How things have changed in a relatively short time. In the early 90s, we sometimes overnighted in Karachi with a departure of around 2.30 am. At the time, there were frequent exchanges of fire in the suburbs between the different warring factions (and we were instructed to stay above 3000' AGL until clear of the built up areas on approach to avoid ground fire).
We would all climb into the crew bus a little after midnight and the interior lights would be left on all the way from the hotel to the airport so that both warring sides could see that the bus was full of pink faces and therefore they should hold their fire.
Today, such a 'plan' would result in both sides selecting full auto and letting loose with every weapon available - or fighting each other to see who would kidnap the pinkies for a mass head-lopping.