Reconsider travel to Pakan due to terrorism and sectarian violence: US in travel advisory
The US has urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Pakan, especially its restive provinces, due to terrorism and sectarian violence.
In a travel advisory issued on Thursday, the US State Department urged its citizens not to travel to Balochan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces, including the former Federally Adminered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping.
“Reconsider travel to Pakan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. Some areas have increased risk,” it said, putting the advisory to Level 3.
Level 3 travel warning is issued when a long-term or serious situation puts travellers and visitors at risk, and non-essential travel to the destination should be avoided.
The advisory also recommended Americans not to travel in the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.
Noting that terror groups continue plotting attacks in Pakan, it said a local hory of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence extrem elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian as well as local military and police targets.
“Terrors may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tour locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrors have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past,” the advisory said.
Terror attacks continue to happen across Pakan, with most occurring in Balochan and KPK, including the former FATA. Large-scale terror attacks have resulted in numerous casualties, it said.
