Is Pakistan Safe? What Travelers Need to Know

The terrorism threat in Pakistan has been greatly reduced in recent years – most regions are now safe to visit, but a few are still best avoided. Nomad Will explains the current security situation in one of his favorite countries.

The terrorism threat in Pakistan has been greatly reduced in recent years – most regions are now safe to visit, but a few are still best avoided. Nomad Will explains the current security situation in one of his favorite countries.

The current terrorism situation in Pakistan.

After years of instability and occasional acts of sectarian violence, Pakistan’s security is now solid, and the majority of the country has been safe for visitors for several years. Aside from a few areas, listed below, traveling in Pakistan is no more dangerous than traveling in neighboring India, and for women, Pakistan is actually safer than India.

What’s more, the parts of the country that attract the most travelers – such as Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Gilgit-Baltistan, Swat Valley, and Kalash – are all now very peaceful places to visit.

But even though the majority of the country is safe, there are still some events and locations that are best avoided. It’s pretty easy to avoid these places, though, as they are difficult or impossible for foreigners to reach without an NOC (Non-Objection Certificate), a permission form which is more often than not challenging to obtain from the police.

Adding to the safety situation is this: any time the government feels even slightly uneasy about a foreigner being in a specific location, they’ll assign a police escort. Not exactly ideal for adventurous independent backpackers, but certainly another layer of protection, nonetheless.

Places in Pakistan travelers should avoid.

Former FATA Region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KPK)

Prior to 2018, an area existed in Pakistan known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that included several tribal agencies and six frontier regions.

Out of these, North and South Waziristan have been and still are particularly prone to terrorist activities and attacks due to their proximity to and relationship with Afghanistan.

All of the former FATA region is now officially a part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, yet tourists would never accidentally end up there due to numerous police checkpoints on the way in.

Torkham Border

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a border at Torkham, and it is officially open for immigration.

Numerous travelers with valid Afghan visas have crossed over from Pakistan in recent years without incident, but the Afghanistan side of the border is highly unstable and sees frequent bombings and other attacks.

If traveling to Afghanistan from Pakistan, I highly advise you travel by air, as Torkham is not a casual border crossing like Wagah over in Punjab.

Kohistan

Kohistan is a district of KPK that runs roughly from Dasu to Chilas along the famous (and rightly so) Karakoram Highway. At present, the region is relatively safe, but this is a very conservative part of Pakistan and in the recent past there have been terrorist attacks and extremist sectarian violence.

Like most other “unsafe” places in Pakistan, you will not be allowed to spend any time freely traveling here as a tourist. It is, however, highly likely you will pass through this part of Pakistan on your way up to Gilgit Baltistan. There are many police checkpoints where passport copies are taken, and in the unlikely event you find yourself stuck there overnight, security will be provided free of cost.

Azad Kashmir LOC

India and Pakistan have a difficult relationship, and nowhere is it more evident than Azad Kashmir. While the province itself is generally safe from terrorism and foreign tourists can now visit the cities of Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, towns and villages near the LOC (line of control) see occasional crossfire, attacks, and killings.

There’s really no need to worry about this, though – various checkpoints ensure that travelers don’t get anywhere near this turbulent border.

Balochistan

Pakistan’s largest and least-visited province is virtually off-limits for foreigners, due to various threats from Balochi separatist groups and the fact that the Pakistani government is not keen for foreigners to witness the questionable tactics involved with squashing these groups.

Public buses, luxury hotels such as the Serena, and local bazaars have all been the target of recent attacks in Balochistan. The city of Quetta, in particular, is quite unstable, and you will not be able to spend any time here alone. If you are crossing into Pakistan via the Taftan Border with Iran, you will have a full security team with you 24/7 all the way until Karachi.

The regions of Balochistan along the Makran Coastal Highway, including Pakistan’s magnificent Hingol National Park, are relatively safe to visit and are becoming more and more popular with domestic travelers. But as a foreigner, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to make it here without local connections and/or a NOC. This is, however, likely to change in the next couple of years.

Places in KPK that are safe for travelers

Western governments often specifically mention KPK in their travel advisories, declaring the entire province to be seriously dangerous. But the reality is, the few places that travelers can and do visit are now safe from terrorism.

Peshawar, Mingora, Swat Valley (yes, Swat Valley was very dangerous 12 years ago, but today it’s at total peace) Chitral, the Kalash Valleys and Upper Chitral are all stable and often included in foreign visitors’ itineraries. As of 2019, foreigners have also been able to move about these specific locales without escorts.