Government of Pakistan is very
conscious of the Nanga Parbat incident and has revised and enhanced security
measures for the international mountaineers, trekkers, adventure seekers and
nature lovers visiting Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa
ensuring their safety and security. This was stated by Manzoor Hussain,
President Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) at the Annual General Assembly of the
67 member countries strong International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation
- The Union of the International Alpine Associations, held at Pontresina, Alps,
Switzerland on 5th October 2013 which was hosted by Swiss Alpine Club to
celebrate 150 years of its existence.Earlier the General Assembly started its
proceedings with observance of one minute silence for the slain mountaineers of
the Nanga Parbat incident. President UIAA especially asked the ACP delegation
comprise Col.Manzoor Hussain and Karrar Haidri to make a statement on the Nanga
Parbat incident. Presenting Pakistan's case emphatically President ACP stated
that the local population of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, in general, and the
local mountain communities, in particular, are very peace loving, and friendly
towards guests and foreigners as part of their culture, traditions as well as
for their economic interests. No untoward incident against the visiting foreign
mountaineers, trekkers or tourists ever occurred in these areas in the past.
He informed details of the gory
incident and mentioned that 15 terrorists managed to reach the 4,200 m high
Base Camp as it is easily accessible from Karakoram Highway after two days
trek, and killed 10 foreigner mountaineers and one local Pakistani staff.
He mentioned that Army helicopters
arrived Dimer Base Camp immediately after first light and shifted bodies to
Gilgit. Later the remainder surviving mountaineers from Nanga Parbat Base camp
were evacuated to Islamabad by special aircraft for their safety and security.
An extensive aerial and ground search was mounted by the government to
apprehend the culprits,which could not succeed due to forests and terrain
difficulties. He informed the General Assembly that whole of Pakistani nation
was shocked by this heinous crime of the terrorists and Government of Pakistan
took a very serious note of the incident. On behalf of Government of Pakistan
and ACP, he once again expressed deepest regrets and offered condolences to the
bereaved families and the federations.President ACP enumerated various actions
taken and measures adopted by Government of Pakistan and ACP after the incident
including supporting the evacuated mountaineers, holding of condolence meeting
and condoling with the bereaved families. Government of Pakistan dispatched
remains of the slain mountaineers and their belongings to their homeland by
special Air Force planes. Security was also beefed up for the mountaineers and
trekkers arriving Pakistan after the incident. He informed the gathering that
mastermind of the incident and several culprits who took part have since been
apprehended by the Government of Gilgit Baltistan. More arrests are on card and
the culprits will be tried in the court soon.
They informed that Government of
Pakistan and the provincial governments,
with inputs from ACP have revised
their security plans and have decided to set up Karakoram Highway Police Force.
Additional police check posts are also being set up enroute for the safety of
the visitors travelling on KKH. All the personnel involved in mountain tourism
are being registered by federal and local provincial governments. Police check
posts are being set up on treks leading to the mountain valleys and the base
camps of the frequented mountain areas. Permanent police check posts are also
being established near Diamer and Rupal base camps of Nanga Parbat. He assured
that all security measures, both explicit and implicit are being made by
Government of Pakistan in this regard.
Explaining Pakistan's immense mountain
wealth to the General Assembly, President ACP emphasised that Pakistan is its
custodian whereas it is meant for the international adventure seekers to
benefit from it in all its forms and manifestations.
President ACP thanked Asian federations
of the Union of Asian Alpine Associations
(UAAA) for expressing their solidarity
with Pakistan by attending the UAAA General
Assembly held recently at Islamabad on
30th September 2013. He also thanked President UIAA for visiting Islamabad to
participate in the UAAA General Assembly on ACP invitation. He mentioned that
aim of the terrorists was to deter and discourage the
mountaineers from their passion of
climbing in Pakistan, at the same time harming the local mountain communities.
He emphasised that these negative objectives can only be thwarted by increased
visitation to the Pakistan's mountain areas by mountaineers, trekkers and adventure
seekers from all over the world. He urged the UIAA to support Pakistan in the matter,
especially during 2014 when Pakistan shall be celebrating 60th anniversary of
the first ascent of K2 8611-M.
The speech of President ACP was
supported by a slide show of the exquisite mountains and landscape of Gilgit
Baltistan snapped by famous photographer and ACP Executive Council member Mr
Karrar Haidri,who was part of the two members ACP delegation to the General
Assembly.
Statement by Manzoor
Hussain, President Alpine Club of Pakistan
on Nanga Parbat
incident at UIAA General Assembly
Pontresina,
Switzerland - 5th October 2013
Mr Frits VRIJLANDT President UIAA,
distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to make a statement on behalf of
Government of Pakistan and Alpine Club of Pakistan about the unfortunate
tragedy which occurred at Nanga Parbat in June this year. At the very outset I
wish to emphasise that local population of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, in
general and the local mountain communities in particular are very friendly
towards guests and foreigners as part of their culture, traditions as well as
for their economic interests. They always treat guests as God's blessing. No
untoward or unfortunate incident against the visiting foreign mountaineers,
trekkers or tourists ever occurred in
these areas prior to Nanga Parbat
incident. This incident happened on the night of 22nd June 13 at about 22:30 pm
by terrorists who arrived at the Diamer Base Camp, which is accessible from the
Karakoram Highway after two day's trek. These 15 terrorists dressed in local
paramilitary forces Gilgit Scouts uniform reached the 4,200 m high base camp
after forcing two local porters to guide them. After taking all mountaineers
and their staff out of tents they first looted them and later brutally killed
10 foreign mountaineers and one Pakistani staff member. Five of the local
mountaineers, guides and staff were spared to tell the story. One Chinese
mountaineer managed to slip away from his tent during the incident. The victim
mountaineers included three Ukrainians, three Chinese, two Slovaks, one
Lithuanian, one Nepali and a Pakistani staff. The terrorists also destroyed
communication means and lap tops before they left the BC by mid night.
On learning of news of the incident on
23rd June morning everyone concerned
sprang into action. The local Army
helicopters moved the victim’s bodies to
Gilgit. All the mountaineers on higher
camps were asked to descend to BC and
were later flown to Gilgit and were
flown back to Islamabad on 24th June for
their safety and security. In the mean
time a mass aerial and ground search
was mounted to apprehend the culprits,
which was of no avail due to various
forests in the area and terrain
difficulties.
The whole Pakistani nation was shocked
and grieved on this unfortunate incident. The general masses of Pakistan, the
mountain communities and the civic society condemned this heinous attack on
foreign mountaineers. We in the Alpine Club of Pakistan were devastated over
this tragedy and undertook whatever was possible within our means.
At this juncture I, on behalf of Govt
of Pakistan, Alpine Club of Pakistan and my
own behalf express our deepest
condolence and sympathies with the bereaved
families, the concerned mountaineering
federations and the international
mountaineering community. May God
bless souls of these slain mountaineers
eternal peace in the heavens. Ameen.
Various actions taken by Govt of
Pakistan and the Alpine Club of Pakistan after
the shocking incident were:
ACP officials met all the remaining
depressed mountaineers evacuated
from effected Diamer base camp of
Nanga Parbat to Islamabad on 24th
June, interacted, consoled and assured
them about their safety and
security in Pakistan.
Held a well attended Condolence
Meeting on 25th June 2013 in honour of the
deceased mountaineers as well as to
express solidarity with their living
colleagues and to assure the
international mountaineering community
of Pakistan’s serious concerns on this
unfortunate incident. It was
attended by mountaineers evacuated
from Nanga Parbat, other foreign
and local mountaineers, the concerned
Ambassadors/diplomats, besides
ACP members. The meeting which was
chaired by a high ranking Govt
official was well covered by the
national and the international electronic
and print media.
ACP officials also condoled
separately with relatives of the deceased
Chinese mountaineers who arrived Islamabad
to collect bodies of their
slain kith and kin.
ACP condoled with UIAA, the
concerned country’s
federations/associations and the
bereaved families.
Government of Gilgit Baltistan with
the help of Army shifted of the
equipment and belongings of all
mountaineers from Nanga Parbat
Diamer base camp to Chilas by
helicopters. Further ACP coordinated it’s
road transportation to Islamabad, and
then handed it over to the concerned teams, including belongings of the
deceased mountaineers at Islamabad, in the middle of the night of 29th June in
the presence of Ukrainian Ambassador, Slovakian Counsel General, the local administration
and the concerned tour operators.
Coordinated with Pakistan
International Airlines with the support of the
Government agencies for provision of
extra flights and arranging top
priority seats on their flights from
Islamabad to Skardu/Gilgit and back
for the visiting foreign
mountaineers/trekkers to save them botheration
of the road travel.
Government of Gilgit-Baltistan
provided security measures to the visiting
mountaineering expeditions/trekking
parties into the region ensuring
their safety during road travel to the
main towns of the areas, further
provision of security to the mountain
valleys and access to the base
camps as coordinated by ACP.
I personally met all mountaineers
and trekkers arriving after the tragedy
during their mandatory briefing and
debriefing sessions at ACP for
reassuring them about their safety and
security.
Encouraged the Romanian mountaineers
to continue climbing the Rupal
face of Nanga Parbat by asking the
local government to set up a security
check post at Rupal base camp.
Government of Pakistan despatched
remains of all the deceased
mountaineers to their home countries
with full honours by the Air Force
planes. Later the Govt also despatched
the personal belongings of the
deceased through the Air Force planes.
The Minister Incharge for Gilgit
Baltistan who attended the closing session of
the UAAA General Assembly which ACP
hosted recently at Islamabad asked me
to inform you that Government of
Pakistan’s security apparatus till date has
apprehended the master mind and three
culprits of the Nanga Parbat incident
and arrest of the remainder culprits
is expected soon. The Govt is soon going
to bring these culprits to trail. He
also assured of the revised security measures
for the visitors to mountain areas.
Ladies and gentlemen, you can well
imagine the economic fall out of the
incident on the local mountain tourism
effecting the local mountain
communities. Out of the total 50
mountaineering expeditions which had
applied for and were issued climbing
permits, 11 were immediately cancelled
after this unfortunate tragedy. A
large number of trekking parties also decided
to cancel their trips to valleys of
Northern Pakistan. For the next year lower
inflow of mountaineering and trekking
traffic to our mountain areas is
anticipated.
Ladies and gentlemen, Pakistan is home
and rendezvous of the most
spectacular and magnificent mountain
ranges of Karakoram, Western
Himalayas and the Hindukush. Northern
Pakistan, namely the areas of Gilgit
Baltistan and Chitral is blessed with
over 720 peaks rising above 6,000 metres
including about 162 peaks rising above
7,000 metres and five eight
thousanders namely the 8,611 m high
rocky pyramid of Chogory or K-2, 8,125
m high Nanga Parbat, 8,068 m high
Hidden peak or Gasherbrum I, 8,047 m high
Broad Peak and 8,035 m high Gasherbrum
II. You all know well that we have
some of the longest glaciers,
enchanting valleys dotted with crystal blue lakes
and the roaring rivers. Gilgit
Baltistan and Chitral, therefore can well be called
paradise for mountaineers, trekkers,
adventure and nature lovers from all over
the world. We believe that nature has
made Pakistan custodian of these
mountain areas for the benefit of
adventure and nature lovers from across five
continents who wish to enjoy abounding
charm and challenge of our mountain
areas.
Government of Pakistan is very
conscious of the fact that until and unless we
have safe and secure mountain tourism
environment in the country we cannot
benefit the international
mountaineering community in their quest to climb
and face the ultimate challenge, and
benefit the local mountain communities
who are dependent on the inflow of the
mountaineers and trekkers for their
bread and butter.
Government of Pakistan, with inputs
from Alpine Club of Pakistan, is reviewing
the security procedures for the
visiting mountaineers, trekkers and adventure
and nature lovers which are:-
a
Registration and Police clearance of all Personnel Involved in Mountain
Tourism Measures are in hand
for obtaining police security clearance of tour
operators, guides and high altitude
porters. Registration of porters and local
communities who use the valleys
leading to mountain areas is also in hand. It is
important that all personnel connected
with mountain tourism and mountain
related adventure activities must be
registered at local administration or
federal levels and are security
cleared to prevent intrusion of extremist
elements in mountain tourism business.
b Access
to the Mountain Areas Accessing the mountain areas involves
road travel from Islamabad to the main
towns of Chilas, Gilgit, Skardu and
Chitral and their further road travel
to the intended mountain valleys. As a top
priority air travel is being ensured
for the mountain tourists in first instance to
avoid the long road travel. However,
measures to provide enhanced security
measures on main roads leading to the
mountain areas and valleys frequented
by foreign mountain tourists are being
undertaken by setting up of KKH
Security Force to patrol and secure
the Karakoram highway. Besides additional
police check posts are being set up
enroute. In addition, general scanning of
the private transporters operating from
Islamabad to the main towns and back
is also being made.
c Lodging
Places The lodging places at Chilas, Gilgit, Skardu, Chitral and in
other areas frequented by foreign
visitors are being registered alongwith their
employees. Further security is being provided
at the most frequented hotels,
motels or guest houses during the
mountaineering and trekking season.
d Access
to the Valleys leading to Mountain Areas
As demonstrated during the Nanga
Parbat incident, the terrorist have developed the capability of reaching the
heights and base camps of the high mountain.
Therefore, guarding valleys leading to
mountain valleys beyond the last villages/inhabitation and base camps is
essential. This is being done by
providing police security check posts
covering all trekks leading to the
mountain valleys and the base camps
with the authority to check and stop
unauthorised entries to these valleys.
In some cases like Nanga Parbat
permanent Security Posts are being set
up near the Diamer and other
frequented Base Camp like Rupal etc.
Ladies and gentlemen, the aim of the
terrorists attack on peace loving
mountaineers was to deter and
discourage visiting mountaineers, trekkers and
adventure and nature lovers to fulfil
their passion, and from visiting Pakistan.
And at the same time deprive the local
peaceful mountain communities from
their source of income. These insane
objectives of terrorists can only be
thwarted by measures being adopted by
Government of Pakistan for the safety
and security of the visitors to the
mountain regions, and by the continuous
inflow of the visiting adventure
seekers. We need support from the international mountaineering community to
negate the terrorist’s designs.
At this juncture, I am proud to say
that all mountaineering and climbing
federations of UAAA, in line with our
best Asian traditions and culture
participated in the UAAA General
Assembly hosted by Alpine Club of Pakistan
at Islamabad from 29th Sep to 1st Oct
to express their solidarity with Pakistan
and ACP. Inspite of fears expressed from
different quarters they chose to travel
to Islamabad where they enjoyed their
stay. I am extremely thankful to all the
Asian mountaineering federations, and
especially Mr Injeong Lee President
UAAA for asking the ACP to continue
with UAAA General Assembly irrespective
of Nanga Parbat incident. I also avail
this opportunity to pay my special thanks
to Mr Frits President UIAA for
travelling to Islamabad and participate in the
UAAA General Assembly at my
invitation. Mr Frits who has climbed extensively
in Pakistan knows our mountain
communities well. I am indebted to you Mr
Frits for this kind gesture.
In the end, suffice to say that
mountains shall be attempted and climbed till
the dooms day. Our beautiful mountain
areas shall be there for all of you - the
mountain lovers, to exploit and
cherish. You can fulfil your climbing instincts
and passions, and at the same time
support us in Pakistan and our mountain
communities by visiting our
challenging mountains. We need support of all of
you in the UIAA.
Thank you very much.
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