UK, Canada advise their citizens against travelling to different parts of Pakistan
Celina Ali
Islamabad: Citing the risk of terrorism and violent protests, the United Kingdom has updated its advisory, directing the British nationals against travelling to different parts of Pakistan – a day after the Canadian government issued similar directions.
According to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the British nationals should avoid all travel to Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts of erstwhile tribal area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The list also includes Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner, Lower Dir and Peshawar districts.
Meanwhile, the British nationals have been advised against using N45 from the north of the Mardan Ring Road to the edge of Chitral district – and the section of the N35 (or Karakoram Highway) between the Mansehra Ring Road and the N15/N35 Chilas Interchange.
On the other hand, the advisory covers the entire Balochistan province, excluding the southern coastal region, as well as the region in Azad Kashmir within 10 miles of the Line of Control (LoC), dividing the regions administered by Pakistan and India.
At the same time, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Gilgit-Baltistan, Arandu town and the road between Mirkhani and Arandu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the southern coast of Balochistan.
In the case of Sindh, the advisory applied to Nawabshah (Shaheed Benazirabad) and region located north of the city.
The British government has warned of violent political rallies and protests, some of which may have an anti-western dimension.
It also says that “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Pakistan” and added that there’s a high threat of terrorism, kidnapping and sectarian violence throughout the country, including the major cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi – with the westerners may be directly targeted.
The Canadian government too cited a threat of terrorism while describing the security situation in Pakistan as fragile and unpredictable.
In this connection, it warned of possible targeted killings and kidnappings, armed assaults, suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices.
About the possible targets, it mentioned sects or minority groups; government and military assets as well as personnel; places of worship; airports and other transportation hubs and networks; public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners; elections-related events and polling stations; and civil aviation facilities, including aircraft.
It advised against all travel to Gilgit-Baltistan and the areas within 50 kilometres of the border with Afghanistan and within 10 kilometres of China, India and Iran.
Entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa except Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Buner and Chitral as well as Balochistan fall in the category.
