Go or pass?

**slackula** · 13-01-2016, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Cujo

Ask what king of security arrangements will they make for you.

Assuming you mean 'kind of...' my guess would be that "not sending people to Pakistan" should be fairly high on the list of security arrangements.

**Kurgen** · 13-01-2016, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

The arms market was fascinating.

Do they sell legs as well?

**rickschoppers** · 13-01-2016, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Originally Posted by PeeCoffee

What does the Embassy of your nation advise you to do ?
(I understand that they always err on the side of being overly cautious.)

.

Good point.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan

Some parts definitely off limits. This bit took me by surprise though:

"Around 270,000 British nationals visit Pakistan every year. Most visits are trouble-free. "

"Most" being the operative word, so I would pass on the offer. It only takes being in the wrong place at the wrong time to wind up a statistic in Pakistan.

**Cujo** · 13-01-2016, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Originally Posted by PeeCoffee

What does the Embassy of your nation advise you to do ?
(I understand that they always err on the side of being overly cautious.)

.

Good point.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan

Some parts definitely off limits. This bit took me by surprise though:

"Around 270,000 British nationals visit Pakistan every year. Most visits are trouble-free. "

"Most" being the operative word, so I would pass on the offer. It only takes being in the wrong place at the wrong time to wind up a statistic in Pakistan.

When was the last time you were there?

**Henrie** · 13-01-2016, 01:08 PM

News just in

Blast near Pakistan polio centre 'kills 14' - BBC News

**david44** · 13-01-2016, 01:29 PM

I've been to Pakistan twice before the Taliban, as a non muslim who hopes to live long enough to see Ireland win the Rugby world cup I would't visit.

They couldn't even provide adequate security for their leaders or US diplomats.
If you have no family up to you.If you merely need a change of scene there's always the guest dungeon here.

Taxil and Kuttack Gorge great.I went up to Chitral and as Davis said the Khyber Pass, Landi Kotal were the train ends and then by road to Kabul and air to Moscow where they grilled the kebabs on open coals in the cabin, of course in era when all men smoked on planes !

While I'd normally look forward to any travel pictures you may be suspected of spying !

**Cujo** · 13-01-2016, 01:35 PM

Yes, the CIA keeps using the polio vaccination program as cover. Nasty business if you ask me.

But to the OP it depends where you're going as well.
Karachi in the south will be less dangerous than Islamabad in the North.

**Davis Knowlton** · 13-01-2016, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Henrie

News just in

Blast near Pakistan polio centre 'kills 14' - BBC News

Quetta - on the British Foreign Office list as "avoid all other than essential travel"....

**Cujo** · 13-01-2016, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by david44

I've br

they grilled the kebabs on open coals in the cabin, of course in era when all men smoked on planes !

Hope they let you open the windows.

**david44** · 13-01-2016, 02:05 PM

Bomb attack at polio vaccination centre kills 14 in Pakistani city of Quetta | World news | The Guardian

Balouchistan has always been doddy but Karachi Pindi,Deram Ismail Khan.
Iliked Sukkur and Peshawar but of course things were not crazy then, there were drug lords and family feuds but I used to travel around unarmed with blonde Swiss partner, in the 1970s though.

If it was my lad I'd say no, You are sensible enough to take advice, I'm not paranoid I've walked around harlem, driven around LA and Mid East N Africa but I'm sure a quick call to a private insurer will reflect the random risk after Afghanistan , far more attractive I can think of few places as tricky to be a whitey inc Irak Syria or Yeman

**kingwilly** · 13-01-2016, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Henrie

News just in

Blast near Pakistan polio centre 'kills 14' - BBC News

Ouch, well as long as he is not going to any scientific or medical centres.....

Ooh.

Double ouch.

**nidhogg** · 13-01-2016, 02:31 PM

^ LOL.

**nidhogg** · 13-01-2016, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by david44

If you have no family up to you.

Yeah - that is a big factor.

Got to let them know soon, but leaning towards a pass on this one.

**Gerbil** · 13-01-2016, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Pakistan is a dangerous place, inhabited by drooling savages.

Like Pattaya without the nightlife.

**Looper** · 13-01-2016, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Cujo

Ask what king of security arrangements will they make for you.

And make sure it includes secure airport pick-up and drop-off.

I was met at the airport by 2 guys in traditional Pakistani smock things.

They seemed to recognise me and ushered me into a bashed up old Mercedes without any introductions.

I then peered nervously out the window from the back seat as we zipped through Islamabad's unlit back-streets for 20 minutes before pulling into a high-walled compound. 2 metre high sliding gates were pulled shut. Barking dogs were silenced and a smocked up bloke with a rifle on his lap watched as I got out of the car.

I thought maybe I had been picked up by the wrong people.

But the compound turned out to belong to the contractor organisation working for Pakistan department of defence.

I only had to stay there one night before I persuaded them to let me move to the Marriott.

You will be fine nidhogg!

**Neo** · 13-01-2016, 04:44 PM

Have you considered Transmogrification?

durka durka mohamed jihad

**stroller** · 13-01-2016, 04:51 PM

I'd go for it, it's only for a week!

**Mr Earl** · 13-01-2016, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

I'd go for it, it's only for a week!

Yea me too, by in large the Pakistani folks are very hospitable.

The fanatics are few an far between I gather.

I hear Syria, Iraq, and Turkey are splendid as well... except for the isis fanatics, best give them a miss.

Visiting a big city in the USA is probably more dangerous.

**thaimeme** · 13-01-2016, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Originally Posted by stroller

I'd go for it, it's only for a week!

Yea me too, by in large the Pakistani folks are very hospitable.

The fanatics are few an far between I gather.

I hear Syria, Iraq, and Turkey are splendid as well... except for the isis fanatics, best give them a miss.

Visiting a big city in the USA is probably more dangerous.

...it's all a crap shoot.

**OhOh** · 14-01-2016, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

And make sure it includes secure airport pick-up and drop-off

How does one ensure one's "secure pick-up" is the real thing?

**david44** · 14-01-2016, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by OhOh

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

And make sure it includes secure airport pick-up and drop-off

How does one ensure one's "secure pick-up" is the real thing?

A quick crotch check will save you from a second katoey 'MissUnderstanding"

**Davis Knowlton** · 14-01-2016, 02:45 PM

^^I've always figured the driver holding a sign with my name and the name of the company on it was a clue.

**rickschoppers** · 14-01-2016, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Originally Posted by stroller

I'd go for it, it's only for a week!

Yea me too, by in large the Pakistani folks are very hospitable.

The fanatics are few an far between I gather.

I hear Syria, Iraq, and Turkey are splendid as well... except for the isis fanatics, best give them a miss.

Visiting a big city in the USA is probably more dangerous.

All countries "by in large are very hospitable." It is the few inhospitable inhabitants that you need to watch out for, even in the USA.

**mrsquirrel** · 14-01-2016, 05:17 PM

Get a runny bum and lose weight. Smoke some fresh hash, and buy lots of dodgy prescription pills go home.

**Roobarb** · 15-01-2016, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by thaimeme

...it's all a crap shoot.

Jeff, when you in particular say 'crap shoot' it conjures up a very different image. Agreed it's possibly fitting given the thread's topic.

Would I go? I've been only once and it was for work. I had fairly low expectations at the outset and by and large they were met. Work/hotel/work/hotel/etc then airport and fly out. I'm not a great one for doing tourist stuff on work trips wherever I am, but this was one place where the thought of leaving the hotel for an evening stroll didn't even cross my mind.

So long as the company taking you out there has experience with managing the security aspects then you'll be fine.

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