Southern Pakistan Go or No go
 

Anyone know what the current situation in the south from the Iranian border to Lahore?

I rode it last year on my own, on a motorbike. There is not much in between. The biggest worry is the part between Zahedan in Iran and the Paki border. However, the Iranians are very good at catching you and giving you a police escort if it is needed. I had a rigorous escort (4 guys in an openn truck, machine gun mount and all that) for the last part to the Paki border. There are two tribes near the border on the Iranian side that tend to quarrel, in which case they shoot at everyhting coming along the main road. When that happens, the cops are in the know. If it's calm, you can ride on your own. If it's bad, most locals take the smuggler roads to Paki and Afghanistan. Point is, just do it and see what the situation is when you're there. The cops will give you an armed personal escort in Zahedan as well. No payments necessary. There is also no fuel to be had, except on the baclk market (all the fuel gets smuggled to Afghanistan). The polics will make sure you don't pay too much on the black market. When are you crossing? In the summer it can get windy and the road from the Paki border to Dalbandin can get very sandy. 306 kms that will take you 8-10 hours. Dalbandin to Quetta is 332 km. No security issues on the Paki side, there's nothing there except a few villages in between. When you get to Dalbandin, get the first hotel on the right. In Quetta, Bloomstar hddd mm ss.s N30 11 21.2 E67 00 18.4. Check my website for more details.
Kevin

Cheers Kevin

We should be there about August. thanks for the advise is it better to stick to the East and go to Multan then Lahore before moving north to the KKH we have noticed that the Lonewolf expedition had problems as they stayed too close to the Afgan Border up to Peshwar. Whats your thoughts on it.

Andy B

Maybe better to take the main road to Multan. I went through Loralai and and Fort Munro, then from DG Kham to DI Kham. The road from DG to DI was great, but from Quetta to Fort Munro is hard going, with lots of road hassles and washouts. Wonderful experience, though. See the pictures ... I would probably take the main road to Multan.... The Tourist PTDC is pretty good in Quetta is pretty good, walking distance from Hotel Bloomstar. Bloomstar is where most overlanders end up when arriving in Quetta.

Thanks for the advise Kevin.

I was stopped almost 20-25 km.s outside of Quetta (Quetta-Karachi road) by cops.

They told me foreigners where not allowed in that direction, due to security reasons.

So, ı guess, there is a possibility that you wont be able to, even if you wanted to.

Indeed, passage is by not means guaranteed anywhere. My feeling was that they were pretty good with protecting people from violence. A lot of the places I visited (and where I had armed escorts) have seen recent bombings and what not. The Crown Plaza in Islamabad (they have beer!!) is guarded like a fortress. Mostly with roadblocks, I'd see if they had a gun and/or radio, in which case I'd stop. All they really want to do is speak English and push buttons on your handlebars. After a while, I just rode on if I didn't see them with a gun or radio.

Pakistan border crossing
 

Hi Andy

Im heading out that way and could be there at a similar time. For security reasons Im trying to hook up with other people to do the Iran/ lahore stint. Keep me posted on when you think you will be there.

Cheers Stuart

Hi stuart we will be there about Sept ish leaving london about the 16th June but we are in no rush.

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Pakistan army joins tribal fight mentions fighting in Waziristan, and I heard from a mate working in Peshawar that the situation isn't too safe around there either, especially in Kurram agency.

Hope this helps.

Hi, Im also planning to ride thru Turkey, Iran, Pakistan to India next late September / Early October, should be some flexibility in my schedule.. might possibly be a good idea to travel together if anyone´s going the same way, please drop me a line: pexa@mbnet.fi