The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has designated Pakistan as one of the countries considered ‘too dangerous’ for UK citizens to visit, as reported by Geo News citing Manchester Evening News. The FCDO’s list now includes a total of 24 destinations, with additions such as Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Belarus, and the Palestinian territories, all currently embroiled in significant conflicts. The list is compiled based on various risks like crime, terrorism, disease, natural disasters, and other threats to visitor safety.
Pakistan, along with other countries like Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, has been categorized under the FCDO’s red list, signifying regions where travel is advised against ‘unless absolutely essential.’ According to a report by Pakistan news website Dawn, Pakistan experienced a surge in violence-related fatalities and injuries in 2023, with 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations resulting in 1,524 deaths and 1,463 injuries.
The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were identified as the main areas of violence, with over 90% of total fatalities and 84% of attacks occurring there, including incidents ranging from terrorism to security force operations.
Additionally, sectarian violence saw a distressing increase, with 203 lives lost due to acts of terrorism targeting religious communities and places of worship. This escalation in violence marked the third consecutive year of such a trend since 2021.