Washington: The US government has suggested that its citizens reconsider travelling to Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. The restive provinces have received a special mention in the latest advisory.
"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. Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past," read the advisory.
The US State Department urged people not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) due to rising incidents of kidnapping. "Some areas have increased risk."
The advisory is a Level 3 travel warning when long-term or serious situations put people at risk. It suggests that non-essential travel is avoided. The government also asked people not to travel in the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) due to the potential for armed conflict. It further noted that terrorist groups and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilians and officials.