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TTP Murdered 11 foreign mountaineers at Nanga Parbat base camp.

Last night one of the local tour operator was saying that it takes two days trekking to reach the site so the culprits who would be unfamiliar with the location are bound to be still in the area......he was requesting the authorities to carry out an aerial search .

Makes logic since after abducting the guides they managed to reach the camps, escaping back wouldn't be an easy task for the scum bags.
 
Last night one of the local tour operator was saying that it takes two days trekking to reach the site so the culprits who would be unfamiliar with the location are bound to be still in the area......he was requesting the authorities to carry out an aerial search .

Makes logic since after abducting the guides they managed to reach the camps, escaping back wouldn't be an easy task for the scum bags.
Really sad incident..may their soul rest in peace.Our government and army must make best supportive plans to track down these murderer.
 
Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Amid calls for a national security policy, the National Assembly on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attack on foreign climbers near a base camp to Nanga Parbat in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

“This is a deliberate attempt to undermine Pakistan’s image internationally, so as to portray it as an unsafe place for foreign tourists,” said the resolution moved by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the deputy parliamentary leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Sunday’s shooting was described as one of the worst attacks on foreigners in a decade.

It called upon the government to “immediately take necessary measures against these anti-state elements and re-assert the professional capacity of the security and intelligence set-ups and ensure greater coordination among them.”

The parliamentary leaders of all major parties supported the resolution which was passed unanimously.

Qureshi said the incident underlined the need for a national security policy and called for a mindset-change in order to deal with terrorism. He said the ulterior motive of the perpetrators was to defame and damage the image of Pakistan internationally.

“A message should go from this house,” Qureshi said as the government let the opposition move the resolution in order to send across a unanimous message over the issue. He said the recurring acts of terror at the time of withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan pointed to the designs of anti-Pakistan elements.

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Comment:

In the last one month a school bus full of college girls was blown up, patients in a hospital were shot dead, polio workers were gunned down, students in a Shia madrassa were massacred. Yet the parliament did not see it fit to call the TTP and LeJ thugs who took ownership for these events as anti-Pakistan. In fact, instead of rejoicing when the TTP thug, Wali-ur-Rehman, was droned, the top political leadership of Pakistan was out in full force protesting the hit and lobbying for talks over a cup of tea!

In contrast, nine foreigners get shot down by TTP, and it did'n t take Parliament more than a day to pass a resolution condemning the terrorists as anti state.

Simply amazing....

Are the lives of 10 foreigners killed more valuable than the 40,000 Pakistanis killed by the same anti-state militants? Why does it take the murder of foreigners for our spineless leadership to finally call a spade a spade??
 
10 foreign victims identified after Pakistan attack
By AFP Published: June 24, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The bodies of 10 foreign tourists and a Pakistani guide shot dead by gunmen in an unprecedented attack at a remote base camp in the Himalayas have been identified, officials said Monday.
One was an American with dual Chinese citizenship, three came from the Ukraine, two from Slovakia, two others from China, one from Lithuania and one from Nepal, they said.
It was the first attack on mountaineers drawn to the natural beauty and intrepid climbing of northern Pakistan, which until Saturday’s shooting was considered relatively immune from violence elsewhere in the country.
Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan claimed responsibility on behalf of Junoodul Hifsa, a new faction it said had been set up to kill foreigners to avenge US drone strikes on Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
The gunmen stormed into a base camp at the foot of Nanga Parbat, the second tallest mountain in Pakistan, and shot dead the climbers at point-blank range, reports said. One Chinese survived the attack.
The killings will deliver a major blow to foreign trekking expeditions, which provide the last vestige of international tourism in a country on the frontline of al Qaeda and Taliban violence.
The bodies of the dead tourists were on Sunday flown to Islamabad from where they will be repatriated.
 
Pakistan suspends expeditions after tourist massacre
By AFP Published: June 24, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday suspended expeditions on its second-highest peak, evacuating climbers from Nanga Parbat after 10 foreign tourists were shot dead by gunmen at a base camp.
Well-armed and well-prepared attackers dressed in police uniforms stormed the camp at the foot of Nanga Parbat late Saturday, shooting dead the climbers and a Pakistani guide at point-blank range, officials said.
The victims have been identified as an American with dual Chinese citizenship, three Ukrainians, two Slovakians, two others from China, a Lithuanian and a climber from Nepal.
It was an unprecedented attack on mountaineers drawn to the natural beauty and intrepid climbing of northern Pakistan, which until Saturday’s shooting was considered immune from Taliban and al Qaeda-linked violence plaguing other parts of the country.
“We are really shocked, traumatised and full of anger. Pakistan is known among the mountaineering community. It was a brutal massacre. These people were killed for no reason,” said Manzoor Hussain, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Around 40 remaining climbers on Nanga Parbat have been evacuated to the northern city of Gilgit with treks on the peak now unsafe, he told AFP.
“Local authorities have evacuated them. They have all been informed of this incident,” Hussain said.
“We are reviewing the overall security situation. The fallout apparently will be serious.”
Hussain said there would be no further expeditions on Nanga Parbat this summer and that requests for winter climbs would be subject to a security review.
“This season is over for them,” Hussain said.
It is a major blow to foreign trekking expeditions, which provide the last vestige of international tourism in a country where militants have killed thousands of people in recent years.
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan movement claimed responsibility for the shootings, saying they had set up a new faction, Junoodul Hifsa, to kill foreigners to avenge US drone strikes on Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
Hussain said the attack was well-planned, carried out by well-equipped and well-trained people familiar with the harsh terrain, with suspected local involvement.
“It took place at 4,200 metres. It has to be the work of well-trained people. It takes two to three days to reach (the camp). The body needs to acclimatise for climbing up. How they went undetected is a big question.”
Expeditions on other peaks in Pakistan higher than 8,000 metres, including K2 the world’s second highest mountain, would continue as the army was in those areas, he said.
The bodies of the dead tourists were on Sunday flown to Islamabad from where they will be repatriated.
Police said Monday that a massive search operation is under way to track down the suspects.
“The military, police, law enforcement agencies are all involved. The terrain is tough. Four helicopters are also combing the suspected areas,” police official Mohammed Naveed told AFP from the district of Diamer.
“This is the most peaceful area in Pakistan. Such an incident never happened before. We’re also interrogating local people. The operation will continue until we achieve the objective,” he said.
 
Remind me this


Almost 17-years after the murder of four kidnapped foreign tourists brought terrorism in Kashmir in international focus.


The six victims included two British tourists, Keith Mangan and Paul Wells; two Americans, John Childs of Simsbury, Connecticut and Donald Hutchings of Spokane, Washington; a German, Dirk Hasert; and a Norwegian, Hans Christian Ostrø. A note released by the kidnappers a day after the kidnappings said 'Accept our demands or face dire consequences. We are fighting against anti-Islamic forces. Western countries are anti-Islam, and America is the biggest enemy of Islam.'[3] Childs managed to escape and was rescued four days later.[4] Ostrø was beheaded by his abductors and his body was found near Pahalgam on 13 August 1995.[5] The deadbody was taken to AIIMS,New Delhi,where postmortem was conducted by Professor T D Dogra, who established the beheading as antemortem and reported that the words "Al Faran" were carved onto his chest.[6] The kidnappers demanded the release of Pakistani militant Maulana Masood Azhar who had been imprisoned by India and 20 other prisoners. Several national and international organisations issued appeals to Al-Faran to release the tourists. Representatives of the embassies of the victims' countries also visited Kashmir frequently to seek their release, without success. In December 1995, the kidnappers left a note that they were no longer holding the men hostage.[7] Mangan, Wells, Hutchings, and Hasert have never been found and are presumed to have been killed.
In May 1996, a captured rebel told Indian investigators and F.B.I. agents that he had heard that all four hostages had been shot dead on 13 December 1995, nine days after an Indian military ambush that killed four of the original hostage-takers, including the man said to have been leading them, Abdul Hamid Turki.[8][9]

 
Main problem is that many in Pakistan think that we are fighting US war, thus sending a wrong signal to the terrorists. Major political parties such as PML-N, PTI and JUI & JI are all equlaly guilty and indirectly responsible for murder of 50,000 or so innocent victims by these ruthless butchers.

An apt article published today:


Nothing but confusion


Amir Zia
Monday, June 24, 2013
From Print Edition


11 1 2 1


The writer is editor The News, Karachi.

Many innocent minds thought that the new government would at least have a plan, some strategy to tackle the twin challenges of religious extremism and terrorism that now pose an existential threat to the state called Pakistan. Alas, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s opening shots in the first couple of weeks in power fail to stir much confidence or give us hope.

The facts are depressing; since Sharif took oath as prime minister on June 5, there have been at least 10 major- to mid-level terror attacks and a spate of targeted killings across the country in which more than 150 people have been killed, with many more wounded. The victims of terrorism and religious, political and ethnic violence include two provincial assembly lawmakers – one each from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while others on this ever-expanding list are Pakistan Army officers and soldiers, policemen, Shia Muslims, an Ahmadi, members of various political parties and of course ordinary men, women and children.

Most of them had nothing whatsoever to do with any of the simmering conflicts within the country – from North Waziristan to Balochistan. They also did not invite or permit US drones to target Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, who successfully managed to bring the Afghan war on Pakistani territory. These civilians, seen as a legitimate and fair target by militants, just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Equally disappointing remains the new government’s response to the brutalities unleashed by the Al-Qaeda-inspired local militants and those committing barbaric acts in the name of Balochistan’s rights or under the banner of some ‘lashkar’, tehreek or the George Orwellian ‘peace’ committee in Karachi.

Our ‘lion-hearted’ prime minister, his ‘hawkish’ interior minister, the ‘talented’ brother, and even the smooth-talking information minister – all failed even to talk the right talk, let alone showing any signs that the government at least plans to take practical steps and a holistic approach to tackle the ghost of terrorism and extremism.

Yes, we all know that the new setup is still very new and in the process of settling in. The elected government has yet to come to terms with power and its various stakeholders. It is still struggling to make sense out of all the chaos around it. And most importantly, it has no magic wand to put back in the bottle the genie of extremism and terrorism – unleashed in the 1980s by Sharif’s one-time mentor and boss General Ziaul Haq – transforming Pakistan into the abnormal country the world knows today.

But the new government should have at least given a clear-cut policy statement, an outline of its strategy or even a mere expression of interest on whether it wants to confront the challenge of terrorism. If the answer is yes; then the question remains: how? However, all we got was a timid, meek, confusing and self-contradictory response at various government levels and a ‘meaningless’ silence from the prime minister himself.

His lieutenants keep giving the message that the government wants to talk with those ‘who are willing to talk’ and vow stern action against those who continue to remain on the path of violence and terrorism. At the same time, our new rulers and masters also frequently come up with one of the most fashionable policy statements of these unfortunate times – ‘dialogue is the only way to bring peace and put an end to terrorism’.

But haven’t we all heard, read and suffered such confusing statements countless times before? What remains unclear is whether the government wants to talk and fight at the same time or just talk and not fight at all. Will it impose any preconditions for talks with militants of different shades or first surrender to their demands that include freeing prisoners, pulling out troops from the conflict zones and handing over parts of Pakistan’s territory to them? All these questions merit straight answers.

The contrast between the single-mindedness of militants and the lack of direction on the part of the government is scary. While militants are on a killing spree our elected representatives overwhelmingly are of the view that the struggle against terrorism and extremism is not Pakistan’s concern. They want to believe that once Islamabad somehow manages to halt the US drone attacks and disassociates itself from what they call an ‘American war’, Pakistan will be back to normal. They also mistakenly think that the militants are organised under some broad monolith umbrella having a centralised control that can be switched on and off by pressing the right buttons. Such presumptions are flawed, dangerous and self-defeating.

It would be interesting to hear what the military leaders and their foot soldiers, who stand in the line of fire, have to say to these pearls of wisdom by elected and unelected politicians.

However, the so-called ‘talks lobby’ comprising religious and right-wing forces, many of which are sympathetic to the Taliban’s controversial version of Islam, are likely to become more assertive in their demand that the government should hold talks with the local militants following the fact that the US is now openly engaging with the Afghan Taliban as part of its exit strategy from Afghanistan. The opening up of the Afghan Taliban’s office in Doha is likely to embolden and encourage not just the pro-talk lobbies, but also the local militants as key Pakistani institutions and political players appear to be struggling for a consensus.

The only problem with this pro-talk narrative is that there is no parallel between Afghanistan and Pakistan when it comes to engaging with militants. In Afghanistan, a foreign occupation force is trying to strike a deal with a local force that dominates the majority Pakthun belt of that war-torn country. In Pakistan, the security forces are trying to establish the writ of the state in some fringe areas where local and foreign militants have taken shelter. In the Pakistani context, it is the question of whether the state is prepared to abdicate its writ from parts of its territory and allow militants to use it for terrorism within the country and across the world.

Are Sharif, Imran Khan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and others who plead the case for talks ready to settle in for the second option? The nation demands an answer. The military, which is by far spearheading the struggle against militants amidst allegations that it patronises some favourites among them, should think twice before committing to a position in the supposed ‘end game’ in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban and other Al-Qaeda-inspired groups take a lead from their Afghan counterparts who, as proven in the past, remain more committed to their pan-Islamist political agenda than obliging Pakistan. We tried and tested this approach in the run-up to start of the US’ more than a decade long great adventure in Afghanistan and found it wanting.

History shows that policies of appeasement and deals with non-state actors at the cost of the country’s constitution, sovereignty and political order always boomerang. The moment the state and its institutions show signs of fatigue and weakness in a conflict, militants get a psychological edge in the battle of nerves.

Our civilian leaders’ desperation to negotiate with those responsible for the killings of thousands of innocent people is nothing but an open admission of weakness. Should one take this desperation to hold talks with militants as an epitaph to Jinnah’s Pakistan? Or is there hope that the military and civilian leadership will be on the same page and do the needful – take the bull by its horns and save Pakistan from these forces of darkness? The armed forces should at least have the capacity to show some light to the elected ones to counter this internal threat and destroy their own Frankenstein’s monsters – or is this too a tall order?

Email: amir.zia@thenews.com.pk

Nothing but confusion - Amir Zia
 
Gilgit killings: China demands Pakistan take action
ISLAMABAD - The government of China has vehemently condemned the murder of its three citizens in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Officials said China issued a statement condemning the attack and calling for Pakistan to “severely punish” the perpetrators and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens. Gunmen stormed mountaineering base camp of Nanga Parbat peak in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan late on Saturday and shot dead nine foreign trekkers and a Pakistani guide. The raid killed five Ukrainians, three Chinese and a Russian. One of the victims also held a US passport, a US official said, without giving further details. It was among the worst attacks on foreigners in Pakistan. Pakistan's Taliban movement and a smaller militant group both claimed responsibility. - See more at: Gilgit killings: China demands Pakistan take action | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

I guess pakistan govt will go out of its way (and past practice) to take action in this case now. Even their official comment mentioned ''relations with china'' even when more ukranians than chinese were killed.
 
Stop living in denial.

The Army takes Military Aid from the U.S. This is the major piece of evidence to prove that they are mercenaries

The GoP takes aid, the Pak Army does not get a cent of the money directly. Your logic is flawed.

Ayub Khan:Gives military base to CIA against Soviet Union.

Also made the only dams we have so far, if it weren't for those bases, we'd have been living off generators since the 70s.

Looses golden opportunity from China-Indo War to snatch Kashmir.

Wishful thinking, strategically and politically impossible.

Yahya Khan: Failure of 71 war with 90,000 Prisoners stranded in East Pakistan.

Last I remember, it was ZA Bhutto that locked the NA on the day that the Awami League was to take oath. Sparked the insurgency that later lead to the tear away.

Zia ul Haq:

Hangs a democratically elected Prime Minister
Established MQM to counter PPP in Sindh
Built more CIA Bases in Pakistan
Motivated the locals in mosques for jihad.
With the help of U.S, established the Afghan Taliban
Free Arms.

Granted, he followed short-sighted policies, I wont argue with that point.

Musharraf:

Kargil adventure

As much Nawaz's idea as his.

Put democratically elected Prime Minister into Exile.

I really don't feel quite offended by that.

Volunteers to put Pakistan into War on Terror. Until now 40,000 Civilian deaths

War in our neighbourhood was bound to reach us, when your neighbour's house is burning, you don't tuck your kids to sleep, you bring out the hose and try to keep the flames from licking at your walls.

Allows U.S Drone Strikes inside Pakistan

7 Attacks during his entire tenure. All others during PPP's time in power.

Accepted in his book that he traded people for money.

Really not pushed, I'd have paid the US to take those people anyway. We're no short of terrorists over here in case you didn't notice.

Nawab Akbar Bugti Murder. Increased Baloch Separatist Movement

Bugti invited the Army for talks and killed those soldiers. He drove the nail into his own coffin.

Creation of Pashtun Militia in Balochistan to counter BLA.

The only reason that Pushtun areas are still stable and not a slaughterhouse like the rest of the province.

Red Mosque adventure

Should have been undertaken years before, no one can be allowed to challenge the state's authority and try to enforce their own laws, shelter terrorists, promote arson and the other 30 odd crimes they indulged in.

Makes MQM strong in Karachi by giving them Arms.

Musharraf gave them arms? Source?

Conflicts with the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Short sighted, granted.
 
Tourism is already at ground zero due to terrorism here.

The only aim of this barbaric naked terrorism by bhangee terrorist i that, they want to create bad blood and disrupt development project involving Chinese Companies.

One can easily guess why someone will disrupt China initiated projects or China Cos' involvment in these projects.

Quite myopic I must say. The brunt of the damage of these "bhangees" as you call them, is being borne by either Shias or other "Non Pure Muslims". Even though some may not consider these people to be precious as the Chinese, I would say that it is not just about the Chinese money or Chinese projects, albiet I understand why that may be hurting some Pakistanis more.
 
Killing of foreign tourists: 37 suspects arrested
GILGIT: The security forces have rounded up over 37 suspected persons during the search operation launched in different villages after killing of eleven persons including 10 foreign tourists at a base camp of Nanga Parbat in Diameer district of Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday.

The suspected persons taken into custody have been shifted to unidentified place for interrogation.

DIG Gilgit-Baltistan told media police, army and scouts are taking part in search operation.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people staged demonstration and sit-in at Siddique Akbar roundabout of Chilas, the district headquarter town of Diameer on Monday to condemn the killings, demanding arrest of killers. All the shops and other businesses remained closed.
Killing of foreign tourists: 37 suspects arrested - thenews.com.pk
 
We elected PPP, screwed ourselves, elected PML-N screwed ourselves, elected PTI, got JI, screwed ourselves, supported Army, screwed ourselves

How will we raise a new force?By getting rid of the Army - The Army is, I am persuaded, useless, they are politicians and imaginary strategists, they would have to have been for bargaining away 50,000 innocent Pakistanis for inflicting less than 5000 casualties on US/NATO -- a 10 to 1 - A good deal? a fair deal? a Necessary deal? remember it's not over yet.

I don't we need to worry about funding for a professional army - this ****** army lives off blackmail, the world will support a professional army over thi ideological army, as will the people of Pakistan

A new army? Are you delusional? Can you quote a single instance of such an instance ever occurring? It is impossible and remember that the Army is drawn out of the same people, it can only be as good as you and me. And as a nation, we are a rather poor lot. So you can draw up any number of imaginary new armies, they will all be the same, unless you plan to import some soldiers from any country you see producing soldiers that are "Professional" by your definition of the word.
 
Quite myopic I must say. The brunt of the damage of these "bhangees" as you call them, is being borne by either Shias or other "Non Pure Muslims". Even though some may not consider these people to be precious as the Chinese, I would say that it is not just about the Chinese money or Chinese projects, albiet I understand why that may be hurting some Pakistanis more.
We are taking the damages by these bhangees on ourself irrespective of shia sunni or whatever shyt the bharatis and others are trying to sell, for, these bhangees are targeting every Pakistani irrespective creed and color, even mosqies are not spared, BUT when without any reason these bhangees attack Chinese it means the bhangees have an added paid agenda of someone else too.

And YES we are more hurt when these terrorists attack our strong ally and friend China, we must be

A new army? Are you delusional? Can you quote a single instance of such an instance ever occurring? It is impossible and remember that the Army is drawn out of the same people, it can only be as good as you and me. And as a nation, we are a rather poor lot. So you can draw up any number of imaginary new armies, they will all be the same, unless you plan to import some soldiers from any country you see producing soldiers that are "Professional" by your definition of the word.

:) dont mind muse has some personal gurdge against army and he never tired to link up even aliens with our army.

sometime he gets funnier in this practice
 
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