The United States has issued a travel advisory to its citizens to reconsider travel in high-risk areas in Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence.
In a Level 3 travel advisory issued on Thursday, the US has asked its citizens not to travel to Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping. It recommends that the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control is risky due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict. The advisory, cautioning its citizens that terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan, said that 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.
Noting that terrorists have previously targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities, it advised citizens to be aware of their surroundings and local events. “A local history of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian as well as local military and police targets. Terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA.
