Guest Editor’s Note

I was beyond honoured when I was approached by Nandini Purandare to help edit and curate The Himalayan Journal’s special edition on the Karakoram. These towering titans have been a friend, lifeline and teacher since childhood. I was first introduced to these magnificent mountains in northern Pakistan in 1994 on a family trip. When I started my university studies in 2000, we made regular pilgrimages to these majestic highlands during our holidays in the absence of a spring break party culture in Pakistan, values I will be eternally grateful for. When I returned after years abroad in 2012, they were the first entities I ran to pay homage to.

After the events of 9/11, international travel, in general, and to specific regions, significantly declined as tourists grew ever more concerned about safety. Predominantly, travel to these remote and pristine areas of the country, deemed to be closer to conflict zones, nearly ceased. Rajab Shah, the first Pakistani to reach the summits of all five 8000 m peaks in our country, once discussed the significance of tourism in combating such extremism with me before his passing in 2015. He believed fostering tourism was a crucial strategy to combat Pakistan’s radicalism and alter our nation’s global perception. He emphasized that when people come together to explore and travel, they gain a profound understanding and appreciation for each other

Journeying in pursuit of adventure leads us to encounter diverse cultures, traditions, and individuals, enabling us to comprehend and connect with them on a deeper level. The tranquillity we seek in the wilderness would not seem so foreign if more people took the time to truly understand their neighbours in this interconnected world. By moving beyond the biases propagated by news and social media, we can view one another in an authentic light.

As mountaineering and trekking gain popularity in our Instagram era, western climbers find that more teams occupy the mountains, leaving fewer unexplored and wild paths. Nonetheless, several passes and peaks in Pakistan remain untouched, many situated in regions that conventional tourists might hesitate to visit. However contrary to common perceptions, the northern areas of Pakistan are home to some of the most welcoming, warm, approachable, and peaceful people.

Today, many still choose to visit these breathtaking regions, driven by the allure of uncharted territory, new routes to explore, or the desire for genuine adventures found only in places less touched by human presence and our ever-growing need for taking selfies without attached meaning. These travellers recognize Pakistan’s unique opportunities, especially in its Karakoram range, which houses a plethora of unexplored high-altitude peaks.

Over the years, my love for the place and its people has grown exponentially, but I remain deeply concerned about the challenges they face, both environmentally and socially. It is, therefore, crucial to understand and share their stories to keep the true spirit of mountaineering and trekking alive in the north.

In this issue, I am incredibly proud that we have contributions that lovingly cover the past, the present and the future of this gift of nature we have in my country. Working with Nandini Purandare, Steven Swenson, Bernadette McDonald, Vaqar Ahmed, Brigadier Ahok Abbey and Harish Kapadia opened my eyes to fresh perspectives. It added to my already overflowing love for these mountains, which connect our regions and our hearts.

I genuinely believe that it is only by understanding each other through shared experiences that we can uncover new paths, both in the mountains and in our societies. I earnestly hope that we can continue to learn from and about the people who make access to one of the most beautiful parts of the world possible for travellers and those who embrace the untamed spirit of nature.

HANNIAH TARIQ
30 July 2023, Berlin, Germany

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