Gunmen 'Kill 10 Tourists' in Kashmir

Sectarian violence linked to Gilgit, a popular tourist destination for wealthy Pakistanis and expatriates who live in the country, has increased in recent months Photo by Alamy

Gunmen have killed 10 foreign tourists after storming a hotel in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, BBC reported, citing the police..

Initial reports say five are from Ukraine, two from Russia and three from China. A Pakistani woman is also said to have been killed.

The attack is reported to have happened in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The reason for the shooting is not clear and no group has claimed responsibility so far.

The area is popular with tourists and home to the Nanga Parbat Mountain which forms part of the Himalayan Range.

The incident is thought to have happened near the base camp of the mountain.

"Unknown people entered a hotel where foreign tourists were staying last night and opened fire," Ali Sher, a senior police officer, told Reuters.

"They killed 10 foreign tourists and fled."

A senior official said the area had been sealed off and police were hunting for the killers.

"Since the area is very remote with no roads or transport, their bodies will have to be retrieved by helicopter," he said.

Correspondents say Gilgit-Baltistan, which borders China, had been considered one of the more secure areas under Pakistani control.

However, in recent years it has suffered a spate of attacks by militants targeting Pakistan's Shia Muslim minority.

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