Mountain climbing in a jihad zone was perhaps unwise. But with those zones expanding worldwide, there are fewer and fewer places, if any, that are free of the possibility of this kind of murderous jihad attack. “Nine tourists killed at mountain base camp in Kashmir,” from the BBC, June 23 (thanks to B.D.):
Gunmen have killed 10 people, including nine foreign tourists after storming a hotel in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Initial reports say five are from Ukraine, one from Russia and three from China. A Pakistani is also said to have been shot.
The attack happened near the base camp of Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth highest mountain, in Gilgit-Baltistan.
It is the first such attack on tourists in the region. A Sunni militant group, Jundullah, said it was responsible.
Police had at first said 10 foreign tourists had died. The motive for the killings is not yet clear.
Reports say those killed in the attack were nine trekkers and their Pakistani guide.
One person survived the attack.
Part of the Himalayan Range, Nanga Parbat, standing at 8,126m (26,660ft) is popular with trekkers and mountaineers.
‘Very remote’
The attackers stormed the hotel near the base camp shortly after midnight.
“Unknown people entered a hotel where foreign tourists were staying last night and opened fire,” Ali Sher, a senior police officer, told Reuters.
A senior official said the area, in Diamer district, had been sealed off and police were hunting for the killers.
“Since the area is very remote with no roads or transport, their bodies will have to be retrieved by helicopter,” he said….