United States and United Kingdom have issued travel advisories to their citizens in wake of deadly terrorist attack in Lahore that claimed 70 lives in Lahore and protest demonstration by a religious group in Islamabad. The US Embassy in Islamabad updated the travel advisory to the US citizens on Monday, advising the Americans nationals against travelling to certain cities and vicinities.
"Protests in Islamabad, which turned violent on the evening of March 27, are continuing today, March 28. The Embassy will remain closed on Monday, March 28", reads the security message on the Embassy website. "Even protests and demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. All Americans should avoid areas of demonstrations, and should exercise extreme caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings," it adds.
Through the message, the embassy also reminded the US citizens that there is an active Travel Warning for Pakistan issued on August 28, 2015, and a worldwide Travel Alert issued on November 23, 2015. US citizens are urged to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan.
"The Mission reminds those US citizens considering travel to or remaining in Pakistan despite this warning to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), keep a trusted friend informed of your movements in the country, maintain vigilant situational awareness, avoid large crowds, keep a low profile, and avoid visiting locations frequented by Westerners," it further reads.
It adds: "US citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures. Official US Mission personnel and visitors are not allowed to use public transportation in Pakistan and are not authorised to stay overnight in hotels in Pakistan. US citizens should exercise caution when travelling in the country, keeping in mind the high security threat level".
Meanwhile, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) also advised against all travel to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the districts of Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner, Lower Dir, Peshawar and districts south of the city, including travel on the Peshawar to Chitral road via the Lowari Pass, northern and western Balochistan, travel on the Karakoram Highway between Islamabad and Gilgit.
The FCO advises against all but essential travel to the Kalesh Valley, the Bamoboret Valley and Arandu District to the south and west of Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the city of Quetta, the city of Nawabshah in Sindh Province, and areas of interior Sindh to the north of Nawabshah.
"There is a high threat from terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan. There is a heightened threat of terrorist attacks, and kidnapping against western nationals in Pakistan. You should be particularly vigilant and take appropriate security precautions," the message reads. It adds: "Security forces in Pakistan remain on high alert following previous attacks. There may be increases in security force presence and restrictions on movement may be put in place at short notice". It further adds that around 270,000 British nationals visit Pakistan every year and most visits are trouble-free.
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