The Karakoram Anomaly – Why is Gilgit Baltistan one of the safest places on earth?

It is common to hear the question about safety when traveling to a developing country. Just as most international travelers who visit Gilgit Baltistan claim it to be one of the safest places to travel, is the claim true? Why is the world-famous mountain region of Gilgit Baltistan so safe?

Gilgit Baltistan is where the three highest mountain ranges of Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayas stand together, resulting in one of the most spectacular adventure travel destinations on the planet. It is home to Wakhi, Khowar, Shina, and Balti speakers and those using Burushaski, a language related to none other. A land where hospitality knows no end and where every mile is an inspiration.  

Drastic progress has been made across the world in the past two centuries regarding education, technology, and the economy. Developed economies have been at the forefront of this advancement. For instance, in 2022, the crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK was 79.2. According to Russell Contreras, the justice and race reporter at Axios, 387.8 violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery) per 100,000 inhabitants in the US were reported, in the same year. Even with generally high literacy rates and enormous financial, technical, and human resources, the world’s leading nations have been unable to reduce crime rates significantly. Although it seems implausible that there is a region with almost zero crime rate, an anomaly does exist, and that too in the developing country of Pakistan.

Located in northern Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan boasts beautiful valleys and mountains, including the famous K2, the second-highest mountain in the world. Comprising Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang, and Ghanche, Baltistan’s total area is 31,000 km, and the population is 303,214. During 2009-2021, a negligible crime rate was reported here. In Ghanche, which has a population of 160,000, no crime was reported during 2007-2017. “The crime rate here is quite negligible,” confirms chief of police Jan Muhammad in Nisar Ali’s report on April 14, 2021, edition of Arab News.

Gilgit Baltistan isn’t coincidentally a safe region. Because of some particular factors, this region enjoys a safe-place reputation. 

Gilgit Baltistan is the land of centuries-old travel and trade routes and is the only part of Pakistan that borders and neighbors the four countries. Landlocked between the mighty mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and Karakoram, the region was only open to the outer world for three months in summer. Only in the 1970s, with the construction of a jeep road and better road infrastructure, the region saw significant exposure to the outside world and an influx of domestic and international tourists.

The region has a vibrant culture; e.g., Baltis have a rich culture of broqchos, swords, yakkha, and ghazal dances. When the raja is getting married, which is the sneopa, the marriage procession dance is carried out by pachones or the twelve wazirs that come along with the bride. 

Indigenous to the Karakoram region, polo has been a traditional and prevalent sport in Gilgit Baltistan since the 15th century. The rulers here introduced it to the other valleys while there were conquests beyond Chitral and Gilgit. The polo competitions are regularly held throughout Gilgit Baltistan, reinforcing a social bond among the communities. 

The architecture has its Mughal and Tibetan influences, while the mosaic architecture shows Buddhist imprints; hence the Buddhist style wall paintings are there at Sufi Khanqahs and forts. Buddhism is known for tolerance and Sufism, while Shia Islamic ideologies are pluralistic and inclusive in their non-violent attitude towards other sects and religions.

The region’s unique ethnic identity and geographical isolation are conducive for them to form strong bonds with family members, relatives, and friends. If someone finds cash, a bag, or a lost wallet, an advertisement is put up, or an announcement is made in the mosque to ensure that the lost property is returned to the owner promptly. Often, people leave their homes and shops unlocked because there is no concept of robbery or theft.

Strong identification of natives in social groups helps people strongly believe in their social moral system. This ensures a civilized society where the community adheres to and safeguards social standards.

A strong belief in the social moral system enables the people of Baltistan to adhere to the norms of conformity strictly, so there is a low tendency to engage in deviant behavior. The harsh terrain and climate reinforce their religious ideology, and the smaller population size and the valley-based community system strengthen their commitment to ethnic and cultural norms.

A social structure and environment of fundamental values motivate individuals to behave in a manner approved by their social group and reflects in their behaviors, such as the tendency among the Gilgit Baltistan population to refrain from criminal activities. The Shia and Sufi clerics have particularly played a vital role in the character-building of their communities.

The people of Gilgit Baltistan strongly identify with their region and unique culture. They consider all inhabitants of their region as their ingroup. Crime always has a victim; therefore, engaging in crime would be tantamount to negatively affecting the ingroup, and it would question the ingroup loyalty of the person committing the crime.

Despite some pockets of socio-economic poverty, generally, the people in the region are not greedy by nature and are content with what they have. The value of benevolence-concern for social welfare points to their tendency to avoid causing harm to their community or region and take care of the mountaineers and tourists who visit their region.

Tourists visiting the region to appreciate its beauty & unique culture also bring values and behaviors foreign to the local population. Consequently, the low crime rate in the area may be challenging to sustain owing to frequent exposure to alien cultures.

To safeguard the tremendous tourist potential of this beautiful region from harmful external impact, businesses and travelers should pay attention to mitigate the adverse external influences on the area. Let Gilgit Baltistan enjoy its reputation of being the safest place to be, a heaven on earth.