Travel advisory to American citizens updated: US acknowledges improvement in security situation

United States on Friday updated its travel advisory to American citizens travelling to Pakistan acknowledging improvement in security situation since 2014, a move which Pakistan welcomed as a step in the right direction. "Pakistan has noted the update in the US Travel Advisory, which has acknowledged that "Pakistan's security environment has improved." This is a step in the right direction," Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in a statement in response to the update in the travel advisory on Friday.

She said that Pakistan has made resolute efforts to enhance security throughout the country, adding that significant improvement in the security environment has led the United Nations to re-designate Islamabad as a family station for its personnel.

Recently, the United Kingdom, while acknowledging the measures taken by Pakistan, has revised its Travel Advisory which is a welcome development, she said, adding that the positive decisions by Portugal and Norway with regard to their Travel Advisories for Pakistan also reflect the confidence of these European Governments in Pakistan's security environment.

"Pakistan has also been declared as one of the "Best Holiday Destinations for 2020" by an award-winning travel magazine 'Conde Nast Traveler," she said. "With Pakistan's liberal visa regime and conducive environment for tourism, we are confident that larger number of tourists from all over the world would be travelling to Pakistan," she said, adding that people of Pakistan are ready to welcome foreign tourists in the country.

She said that the improved security situation also offers opportunities for enhanced economic activity and foreign direct investment in Pakistan. Earlier, the US Embassy in Islamabad posted the level-3 "reconsider travel" on its official website.

Through the new advisory, the embassy advised the US citizens to reconsider travel to Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping. And also to the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.

"Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan. A local history of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian as well as local military and police targets.

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," it reads.

"Terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties," it adds.

However, it further stated that Pakistan's security environment has improved since 2014 when Pakistani security forces undertook concerted counter terrorist and counter militant operations. There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country. While threats still exist, terrorist attacks are rare in Islamabad.

It further reads: "The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Pakistan due to the security environment. Travel by US government personnel within Pakistan is restricted and additional restrictions on movements by US government personnel outside of US diplomatic facilities may occur at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly.

The US Consulate General in Peshawar is unable to provide any consular services to US citizens. Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or near Pakistan, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR)".