Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif swiftly condemned the attack in an area of the far-flung north not previously associated with violence or Islamist militancy that plagues other parts of the country.
Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the attack threatens to jeopardise future foreign expeditions by mountaineers, among the few international tourists who still visit a country often seen as synonymous abroad with al-Qaeda-linked militancy.
Police say the gunmen killed nine foreigners and a Pakistani overnight at a base camp for Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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"There were nine foreigners and one Pakistani. The incident took place around 10pm (0300 AEST Sunday). They were mountaineers and based in a camp," Diamer police official Mohammed Naveed said.
"Gunmen came and opened fire on them. It is confirmed that they have been killed."
He could not immediately confirm their nationalities, although state-run television PTV quoted police as saying they included Chinese, Ukrainians and Russians.
Police launhced a search but gave no information about the attackers and there was no immediate claim.
While Gilgit-Baltistan has seen bloody sectarian attacks targeting Pakistan's Shi'ite Muslim minority, no previous violence has been reported in such a remote part of the region.
