US State Department warning urges citizens to avoid Pakistan travel
The warning comes in the light of the protests in Pakistan over the controversial film Innocence of Muslims.
Earlier this week, similar warnings against travel by US citizens to Tunisia, Libya, Lebanon, Sudan and Algeria had already been issued by the State Department.
The warnings highlight protests and political rallies against the US, NATO and its ISAF force, drone strikes, and Pakistan's ongoing energy crisis.
Over the past week, there have been dozens of protests around Pakistan against the low-budget film Innocence of Muslims, killing at least two people. And for the first time on Thursday, protests in the capital turned violent.
Police fired tear gas and live rounds as the protesters, chanting "We are ready to die to safeguard the Prophet's (pbuh) honour," tried to break through a barrier of truck containers set up to block access to Islamabad's heavily guarded diplomatic enclave.
The area is home to most Western embassies, including the US, British and French missions.
The crudely made film mocking Islam, has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online, and more than 30 people have been killed in violence linked to the clips.
Earlier this week, the US ordered non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives to leave Sudan and Tunisia following violent anti-American protests sparked by the film.
The State Department has also updated its travel warnings for Algeria and Lebanon in the last week.
COMMENTS (13)
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and I was about to book my family vacation there
Well for whom the warning is, as if people flock into Pakistan. Oh i mean the warning is for CIA agents i believe.
@Hasan: Situation is not that bad. Don't think more than 50% will take the US warning seriously. Pakistan can still hope to get about 40 tourists this year.
A legitimate warning issued by US for its citizens. As a matter of fact Pakistan is no longer a safe country to live even for its own citizens.
why ban required? I guess nobody travels to Pakistan.
Who in their right mind would go anyway????
This is funny... and expected. India attracts close to 8 million tourists a year from all around the world, and we hardly 80. That too mostly disgruntled ambassadors forced to come here risking their lives or chinese businessmen buying local assets. Welcome to pakistan... but we are not sure if you can make it back safely.
:(
Has it not been this way for a while now? Why issue fresh warnings? What happens to the previous ones ? How long are they in effect? How long is this warning until? If the warning is never withdrawn why publish a new one? If they are time bound perhaps newspapers like ET should also publish when they are withdrawn?
Here goes the tourist, businessman and non resident Pakistani dollar that would have helped economy little bit. Protesters are helping Chiense economy as most of the American flags are made in China. Jay Leno said"If you hate us so much, how do you have a large supply of flags on hand?
How is this news? This has been on the website for ages
The crudely made film mocking Islam, has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online, and more than 30 people have been killed in violence linked to the clips a fool sitting thousands of miles away made a video (which should have been ignored by the people, if they were really peaceful to begin with) and posted it online, seeing this millions around the world went crazy and ended up killing there own people and destroying property worth millions in there own country.need i say more?
US State Department warning urges citizens to avoid Pakistan travel and India just signed a new visa agreement to do exactly the opposite.