GILGIT, May 13: A group of nine diplomats belonging to the Western countries concluded their week-long tour to the tourist spots of the Northern Areas on Monday amid tight security, informed sources told Dawn.

The sources said the diplomats, including three women, arrived here on May 8 but their identities and the news of their arrival were kept secret in view of security problems.

The group was taken to Hunza immediately after its arrival from Islamabad, where they spent three days in sightseeing and cycling from Karimabad to Sost along the Karakoram Highway, the sources said.

On Sunday, the group was seen shopping in a posh market here, which was cordoned off by the law enforcement agencies to avoid any untoward situation.—Correspondent