Should I go to Pakistan for a wedding?

[jay clock]

I was working in Africa earlier in the year and spent a couple of months with a Pakistani colleague. Nice bloke, gentle character, who comes from Peshawar (of naan bread fame).

He is getting married in December and has kindly invited me and a few colleagues to the wedding. This will be (as is their style) a huge affair with 4-600 people, and the most delicious food imaginable. Not much booze though, being muslims!

It will be pricey, but of most note is that a) he is not a close friend and b) Peshawar is not the safest of places. (His uncle is chief of police which might help)

The FCO says We advise against travel to the city of Peshawar and districts south of the city . http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/pakistan

Any idea what that really means? Certain death? You might get your wallet nicked? You might be the next John McCarthy? They mention kidnap risk, but the last cases quoted were over a year ago.....

Any views or experience?

J

 

[rockyraccoon]

I think most websites are overcautious when describing less unfortunate countries. Risks are but they are everywhere. The population is still suffering with the recent flooding.

It's a tough one! If he is not a close friend and the trip will be pricey + risky I would just send him & his wife a very nice present and a card/letter apologising for not attending the wedding. It quite acceptable due to the distance, time, costs, etc.

 

[thomas]

Probably wouldn't go all that way for a close friend

 

[Arch]

Something you might want to consider is insurance. I think some policies rely on FCO advice, and if they advise against travel to a place, it might be hard to get a policy to cover you)

(Not that I've ever been in such a situation, it's just something I've heard about on consumer programmes).

Looking at the site, I see they make a distinction between 'all travel' and 'all but essential travel', which implies to me that 'all travel' is an even more important warning. I'd be inclined to take it seriously. I would imagine that 'advise' is a very diplomatic way of putting it. I note that they also 'advise' against all travel to Afghanistan.

And the uncle being chief of police might help - or might make it even more of a risk - prominent target and all that.

 

[gavintc]

You are western, you will draw attention to yourself. There were recent NATO attacks in this area, this led to the insurgents setting fire to fuel tankers. The locals will not be terribly pro-Brit and you could find yourself in an awkward situation. Personally, I would not go. The risks will change from week to week and could become inflamed again.

 

[Aperitif]

Do they read talibanns at weddings in Pakistan?

Ride it, Jay!

 

[gemsno4]

Something you might want to consider is insurance. I think some policies rely on FCO advice, and if they advise against travel to a place, it might be hard to get a policy to cover you)

I think this is right. When we were travelling I checked with our existing travel insurance if it would cover Bolivia which at the time had a "no travel" warning. The insurance did not cover anything that happened when we were there - accident/theft/whatever.

We went anyway but kept away from the areas where protests were. I was a little nervous of not being covered though, and the Bolivia problem was only a general strike threatening to turn violent.

That part of Pakistan looks beautiful though so I can see the temptation to go.

 

[User169]

I took a vacation in Pakistan in 2004 and visited, albeit briefly, Peshawar. I was by really amazed by the warmth and hospitality of virtually everyone I met - Pakistanis are exceptionally keen that you come away with a positive image of their country.

It seemed rather safe then and we spent a few days in Swat which seems to be off-limits now. I really don't think I'd feel quite so relaxed now. Whilst I don't know if specific Westerner-targeted risks have increased, the general level of mayhem seems to have risen quite siginificantly. Also, if something goes wrong, it may very well go wrong in a major way.

I stayed with a friend in Islamabad who lived there for six or so years; he decided to leave shortly after the Marriot in Islamabad got blown up. Nevertheless, if you do go, the Khan Club Hotel in Peshawar is very nice.

 

[Globalti]

I've been to Pakistan many times though not in the last few years. For exporters it's just not considered worth the risk, especially since Daniel Pearl was murdered in 2002. My biblical Christian name might not help, I have been asked in the Middle East if I was Jewish.

I am still regularly invited to go to Pakistan but wouldn't go. A Pakistani wedding will last 3 days or more and you won't get much of a chance to see your friend, you would stay in an hotel in Peshawar, a grey frontier town that's full of unemployed Afghans who stand huddled under blankets, watching you. You would be at a loose end a lot of the time and not in the control of your friend so the potential for a mix-up and even a kidnap is pretty real. The classic technique, which has been tried on me in Nigeria, is the early phone call telling you that pickup arrangements have been changed and a car will collect you from the hotel at 8.00 or whatever, this takes collusion from the hotel switchboard operator to do.

As a foreigner you will stick out like a sore thumb especially if you are fair-skinned or blond-haired. With hundreds of wedding guests and people coming and going and gossiping, news of your presence will travel around the city and kidnapping is big business in Pakistan right now. If I was you I would send a nice gift and make an excuse, your friend will understand.

 

[jay clock]

I don't know if specific Westerner-targeted risks have increased, the general level of mayhem seems to have risen quite siginificantly. Also, if something goes wrong, it may very well go wrong in a major way.

Thanks for all the other comments too. Glad there were no "ooooh they are dodgy these foreigners" comments!

Think I will politely decline!

Jay

 

[Arch]

Thanks for all the other comments too. Glad there were no "ooooh they are dodgy these foreigners" comments!

Think I will politely decline!

Jay

Good call.

I think we're all smart enough to understand the difference between the majority of the people, and a few extremists. Bear in mind that not so very long ago, people would have said "Belfast! no, you don't wanna go there...."

 

[buggi]

i remember watching this programme and about 2 British blokes who decided to cycle through Afghanistan a few years ago. On route they bumped into an American cyclist and, cyclists being the friendly bunch they are, they all decided to cycle together.

What a great idea!

Er... Nope.

As westerners, they stuck out like a sore thumb. And they were surprised when they got kidnapped. Yes, that's right... SURPRISED!!!!


WTF!!!... there was a f***ing war going on! What did they expect????!!!

They were held for a few months and then luckily they were released. But they didn't have a very good trip in the end and, worse still, they never got their bikes back.

Seems like there is some sensible advice on this thread. I think you've done right to decide to stay at home. As said, also, your friend will be too busy getting married to look after you.

 

[Globalti]

In fact I would even add that, Pakistani hospitality being what it is, you might become a burden to your friend during a stressful few days as he will feel obliged to make arrangements for your security and transport.

 

[MossCommuter]

My mate's Dad is from Pakistan so I forwarded this thread to him. His response (verbatim):

i wouldnt go
and i'm brown

 

[Fiona N]

I'd very much agree with Globalti. I've travelled by bike (mtb) in northern Pakistan a few times and really love the area - especially further north around Gilgit and Chitral but I haven't been in the last few years as, although I wouldn't have too many worries in Gilgit or Chitral, to get there you have to travel through more problematic areas where my blonde European features stick out like a sore thumb.

Peshawar has always had a frontier town feel and now I think it would just be too risky unless you a) can blend in, b) have experience in the area and some good contacts.