Travel Warning: Pakistan

August 10, 1999
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Pakistan.

Recent information received by the U.S. Government suggests a continued need for vigilance on the part of American citizens resident in, or traveling through, Pakistan.

The U.S. Government continues to receive a growing body of information that suggests strongly that extremists based in Afghanistan are preparing to attack U.S. interests in Pakistan in the near future.

Given the presence of international terrorist Osama Bin Ladin in neighboring Afghanistan and the public sympathy and support for him in Pakistan, the Department urges all American citizens resident in, or traveling through, Pakistan to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

Further, due to recent threats against U.S. citizens in Pakistan, on August 6, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad decided to defer all official travel to the tribal areas of Pakistan's northwest frontier province, areas which lie outside the normal jurisdiction of the Government of Pakistan. At the same time, the U.S. Embassy urges that private Americans defer planned travel through or to the tribal areas.

Additionally, while tension between India and Pakistan over the military situation in Kargil, Kashmir, has declined, certain extremist groups in Pakistan have voiced opposition to the Government of Pakistan's role in the de-escalation. In the past, such groups have also issued threats against Americans, the U.S. Government and U.S. facilities overseas. One such group, the Harakat-Ul-Mujahideen, recently issued "a ban" against "the travel of all American citizens, including diplomats," to Kashmir in India. This group, previously known as the Harakat-Ul-Ansar, has been active on both sides of the line of control between India and Pakistan.

U.S. citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to register and obtain updated security information at the American Embassy in Islamabad, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, or the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar at the following addresses:

U.S. Embassy, Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad. Telephone 92-51-2080-0000.

U.S. Consulate General Karachi, 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi. Telephone 92-21-568-5170 (after hours: 568-1606).

U.S. Consulate Lahore, Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees, 50 Empress Road, Lahore. Telephone 92-42-636-5530.

U.S. Consulate Peshawar, 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantonment, Peshawar. Telephone 92-91-279-801.