The advisory highlights that the security environment in Pakistan is fluid.
The United States has revised its travel advisory for Pakistan, advising its citizens to reconsider travel to the country due to a threat of terrorism. The advisory mentions the “immediate vicinity” of the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control on the Pakistani side due to terrorism and the risk of armed conflict, as well as the restive provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) due to a threat of terrorism.
In its updated travel advisory issued Tuesday after a periodic review, the US classified the country as Level 3, meaning “reconsider travel.” That’s just one notch below the final Level 4 category, which means “do not travel.” Level 4 was applied to areas in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA as well as the areas around the Line of Control.
The advisory notes that Pakistan's security environment is fluid, “sometimes changing with little or no notice” and that violent extremist groups continue to plan attacks in the country.
“Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties, and small-scale attacks are common. Terrorism and ongoing violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets, as well as local military and law enforcement targets. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist attractions, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted U.S. diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past,” the advisory said.
“Local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit. Being near a protest may draw the attention of Pakistani security forces. U.S. citizens have been arrested for participating in protests and for posting content on social media that is perceived to be critical of the Pakistani government, military, or officials. Internet and mobile phone service outages are common, particularly during protests,” he added.
In Balochistan, the advisory said extremist groups carried out deadly terrorist attacks while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, it added, saw terrorist and insurgent groups targeting government officials and civilians.
“Assassination and kidnapping attempts are common, including those targeting polio eradication teams and personnel of the Pakistan government's security services (police and army),” the advisory said about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former FATA.
As for the vicinity of the Line of Control on the Pakistani side, the advisory said that militant groups are known to operate in the area and both India and Pakistan maintain a heavy military presence on both sides of the border.
