Given the increased likelihood of violence, the US Department of State has issued a Level 3 travel advisory asking its people to think twice before visiting certain regions of Pakistan.
“Do not travel to Balochistan province and KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) province, including the former FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) … and the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict,” the US State Department in a travel advisory issued earlier this week.
“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities,” the advisory read, urging travellers to stay vigilant because US diplomats and diplomatic facilities have been attacked in the past.
According to the state department’s recommendation, the US government has limited capacity to provide emergency services to its people in Pakistan if necessary due to the security environment.
The advice further notes that after Pakistani security forces conducted coordinated counterterrorism and countermilitant operations in 2014, the country’s security climate has improved.
“There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country. While threats still exist, terrorist attacks are rare in Islamabad,” the state department said.
It went on to say that due to the security situation, the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US residents in Pakistan.
“Travel by US government personnel within Pakistan is restricted, and additional restrictions on movements by US government personnel outside of US diplomatic facilities may occur at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly,” it added.
