Pakistan Travel Warning
Issued by US Department of State
Jan 28, 2002
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Pakistan.
Although the Department has authorized the return of all U.S. Embassy and Consulate personnel positions and family members effective on January 28, 2002, ongoing events in the region require that all Americans in or traveling through Pakistan closely consider the implications for their security and safety. U.S. forces are engaged in military action in neighboring Afghanistan, against the remnants of the former Taliban regime and the terrorist Al-Qaida network.
While the Government of Pakistan has expressed its full support for the international campaign against terrorism, some public sympathy and support for the Taliban and Al-Qaida still exist in Pakistan. The presence of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan requires that all Americans in or traveling through Pakistan take appropriate security measures. Events in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence.
Americans who reside in or visit Pakistan despite this warning should exercise maximum caution and take prudent measures. This includes maintaining a strong security posture by being aware of their surroundings, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes and contacting the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in case of any change in the local security situation. The Consulates in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi are open for American citizens services but not visa services. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is open for all services including visa services. However, from time to time, the missions in Pakistan may temporarily close or suspend public services as necessary to review their security posture.
The U.S. Embassy also urges all American citizens to defer travel to the tribal areas of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province until further notice. The Government of Pakistan requires all citizens of countries other than Pakistan and Afghanistan to obtain permission from the Home and Tribal Affairs Department prior to visiting these tribal areas which lie outside the normal jurisdiction of the Government of 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:
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, telephone (92-51) 2080-0000; consular section telephone (92-51) 2080-2700, fax (92-51) 822-632.
The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi is located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, telephone (92-21) 568-5170 (after hours: 92-21-568-1606), fax (92-21) 568-0496.
The U.S. Consulate in Lahore is located on 50-Empress Road near Shimla Road or Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road), telephone (92-42) 636-5530 during regular working hours, fax (92-42) 636-5177.
The U.S. Consulate in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar, telephone (92-91) 279-801 through 803, fax (92-91) 276-712.
For further general information regarding travel to Pakistan, U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan, available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.
This supersedes the Travel Warning for Pakistan dated December 13, 2001, in order to inform U.S citizens of the termination of authorized departure status of U.S. Embassy and Consulate employees and their family members in Pakistan and to update the security situation in Pakistan.
