http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/22/...html?rel=rosEP

This is bad news. My current plans are to pass through there in about 4 months’ time.

This could be a game changer. I sincerely hope not though ..

Needless to say, my condolences and thoughts go out to the families and friends of those killed and injured. They were, of course, just doing their job of escorting and 'protecting' a western overlander - free of charge.

This incident does, however, raise questions about 'responsibilities' (on both sides of the equation!)
.
My condolences the families and friends of those killed. They were just doing their job of course .. ‘protecting’ a western overlander. This raises a question or two about ‘responsibilities’ (on both sides of the equation!)

__________________
Right Way Round ...

Why? It is not the first incident there, recently.

Why not another route through this area? Why through Balochistan?

Surfy

__________________
About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

If you know better routes, I'm sure many would like to know what they are.

Thank you for responding.

Going south from Lahore around the bottom of Afghanistan is my second choice. I really wanted to go north via the KKH and then west through the Stans, but I fear I will get there too early in the season and find that the road is still closed. This northern route isn’t totally safe either of course. Besides, as you probably already know, going through the China section of the KKH is an expensive business, especially when you are not part of a group. It may be too late to organise this now in any case

Riding down to Multan-Sukkur-Sibi to Quetta and the Taftan / Iranian border, therefore, has become my alternative plan. I have been reliably informed, despite other recent chilling events, that it really will not be too much of a problem. Clearly there's some naivety going on here - on my part especially.

After yesterday's tragic incident at Mastung, how must that young Spaniard be feeling right now? At least six deaths, plus casualties have occurred, all members of his Pakistani band of escorts. With this in mind, I now cannot simply turn-up in that region, all wide-eyed - and no doubt unwanted - and ask more young men to put their lives at risk, just to self-satisfy my artless travelling ego? Under the circumstances, I do not think the Quetta-Taftan route can be an option for me now.

So what are the alternatives?

I am considering:

• Going down the eastern side of Pakistan from Lahore; well away from Afghanistan and Taliban territory. Then turn west and ride along the Makran Coastal Hwy and try to cross into Iran via the Mand-Pishin border, which is supposed to be opening-up according to a recent news article. If possible, this should be a safer crossing, compared to Taftan.

• Attempt to ship, air-freight ideally, from Karachi to somewhere well over and away from the Pak-Iran border; like into the UAE or Oman - and then ferry up from Dubai and enter Iran through the seaport of Bandar Abbas.

• Worst case scenario: whimp-out and forget Pakistan altogether; instead air-freight from somewhere inside India (say Mumbai) to some other airport west of Pakistan.

But I really do not want to skip Pakistan if I can help it, nor Iran for that matter.

Got some more suggestions / ideas.. anyone?
:confused1:

Cheers

Keith

__________________
Right Way Round ...

Hi Keith

We crossed Pak in 2011 and did the KKH to avoid the dodgy western provinces. When we left Oz heading for UK we hadn't finalised our route. We organised the China leg while on the road. Don't let the rumours cloud your judgement. Speak to the agents in China and get a quote. Our 6 day transit was approx. $2500 inc hotels, guide, driver for guide etc. Sure, more expensive than 'normal' overlanding but what price would you put on the dreadful experience that just happened.
It's not like the KKH is a hardship, yes it costs a bit more but the scenery is brilliant, the people lovely and the overall experience was the highlight of or 15,000 mile trip

Best of luck mate, have fun

__________________
www.wollongongtowoolwich.co.uk

Interesting reading... Quite a lot of scary stories at the moment..
While I'm positive that the "locals are friendly" there seem to be a lot of external influences.

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

"Going down the eastern side of Pakistan from Lahore; well away from Afghanistan and Taliban territory. Then turn west and ride along the Makran Coastal Hwy and try to cross into Iran via the Mand-Pishin border, which is supposed to be opening-up according to a recent news article. If possible, this should be a safer crossing, compared to Taftan. "

At least back in -07 when I went through there, the main road (Taftan-Dalbandin-Quetta) was actually considered to be the safest route, or the only one where the government has some sort of hold. Permits would have been required for the Makran coast route, and it was devastated by floods (or so I read, didn't go there myself).

It could be an option to research, but at least up until now, very few Westerners have gone that way (and unless it's changed just recently, you'd still need to cross at Taftan/Mir Javeh).

Hello,

yes the video is shocking,but it give us a good idea about the situation there.And the guy was realy lucky that he was traveling by car and not by motorbike.Because in the case he would be dead.

Mike

Sorry to disappoint you but the Taftan-MirJavah is the only working border between Iran and Pakistan for foreigners. All others are for the locals and even I cant cross it being a resident of Lahore.


Omar

Hi Omie

Just out of interest, what is your view on the reality of Mand - Pishin opening?

I drove the MCH in 2008, amazing place, but no sign of a working border crossing. Is Gwadar still idle?

__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

Hi Dan,
Although I have been hearing a lot about opening of new borders with neighboring countries nothing has materialized for decades. A few borders like 3 in Kashmir and (probably 2) in Balochistan have been opened for the locals to cross into the first city with permission of local authorities but even they cant go any further.
One day when all the stupid wars going on stop, all these will open, I hope within my lifetime.

Cheers
Omar

Any thoughts on traveling with a child? The southern crossings seems safer as further away from the tribal areas!

Forget the 'southern crossings'. It's Taftan, China or flying.

Northern Baluchistan has become very unstable recently. Travelling with a child would be highly irresponsible.

__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

Any new info about the southern border crossings between Iran and Pakistan? Still closed to foreigners?