Pakistan - Is it safe??

[Liam Hall]

I've got a two week shoot in and around Lahore next month and I'm being advised not to travel there because I'm white. Apparently, there's a lot of ill-feeling towards white people due to the current murder case and diplomatic row caused by American CIA Agent Raymond Davis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12305049

Is there anyone in Pakistan who can give me their opinion on the current security situation? I've shot in Pakistan before and I'm used to working in hostile environments, but I'm told the foreign media are a target for peoples' anger - which makes it a little more dicey than the usual shoot...

Cheers,

Liam.

 

[Liam Hall]

It sounds like there's a lot of stuff going on over there. I don't know anything about it firsthand, but I wouldn't risk your neck unless the shoot is that important to you.

Paul, it's my job. I film all over the world, all of the time. In my experience, some of the most "hostile" places are also the friendliest. What's different here is I'm told I will be a target because I am white and because I am foreign media. I don't know if this is true or not and need to gauge how accurate this information is by asking in as many places I know; then I can make my own decision whether it's a risk worth taking.

 

[Jay Gannon]

Liam, some info passed onto me was that anyone with equipment is being hassled on the street, depends if your ok with a little more hassle and crowding and pushiness than is usual in Pakistan.

No outright violence to the guys I know but they are regulars in the area and well known enough.

Once you have your ass covered I'd say your all right.

Only disclaimer is that the guys I know are not in Lahore and are stills guys.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Liam, Westerners continue to be targets of opportunity in Pakistan. The diplomatic situation with the CIA contractor killing the locals has made a tenuous situation somewhat unstable. Here's the latest sit rep from State. They are due another update. Friends of mine were among the journalists attacked in Egypt. Unless the money is great and the security is overwhelming, you might want to sit this one out. IMHO.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5269.html

If you go, take private security with you and disguise your ethnicity as much as you can. Do go into any area you haven't studied well and know by memory and leave yourself at least three escape routes at all times. Good luck.

 

[Liam Hall]

Hi Liam I would not recommend it from all the feed back I am getting, I will call you

Look forward to your call Rik - I'm around until Friday evening - when I fly to Dubai

Liam, some info passed onto me was that anyone with equipment is being hassled on the street, depends if your ok with a little more hassle and crowding and pushiness than is usual in Pakistan.

That tallies with what I'm hearing Jay.

Liam
I shoot all over the world too and have shot in dicey locations and my feeling about my responsibilities to the crew and myself is that in the end its just a television program and not worth anyone being injured (or god forbid, killed). I have made films in Iran, Iraq, southern Lebanon, the west bank, and many other places and I have always deeply regretted the times when I allowed myself to put the crew in jeopardy.

Hey Rob, I've shot in South Lebanon too - just after the Israeli tanks flattened most of it - the people there are very friendly and that's kind of my point. The news and "official" advice can often give a misleading view of a place which is why I want to hear from anyone with current knowledge of the situation in Pakistan, but real knowledge, not the Fox news kind.

I do share your concerns about crew safety. We will have an armed escort with us, my crew are Pakistani and my producer is Indian. I'll be the only white face on location and I'm told that I would be the only one in danger. How true that is I'm trying to figure out.

You could go and have a simply marvellous time, or you could be kidnapped and beheaded. Just saying.

Great contribution George, you must be really well traveled...

 

[Liam Hall]

Liam, Westerners continue to be targets of opportunity in Pakistan. The diplomatic situation with the CIA contractor killing the locals has made a tenuous situation somewhat unstable. Here's the latest sit rep from State. They are due another update. Friends of mine were among the journalists attacked in Egypt. Unless the money is great and the security is overwhelming, you might want to sit this one out. IMHO.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5269.html

If you go, take private security with you and disguise your ethnicity as much as you can. Do go into any area you haven't studied well and know by memory and leave yourself at least three escape routes at all times. Good luck.

Thanks Jeff, all good sound advice and thanks for the link; it's similar advice to the UK Foreign Office - which I usually find surprisingly inaccurate.

 

[Rob Gardner]

While it may seem meaningful to try to produce media that might change the minds of the bigoted blockheads out in the world (not speaking specifically of George, of course) in the end you really have to consider if its worth it. If you have a family, do you want them standing over your hospital bed or gravestone proud of what your last story was or do you want to live to fight another day. I understand your motivations and I respect them, but even with local support and security, there is no controlling a crowd. You only have to be wrong once and I'm sure you have found out in the past that you were a whisker away from deep trouble in one of these places and didn't really know it until you were gone. I'll bet you have been lucky in the past. I know I have. I'd sit this one out. I respect all that is pushing you to take the job (not to mention the paycheck) and I know its a tough decision. I know how seductive it is to be surrounded by caring and helpful people in some far-off place and to believe that they will protect you and translate the cultural forces swirling around you to make sure you are safe. The reality is that sometimes bad luck comes to us all. Stay home.
Rob Gardner

 

[Tim Peck]

I was in Pakistan for 3 months in 2004. I was advised not to go at that time but was treated very well by everyone I met.
I have a very good contact based in Rawalpindi. Could pass on his contact details if you like. I'm sure he could give you accurate advice on the situation in Lahore.

 

[Liam Hall]

To ignore the risks is just stupid but Liam has experience on the ground in high risk locations so he was more looking for a 'how different is it to usual' as opposed to 'how risky is it' response, or that was how I read it anyway.

Yes, that's absolutely right Jay.

Though it's quite fun, I wasn't looking for a debate on the merits of shooting in hostile environments. Maybe someone else needs to start that thread! Though, on that note, it's worth mentioning that whilst I have shot in war zones and in some very demanding neighbourhoods around the globe, the closest I've come to actually being blown up was in Soho, London when some nutter let off a nail bomb just as I was walking back to my edit suite!

 

[Yasar Yagci]

If you concern street hustlers ,you can hire security guard for 10 or 20 dollars a day with shoot gun, its legal, as a Christian you can consume beer at hotel..
Happy Trails..

 

[Deniz Dikmen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olkvWSjbQZQ&feature=player_embedded

get some local friends joust like in that movie

 

[Jay Gannon]

No Jay I haven't and don't plan on it either. Does that mean I have no room to talk? I'll probably never plan on seeing Compton either the next time I'm in California.

No but Liam asked for specific answers from people will on the ground experience, anyone can go and read the sensational news stories, he was looking for on the ground experience and current info, and what hes got has been people telling him he's going to die and get kidnapped and beheaded!

Which is rubbish, Pakistan is a lovely country filled with a people who are amongst the most friendly and courteous people you will meet, as is Iran, India and many of the neighboring 'stans. Things are slightly above average in tenseness at the moment due to US interference in a sovereign nations business and as such Liam was asking for a quick update on the situation on the ground in relation to how this has escalated any tensions.

I'm certainly not saying don't talk in the thread, but please (And I know this sounds patronizing Im sorry) but educate yourself in how the world really is and not how the US media portrays it, I would honestly love to bring you to some of these terrorist filled, america hating, shariah law wanting countries and show you how the people there just want to get on with life, how they welcome you into their house for tea even though you just met them on the street 10 minutes ago, how they slaughter a chicken so that they can bring you a good dinner (That was Libya actually) and how they bring you into the mosque to show you their local artwork and customs. All without want of payment or without lambasting you for being a westerner.

Dont be fooled by what you see on the news, its so biased it makes me sick to see these beautiful countries portrayed as these places that no-one should ever go. Is it more risky than 2 weeks on a beach in Spain or Rio? Probably but its so much more of an experience.

Rant over, and Ivan I didint mean that to seem like an attack on you personally just more you gave me a reason to vent! =) :cheers2:

 

[Liam Hall]

Well said Jay.

I'm not sure why a simple request for information should cause so many people to lose the plot!

 

[Jay Gannon]

I don't know, drop me an email if you need a fixer in Islamabad or if your crossing any of the borders and I'll try and rustle up some numbers for you.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Liam Hall]

I don't know, drop me an email if you need a fixer in Islamabad or if your crossing any of the borders and I'll try and rustle up some numbers for you.

Good luck and stay safe.

Thanks Jay, it was actually my fixer in Lahore who raised the concern. He's someone I've worked with before, in occupied Kashmir - that was another place that was supposed to be off limits...

Anyway, I can see my insurance company shutting this shoot down, even the client doesn't!

 

[Jay Gannon]

Thanks Jay, it was actually my fixer in Lahore who raised the concern. He's someone I've worked with before, in occupied Kashmir - that was another place that was supposed to be off limits...

Anyway, I can see my insurance company shutting this shoot down, even the client doesn't!

Hmm in those situations my personal rule is if the fixer says we aint going into X district or across X checkpoint then we aint, I'd probably extrapolate out to if he doesn't think you should be there then...

I'll try and see if I can get some concrete news for you from Lahore, but generally the guys with boots on the ground are hard to get in touch with.

 

[Peter Moretti]

If the whole crew is locals, how difficult is it to try to blend in yourself?

 

[axel ebermann]

Liam,

Having shot in a lot of nasty countries make sure you have a RELIABLE support network there.
Get somebody from the US who is trustworthy and can provide you with family relations over there who will shelter, feed, drive and advise you.
They will be able to tell you when, what and where you can and cannot shoot.
An armed escort is nice - but usually worthless when the shit really hits the fan....

Generally I do not think right now is a very good time to go there - but hey - one can never pick and choose right ?

Good luck on your travels !!!

Axel

 

[Bill Anderson]

The situation changes by the day - the hour. Where the BBC says "Our correspondent says the incident could inflame anti-American sentiment" - Aljazeera news network says the incident "has triggered a new flare up of anti-US sentiment..." Not to mention the breakdown of scheduled talks between the US and Pakistan. And obviously a two week shoot gives you a higher profile.

 

[Peter Matthes]

Liam,

I think you need to consider a number of things.

How strong will your "on the ground" contacts be there?
What type of support do you leave behind ... to get you out of trouble if need be?
How important is this story to you?

I just saw a powerful BBC story by Katya Adler covering Joaquín Guzmán the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico.

It was an amazing story but ... despite her strong government connections ... she was definitely at risk.

Good luck to you ... no matter what you decide.