next stretch to the border. Will keep you all posted on how easy/difficult it is to cross. Could be a long ride to Taftan with many delays if today is anything to go by. Approaching Quetta the police and army escorts changed 3 times within 2 kms! At this rate I might make it to Turkey for Xmas (no pun intended).

Some sad news in from Gilgit where I was two weeks ago, riding the KKH by bus. As with elsewhere in Pakistan I met nothing but wonderful hospitality & kindness in the region.

"Thirteen people have been killed in ongoing violent incidents in Gilgit and Chillas areas, Geo news reported.
According to official sources, armed men offloaded passengers from a bus and opened fire in Chillas. Nine people were killed while six buses were also set ablaze.
Earlier, curfew was imposed in Gilgit when four people were killed and 45 injured in clashes following a hand grenade attack.
In the latest development, the ISPR states that the Army has been summoned to Gilgit to control the law and order situation."

Ron
Old Bloke on a Bike | Travels of an old guy on an old bike, from one side of the world to the other

Wish you good luck on the N40 direction Taftan - hope road construction has progressed towards Dalbandin. At least the ride from Dalbandin to Taftan is on smooth tarmac.

The police station in Dalbandin is known to host foreign travelers.

For what it's worth - a few GPS locations of checkpoints and vllages on the N40;

Quetta overland

Cheers!

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Arno
Overland by 4x4 truck

Since 2010 there's been talk to open that border for more than trading only. The Jiwani / Jewani / Jeewani [spelled in so many ways] border area had it's recent hostilities, same as for the taftan border region.

The Makran Highway in Pakistan is wide open - it's been traversed back and forth many times. Here's nice (toll) road trip;

Karachi to Gwadar and Beyond

Once the Jewani area really gets going with all this new infrastructure (border, road & port) - the Gwadar port would be a great location to ship gear to/from Muscat - Oman.

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Arno
Overland by 4x4 truck

Arno,

The regional map I had was pretty useless so thanks a lot for all the detailed the information. I enjoyed the ride through the Bolan Pass - very scenic. I'd love to have seen this area in about a months time, but it's already getting a bit too hot for riding the old FN.

Cheers, Ron

Well done Oldbloke!
Never mind the bike, how is your body standing up to the travel??

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Dave

Hi Dave

I'm a skinny sod at the best of times so the body takes a bit of a hiding, but all things considered I'm in pretty good shape. Had a couple of days rest & in Quetta, gave the FN an overhaul and was soon itching to get on the road again. On the way south now to the border.

Cheers, Ron
The old bloke

@Ron
lets keep in touch via facebook or mails.No legal facebook in İran.If you need any support, some club friends available between Tehran/İran and İstanbul.
Your bike is being waited impatiently here.A police escort and some friends on bikes will be waiting for you at the entrance of İstanbul from asian side and escort you to city center and club.
Wish you all the best.

CORRECT - and that's even when they don't want to be hosted, with rapists, murderers and all the other overflow from the local prison keeping them company in the compound

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

Me and my missus ended up spending a night at a police station in Nushkin (3-4kms off the main highway, about 130 kms west from Quetta and very close to the Afghan border), because earlier in the day we met another traveler in Dalbandin, and very stupidly spent there so many hours, that when the road got worse (heading towards Quetta) we could not make it in daylight. Not a good idea to ride in the dark over there.

We weren´t carrying any sort of tent, and after a few hours of confusion, a friendly police officer took us to one of their working rooms and told to sleep there. But to visit the toilet, you needed to walk past the detained people´s cells, and there were at least 50 of them there, just packed in the small cells, there probably wasn´t enough space for them to even lie down. One of the guards pointed their way, and repeated ´Taliban, taliban´... but I´m sure he was only kidding

I re-read this thread, but I´m still uncertain
a) is the Taftan - Mir Javeh border now actually open or closed (open would be my guess)
b) is the more southern border option currently a realistic option for somebody, who is not from Iran or Pakistan.