State Dept advises US citizens against visiting Pakistan

Says terrorist groups continue to pose a danger to Americans

The US State Department has issued a travel advisory warning American citizens against all non-essential travel to Pakistan.

“Pakistan continues to experience significant terrorist violence, including sectarian attacks. Targeted attacks against government officials, humanitarian and non-governmental organisation (NGO) employees, tribal elders, and law enforcement personnel are common,” the advisory stated, adding that foreign and indigenous terrorist groups continue to pose a danger to US citizens.



“Evidence suggests that some victims of terrorist activity have been targeted because they are Americans. Terrorists and criminal groups have resorted to kidnapping for ransom.”

Warning against sectarian violence in the country, the advisory stated that the government continues to enforce blasphemy laws. “Religious minority communities have been victims of targeted killings and accusations of blasphemy,” it stated.

The latest warning replaces the Travel Warning dated October 7, 2016.