The United States of America (USA) has issued a travel advisory for Pakistan for its citizens. The travel advisory has been issued in the wake of recent terror attacks. The travel advisory warns of risk posed by “terrorism and potential for an armed conflict”.
In the “Level 3” advisory, the US Department says “terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist attractions, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities”.
In the latest reports, Pakistan emerged as the second-most terrorism-affected country in the world in 2024.
Despite military operations, Pakistan jumped from the fourth spot to the second spot in the Global Terrorism Index. The country saw a 45% increase in terrorism related deaths. The total number of casualties rose from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024.
The number of terror attacks doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. This also marks the first time attacks exceeded 1000 numbers since the index was established.
The US State Department described the security situation in Pakistan as ‘fluid, often changing with little to no notice.
Read more: 16 terrorists killed, 13 civilians martyred in Bannu attack
“There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country,” it stated.
US government has also asked the US nationals to stay away from the places of protests to avoid scrutiny and arrests. Americans have been arrested for participating in protests and for posting content on social media taken as negative against Pakistan.
Last week’s Bannu attack claimed the lives of five Pakistani soldiers and 13 civilians. Sixteen terrorists were also killed in an evening terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment on Tuesday, 4th March 2025. Terrorists had rammed the two explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeters of the Bannu Cantonment in an attempt to enter the high-security zone on Tuesday evening.