The Guardian

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Before we begin, just to let you know, this audio long read contains sexual violence and strong

language. How Western travel influencers got tangled up in Pakistan's politics.

Travel bloggers have flocked to Pakistan in recent years, but have some of them become too close

to the authorities? By Samira Shackle, read by Lucy Scott and produced by Esther Apokoujeni.

Long before she became headline news in Pakistan, Cynthia Dawn Richie was simply a tourist.

In 2009, Richie and American women living in Houston, Texas, took a trip to Karachi,

the sprawling mega city in southern Pakistan. At the time, Pakistan was beset by terrorist violence

and the travel advice of most Western countries could be summarized as, don't go. But Richie had

been persuaded by friends who knew the city. My Pakistani friend said, Cynthia, you've traveled

much of the world, but you haven't been to Pakistan. Why not come? I was like, oh why not? Richie

told me. After a couple of weeks eating seafood and sightseeing, Richie went back to Houston,

where she worked in communications and other roles for local government. The next year,

she made a few more trips to Pakistan, funded by various Pakistani American organizations.

Houston is twin with Karachi, and Richie told me that back then she represented the city as an

informal goodwill ambassador. As foreigners in Pakistan often are, she was immediately offered

exciting opportunities, working with local NGOs, advising the health department about social media,

giving lectures. That year she decided to move to Pakistan permanently. I just felt a kinship here

that I belonged here and had a sense of purpose, she said, when we first spoke earlier this year.

...