US State Department Relaxes Travel Restrictions For Pakistan

The State Department has revised its Travel Advisory for Pakistan, upgrading it from “Don’t Travel” to “Avoid Unnecessary Travel.”

The revision is actually a progression from Level Four to Level Three, although not considered a major change, but a significant improvement.

According to the latest Travel Advisory, Pakistani security forces conducted counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. Pakistan’s security environment has improved since 2014.

It said major cities, especially Islamabad, have more security resources and infrastructure and security forces in these areas may be more active in responding to emergencies than in other parts of the country.

The review advisory pointed out that although threats remain, terrorist attacks in Islamabad are rare.

The notification urges US citizens to “reconsider their travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence”, but recommends extra caution due to code 19 as “the threat has increased in some areas.” Is’.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Pakistan, indicating a moderate level of COVID-19 in the country.

The notice added that if you have a US-approved vaccine, you may be at a lower risk of contracting codeine 19 and developing severe symptoms.

The State Department urged US citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnappings.

The advisory also advised not to travel in the vicinity of the LoC due to the possibility of terrorism and armed conflict.

The advisory reassured U.S. citizens that the U.S. government has limited capacity to provide emergency services in Pakistan due to the security environment, that U.S. government officials have limited travel within Pakistan, and that the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar provides consular services to U.S. citizens. Does not provide.

The change in the US advisory comes at a time when Pakistan’s national security adviser Moeed Yousaf and ISI director-general Faiz Hameed have completed their visit to the United States, but it is too early to say whether the developments are related to their visit. The reason is.

Their meetings focused on the political changes taking place in Afghanistan, with US officials seeking Pakistan’s cooperation in preventing the Taliban’s occupation of Kabul.

Pakistan not only assured Washington that it would not support the forcible occupation but also urged the Afghan government not to seek military victory.