Posted: Jun 23, 2006 10:02 am EDT
(K2Climb.net) The Chitral Valley in northern Pakistan has been closed to foreigners for security reasons and local authorities are refusing climbing permits in the region. The closed area, with the highest peaks of the Hindu Kush range, sits on the border with war-stricken Afghanistan.

Trich Mir and Noshaq forbidden

Several expeditions have been affected: Benjamin Peter had asked for a permit to lead another six British climbers on Noshaq Peak (7492m.); a 7-member Hungarian team had similar plans, hoping to climb Noshaq and Istor-o-Nal. A Greek expedition led by Nikolaos Kroupis, a French team led be Jean Annequin, and Japanese Ichiro Hosada planned to attempt Tirich Mir, the highest in the Hindu Kush at 7.708m,

The Hungarians confirm to ExWeb they quickly had to switch goals: Instead of Noshaq, they will go for Diran Peak, a 7266m mountain rising close to Rakaposhi. The team will leave Hungary on the first week of July. A Polish expedition reports they were forced to change plans as well: Instead of attempting Istor-o Nal (a 7403m peak in the Hindu Kush), they turned their sights to Pasu Sar (7478m) in Batura region after their permit application was rejected.

Tirich mir lies entirely in Pakistani territory, whilst Noshaq’s summit rises beyond the Afghan border.

Chitral valley is located in NW Pakistan. It is commonly acceded from Gilgit. The Hindu Kush peaks spread out over both Pakistani and Afghan territory. Several mountain passes and river gorges are very difficult to control by security forces. On the Afghan side, SE of Kabul and not far from the border are the Tora Bora mountains, an intricate net of caves and tunnels that have been used by the mujahideens since the Soviet ocupation in the eighties. The name became famous in 2001 as the hiding place of terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

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