IN THE COMPANY OF MOUNTAINS - 2003-06-08

Harmony is the key word in Gilgit, the land of mountains, green valleys, succulent strawberries and cherries. Phantastiche (Fantastic), an awe-struck German travelling in the PIA Fokker blurts out as he eyes several snow- covered peaks, merely 2,000 feet below the plane, and at least two even higher than the maximum cruising altitude of the aircraft. He leaves the cockpit and Captain Asif Khan invites me to move into the narrow space inside.