US urged government officials, citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan

Washington, December 9: Pakistan is amongst those countries which provide safe haven to many terrorist organizations that spread bloodshed in India, US and in many other states. Therefore, US warned Pakistan to eliminate terrorism from its land but there are no efforts taken from a government of Islamabad. Looking at the threats, the United States on Friday advised its citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan, saying that foreign and indigenous terrorist groups continue to pose a threat to them throughout the country.

 

In a travel warning that came in the wake of increasing terrorist violence in Pakistan, the United States advised its citizens to defer all non-essential travel to the South Asian country. The fresh travel warning replaces earlier warning, issued on May 22.

Pakistan continues to experience significant terrorist violence, including sectarian attacks, the State Department said, adding that targeted attacks against government officials, humanitarian and non-governmental organization (NGO) employees, tribal elders, and law enforcement personnel were common in the country. The State Department also said that foreign and indigenous terrorist groups continue to pose a danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan.

The State Department referring to Sectarian violence said that it remains a serious threat throughout the country, and the Pakistani government continues to enforce blasphemy laws. Religious minority communities have been victims of targeted killings and accusations of blasphemy, it added.

The Department also added that insurgent and terrorist groups conducted numerous suicide bombings, hand grenade attacks, and ambushes on Pakistani security forces and civilians over the past six months in Balochistan.

The terrorists earlier have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past, and evidence suggests they continue to do so, the travel warning said, adding that terrorists and criminal groups have resorted to kidnapping for ransom. Assassination and kidnapping attempts are common throughout these areas, it added. The Department, in the end, said terrorist organizations operating in the area have not discriminated between government officials and civilians.

Importantly, in the year 2017, the following significant attacks have occurred: in Parachinar, an IED targeting the Tori Market killed 67 civilians and injured 75; in Jamrud, an IED attack targeting peace committee workers killed at least five civilians; in Charsadda, at least five IEDs exploded, injuring 14 people; IEDs targeting Peshawar Hospital injured five people; and in Peshawar the detonation of a “toy bomb” killed one child and injured six persons.