Washington: The US State Department Monday issued a Travel Warning for the number of American citizens residing in Pakistan and for those who wish to travel the country, advising them “be careful”.
According to the report, the Travel Warning, updated from February 2, 2011, noted that Americans who try to renew or extend their visas while in Pakistan “have been left without legal status for an extended period of time and subjected to harassment or interrogation by local authorities.”
The warning continues to point to the threat to Americans from al Qaeda, Taliban and militant sectarian groups throughout Pakistan. Although Pakistan’s government has increased security measures, especially in the major cities, it said, terrorists focus on places where Westerners congregate, including shopping areas, hotels, clubs and restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events.
Terrorists, the State Department says, “have disguised themselves as Pakistani security personnel to gain access to targeted areas” and some Pakistani media reports recently have falsely identified US diplomats, journalists and employees of Non-Government Organizations as spies or as private security personnel.
The Travel Warning includes a detailed list of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, the latest on May 20, when a US consulate vehicle in Peshawar was attacked, killing one person and injuring twelve.
Travel by foreigners to a number of areas, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA,) is restricted and the Travel Warning cautions that US embassy and consulate personnel sometimes are not able, because of security restrictions, to provide services for US citizens.
The US State Department also directed American citizens residing in Pakistan that register themselves with US embassy and consulates.
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