Should foreign travelers hide part of their Pakistan experience, in the interest of local populations?

In no country you can be asked so frequently a question like “What do you think about Pakistan?”. It is not an open question. The expectation is to hear the positive message you will deliver. But real life and real countries are more complicated. Particularly, when you have to talk about a state led by Imran Khan who waged months of a hybrid war against your homeland.

Futher discussion about how travel media present Pakistan

On August 21, 2020, Zark Masood commented on my article: “Can we believe in what travelers say about Pakistan? Are they accurate, fair and independent?”. His local feed-back brings relevant points requiring additional explanations. This is the purpose of the following discussion.

Can we believe in what travelers say about Pakistan? Are they accurate, fair and independent?

Pakistan is a new eldorado for Vloggers and Instagrammers, especially young attractive ladies, who enjoy a support they could not find in other countries. Authorities and national companies find, here, an efficient PR tool in their attemp for creating a country new image. On their side, these travelers can enjoy a mass of followers they could not reach in other less gender seperated societies, offering them the precious status of “influencers”.

Some reflections about the development of a responsible and community based tourism in Hunza Valley, Pakistan

The aim of the following text is to present an external view resulting from an independent travel, made in August 2018, using public transportations from Islamabad to Khunjerab Pass with stops in different places. It is also an outcome of discussions hold with the people living and working in this mountainous area of Northern Pakistan.

Tusion, a mountain village of Tajik Pamir

During the first days of August 2013, while I came back from Afghanistan, I met with Zhandiya from “PECTA” in Khorog. She was surprised to see such a fast return. I explained what limited my trip in Afghanistan. I said I wanted to get off tourist tracks and I wanted to share the life of local people. She suggested me to go to Tusion, which is a beautiful village in a scenic environment. Moreover, Tusion, not far from Khorog, is accessible by marshrutka.