The United States (US) has asked its citizens to “reconsider” travel to Pakistan and issued a Level-3 advisory, listing armed conflict, terrorism, and kidnapping as the potential risks.
The “US Embassy & Consulates in Pakistan” issued the advisory on Friday. This advisory has come only a week after the earlier advisory, which had asked US citizens in Pakistan to stay alert and “keep a low profile”.
There has been widespread violence in Pakistan, mainly around the US missions in different cities, following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in US-Israel strikes on Tehran on February 28.
At least 25 people, almost all of them civilian protestors, have been killed in the country.
“Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to armed conflict, terrorism, crime, and kidnapping,” reads the advisory.
The advisory has asked the US citizens not to travel to Balochistan province, “due to terrorism”
It has cited terrorism and kidnapping for advising US citizens not travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, and “terrorism and potential for armed conflict” for the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC).
“Earlier, on March 3, the Department of State had ordered non-emergency U.S government employees and family members of the US government personnel for consulates in Lahore, and Karachi to leave Pakistan,” reads the advisory, adding, “There is no change to the status of Ambassy Islamabad.”
The advisory has warned the US citizens that terrorists “may strike without warning”, adding that the terrorists target transportation hubs, hotels, marketplaces, hospitals, places of worship, tourist spots, and government buildings.
The US government employees have been asked to remain well aware of certain guidelines while they are in Pakistan.
US government employees working in Pakistan are required to use armed escorts and armoured vehicles when travelling in certain parts of the country, both for official and personal travel.
The US government has a very limited ability to assist or provide services to US citizens in the KP Province, Balochistan Province, Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, and most areas outside of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
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US government personnel working in Pakistan must obtain special authorisation from the host government to travel to most areas outside of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
Additional restrictions on movements can occur suddenly and at any time. This depends on local circumstances and security conditions.
US government employees working in Pakistan are generally prohibited from attending most large gatherings, such as political rallies or religious ceremonies.
It (the advisory) has also asked the US government employees and citizens to stay alert by keeping a tab on the local media, avoiding crowds, varying travel routes and timings, and having a plan to leave in an emergency, among other directives.
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