The United States on Thursday warned its citizens to defer all unnecessary travelling to Pakistan while France's Embassy in Islamabad will remain closed on Friday (today), as the country is bracing for more protests against the blasphemous movie clip released in the US and the publication of sacrilegious cartoons in a French magazine.
Through a fresh travel advisory, the US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs for Pakistan warned American citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan where protests have started against the US, International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), and Nato.
Referring to widespread demonstrations and rallies, the message warned: "These protests and demonstrations are likely to continue. US citizens in Pakistan have been strongly urged to avoid protests and large gatherings." "The presence of al Qaeda (and) Taliban elements, and indigenous militant sectarian groups poses a potential danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan. Terrorists have attacked several civilian, government, and foreign targets," it said.
"The government of Pakistan maintains heightened security measures, particularly in the major cities. Threat reporting indicates terrorist groups continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where US citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit shopping areas, hotels, clubs and restaurants, places of worship, schools, and outdoor recreation events."
The travel alert further added that terrorists had disguised themselves as Pakistani security personnel to gain access to targeted areas. "Some media reports have falsely identified US diplomats - and to a lesser extent US and other Western journalists and non-governmental organisation workers - as being intelligence operatives or private security personnel," it said.
It further said: "Terrorists have executed co-ordinated attacks with multiple operatives using portable weaponry such as guns, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), suicide vests, and car bombs in Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi". It claimed: "Local authorities are generally less responsive and might not operate with the level of professionalism that US citizens might be accustomed to in the United States." Similarly, it said that the US government personnel travel between the Embassy and Consulates might be restricted based on security or other reasons.
"Movements by US government personnel assigned to the Consulates General are severely restricted. US officials in Islamabad are instructed to limit the frequency of travel and minimise the duration of trips to public markets, restaurants, and other locations. Only a limited number of official visitors are placed in hotels, and for limited stays," the travel advisory added.
It also urged the US citizens in Pakistan to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures and to maintain good situational awareness, particularly when visiting locations frequented by Westerners. The Mission reiterated its advice to all US citizens to take measures for their safety and security at all times, adding even peaceful demonstrations might become violent and advised Americans to avoid demonstrations.
It further said that US citizens seeking services from the US Consulates General in Karachi and Peshawar might also encounter harassment from host government officials. "Citing security concerns, host government intelligence officials frequently stop US citizens outside the Consulates and obtain their personal information before allowing them to enter or as they are leaving," it said, adding that US citizens might later be visited at their homes or offices and questioned about the nature of their business in Pakistan and the purpose of their visit to the Consulate. It further called upon the US citizens to apply for renewal of travel documents at least three months prior to expiration.
Meanwhile, Talking to Business Recorder French Embassy's spokesperson Marine Destrez said that the Embassy in Islamabad will remain closed on Friday (today) because of the instructions given by the French Foreign Ministry. She said that Pakistan is one of the 20 countries where the French embassy will be closed on Friday owing to possible protests against the blasphemous cartoons published in a French magazine. However, she added, the Embassy will resume work from Monday.
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