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NOTE: THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS AN EXACT QUOTE:
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/pakistan_warning.html

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sat Sep 25 2004 03:23:18 GMT-0700.

Pakistan

September 24, 2004

This Travel Warning is being issued to update to U.S. citizens of the current potential dangers and the need to obtain Pakistani government permission for travel outside urban areas within Pakistan. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated January 29, 2004.

Due to on-going concerns about the possibility of terrorist activity directed against American citizens and interests, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan. The U.S. Consulates in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar continue to operate at reduced staffing levels. Family members of official Americans assigned to the Embassy in Islamabad and to the three consulates 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 Afghan border region. Their presence, coupled with that of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan, continues to pose potential danger to American citizens. Continuing tensions in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence against Westerners in Pakistan. As security has tightened at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their 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 for information on how to register given the special security measures in effect. 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, as well as keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel and ensuring that travel documents and visas are valid.

From time to time, any post in Pakistan may temporarily suspend public services for security reasons. Official Americans may be prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Pakistan due to security concerns as well as the need to obtain advance permission from the Government of Pakistan to travel outside urban areas. Therefore, they may not be able to render immediate service to American citizens in distress. The Embassy and Consulates websites have the latest information on more specific travel restrictions and conditions. 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 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. 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 Hill Rotary; 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 Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, on the Department’s internet website 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.

Return to Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings Page