NOTE: THIS IS AN EXACT QUOTE:
http://travel.state.gov/pakistan_warning.html Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Thu Jan 29 2004 23:34:49 GMT-0800.
Pakistan
January 29, 2004
This Travel Warning has been updated to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan . This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Pakistan dated April 17, 2003 .
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist activity directed against American citizens and interests there. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulates in Karachi , Lahore , and Peshawar continue to operate at reduced staffing levels. Family members of official Americans assigned to all four posts in Pakistan were ordered to leave the country in March 2002 and have not been allowed to return.
Al-Qaida and Taliban elements continue to operate inside Pakistan , particularly along the porous border region. Their presence, coupled with that of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan , requires that all Americans in or traveling through Pakistan take appropriate security measures. Continuing tensions in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence. As security has tightened at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated the willingness and capability to attack more vulnerable targets, including facilities where Americans are generally known to congregate or visit, such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events.
U.S. citizens who travel to, or remain in, Pakistan despite this Travel Warning should register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or at the Consulates in Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi in order to enroll in the emergency alert system (the warden network). Persons wishing to register at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi should call that office to make arrangements for how to register given the special security measures in effect at that post. Information concerning updated travel and security information for Pakistan is issued periodically via the warden network. U.S. citizens in country should take appropriate individual precautions to ensure their security and safety. These measures include maintaining good situational awareness, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel and ensuring travel documents and visas are valid.
From time to time, any post in Pakistan may temporarily suspend public services for security reasons. Official Americans, at any given time, may be prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Pakistan due to security concerns and therefore, may not be able to render immediate service to American citizens in distress. The Embassy and Consulate websites will have the latest information on more specific travel restrictions. Many areas of Pakistan such as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the international border and the area adjacent to the Line of Control in the disputed territory of Kashmir are restricted for non-Pakistanis. Travel to any restricted region requires official permission by the Government of Pakistan. Failure to obtain such permission in advance can result in arrest and detention by Pakistani authorities.
Contact information follows for all four posts in Pakistan:
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located in the Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5; telephone (92-51) 2080-0000; consular section telephone (92-51) 2080-2700; fax (92-51) 282-2632, website
http://islamabad.usembassy.gov. The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, closed its public operations indefinitely due to security concerns. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should call the consular section in Karachi in order to make arrangements to access the Consulate. Their telephone is (92-21) 568-5170 (after hours: 92-21-568-1606); fax (92-21) 568-0496, website
http://usembassy.state.gov/karachi. The U.S. Consulate in Lahore is located on 50-Empress Road Sharah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Road; telephone (92-42) 636-5530 during regular working hours; fax (92-42) 636-5177, website
http://usembassy.state.gov/lahore. 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, website
http://Peshawar.usconsulate.gov. For additional information, consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan and the latest Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, located at
http://travel.state.gov. American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or Canada, and 317-472-2328 from overseas.
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