Pakistan. An attack in the Himalayas targets mountaineers. Several Europeans killed (Maj2)
(BRUSSELS2) A dozen mountaineers died under bullets in the Himalayas in Pakistan on Saturday June 22 at 22 p.m. (local, 17 GMT). This is the first time that tourists have been targeted by an attack in a region (Gilgit-Baltistan) that has so far apparently been preserved (1). Taliban would have burst into the base camp, located near Diamir, wearing the uniform of "Gilgit Scouts" (2). The Taliban members of the Junood-e-Hafsa group claimed responsibility for their act - according to an AFP dispatch - to avenge the death of the number 2 of the TTP, Wali ur-Rehman, killed in May by an American drone fire in the north -western Pakistan.
Lithuanian, Slovaks, Ukrainians and 1 American
Contrary to the first information disseminated, there would be many European Union nationals among the deceased. The balance sheet was confused because we first spoke of 1 Russian, 5 Ukrainians and 3 Chinese. However, according to a Polish mountaineer, leader of the "Nanga Parbat International 2013" expedition, who sent a message on Sunday afternoon, 11 people died: a Lithuanian member of this expedition (who would have studied in Moscow) as well as 2 Slovak and 3 Ukrainian mountaineers (members of another Ukrainian expedition), 3 Chinese and two guides — a Nepalese Sherpa and a Pakistani.
Information confirmed by the local press, which specifies that all the victims have been identified by the Pakistani forensic institute. Among these would thus appear an American national (of Chinese origin) - as well as the leader of the Ukrainian expedition (3). The bodies were repatriated by helicopter and then by C-130 military aircraft to Chaklala air base in Islamabad before being repatriated to their respective countries.
The mountaineers were about to leave for the ascent of Nanga Parbat, the 9th world summit, culminating at 8126 meters, and located in Pakistan near China, by the West face. Some were experienced or very experienced and active in mountain rescue.
Comment: this is the first time to my knowledge that mountaineers have been targeted in a "terrorist" act. This new situation should encourage reflection and could reshuffle the cards. As in the Sahel, the Himalayas and other areas around the world, tourists are becoming "targets".
(1) Information to be taken in the conditional. An attack on a bus is said to have caused the death of around twenty people near Lake Lulusar, not far from there, in August 2012. Attack claimed by the Taliban in revenge for attacks on Sunnis by Shiites . And the region of Gilgit-Baltistan continues to be traversed by upheavals of independence. (2) A paramilitary force founded by the British recently integrated into the Pakistani armed forces (light infantry regiment). (3) In accordance with the rules in use on this blog, no name will be given without ensuring that the families have been informed. (Shift) The "?" appearing in the title has been removed. Sign that the information has been confirmed. And several details were provided overnight from Sunday to Monday as confirmations were given.
