THE killings of foreign tourists in the Nanga-Parbat base camp in the region of Gilgit Baltistan is an incident which will further taint the image of Pakistan in the eyes of the international community.

Various countries were already giving travel warnings regarding Pakistan to their citizens.

But many lovers of natural beauty turned a deaf ear and kept coming to Pakistan to visit Swat and Gilgit Baltistan and to attend festivals in Chitral.

However, after the gunning down of tourists, all foreign visitors are going to avoid visiting Pakistan. The prospects of the tourism industry will also turn bleak like all other industries. Foreign direct investment had already dried up due to rampant lawlessness.

Local industrialists are shifting their businesses to other countries, including Bangladesh, due to the deplorable law and order situation.

Cricket teams are not ready to play in Pakistan in the aftermath of the ambush on Sri Lankan players in 2009. Due to this reluctance by foreign teams, huge economic losses were incurred by Pakistan.

Ultimately, the heart-wrenching incident, once again highlights how grave the menace of terrorism has become for us.

The state is being held hostage by a few groups having an extremist bent of mind. It is high time that the government realised the gravity of the situation and did something on a strong footing to purge our country from these terrorists.

WASEEM AHMAD Abbottabad