In reply to Mr. Lee:
> (In reply to Trangia)
>
> I suppose it will all depend I how seriously the security services take this incident and what measures are put in place to prevent a repeat. I don't think it will totally stop climbers visiting.
I suppose you saw the Dawn article announcing that the Gondoghoro La has just been closed? Trekkers turned back etc. So right now the only way in/out is the Baltoro. Article had typical amount of bullish*t about trekkers going off 'set' routes etc. That kind of management is not helpful. The GLa was low-hanging fruit for ass-covering so that they could be seen to do something.
http://dawn.com/news/1021991/trekkers-barred-from-another-peak
I agree climbers may go back, but maybe not to the KKH. Possibly the draw of K2 is so strong that at 'best' what we can hope for is a military-secured route from Skardu up the Baltoro - nothing more. Given the Chinese shut off Xinjiang again this year for expeditions there is no northern alternative, unless they change their minds.
Of course now everyone is saying that only flying ISB-Skardu is possible, no road travel, but those flights were always a mess - unavailable for all sorts of reasons, not just 'weather'. That will have to change. So given tension in Islamabad, a fly-in only access to Skardu, then an approach only safe with military presence, up a single route, people may seriously question whether they want to climb there at all.
Worth remembering there are at least two expeditions in the Biafo-Hispar area currently climbing, in addition to whoever is up the Baltoro.