My recent journey to Pakistan was one marked by tension, uncertainty, and a quiet sense of defiance. Just hours before my scheduled departure, missile attacks erupted as war between Pakistan and India intensified. My entire family strongly advised me against continuing with the trip. Most international flights were cancelled. Only Pakistan International Airlines—the very flight I had booked—remained operational, albeit with multiple delays that kept us on edge.
Still, something within urged me to go. After earnest prayers for protection, encouragement from friends who were travelling with me, and the reluctant blessings of my children, I departed from Kuala Lumpur. What should have been a 5.5-hour journey took over 10 hours, the route disrupted by military airspace restrictions. We finally landed in Islamabad, a city gripped by unease.
News channels ran continuous coverage of the escalating conflict—footage of casualties, threats from both sides, and footage of military deployments. At our hotel, we met stranded tourists from Thailand, their return flights indefinitely cancelled, their plans unravelled by the chaos.
"Sometimes, the most profound stories are born not from comfort, but from the decision to keep creating in the face of uncertainty."
Then, three days later, a ceasefire was announced. By then, we had reached the tranquil valley of Rambur, surrounded by the calm and hospitality of the Kalash people. We spent two days documenting the community’s preparations for the Chilam Joshi Festival, before continuing to Bumburet, where the festival was in full swing. There, the warm welcome we received was a powerful contrast to the tension we’d left behind.
I was privileged to photograph the entire celebration—an extraordinary display of vibrant costumes, ancestral dances, and collective joy. Amid such cultural richness and harmony, the weight of geopolitics seemed to momentarily dissolve.
Though the ceasefire was tentative, I remain deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the Indonesian Embassy in Pakistan, who ensured our safe passage through borders and cities.
This experience reminded me that even in the shadow of conflict, beauty and resilience persist. Sometimes, the most profound stories are found in the quiet determination to continue creating—even when the world threatens to fall apart.
