Northern Pakistan has been easily accessible since 1986, opening of the Karakoram Highway (shorten KKH); it is also called the "Friendship Highway" (Route of friendship), as constructed in collaboration with China.

On Karakoram Highway

Linking Islamabad to Kashgar in Chinese Xinjiang, it travels almost 1300 km in the mountains of the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Pamir. The highest point marks the boundary between the two countries, the Khunjerab Pass at nearly 4700 m. It is also the highest paved road in the world.

During its construction between 1966 and 1983, 900 people died. Landslides, floods ... The Chinese cemetery in Gilgit demonstrates the Herculean nature of the project. Today they are working on it again, to make it bigger and open Pakistan doors to Chinese trade. It is a new Silk Road, modern version, which should be completed in 2011.