From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Pakistan Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 15:05:29 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1567 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199712151008_MC2-2C05-5873@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 269 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Pakistan ============================================================ Pakistan - Public Announcement October 1, 1997 Following the recent brutal murders of five Iranian nationals in Rawalpindi, the Department of State wishes to remind Americans citizens in Pakistan of the importance of security awareness. Although we are unaware of any specific threat to Americans citizens, local police have indicated concern about the safety of American interests. Local police have based their views on recent history and the response to other acts of sectarian violence. In addition, they believe the incident in Pindi left no doubt that the foreign community is vulnerable. Further, police officials feel very strongly that there will be retaliation for the incident. The private American community should exercise extreme caution concerning personal security. The U.S. Embassy recommends that Americans maintain a low profile, vary travel routes and times for all required travel, avoid establishing any type of pattern, avoid flaunting one's American identity in public settings, be alert to surveillance, drive defensively and leave adequate space between one's vehicle and the one in front, immediately report any unusual activity to the U.S. Embassy or Consulates. Americans citizens are urged to register their presence in Pakistan with the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or at the U.S. Consulates in Karachi, Peshawar, and Lahore. For further information on travel to Pakistan, please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan issued June 6, 1996. This Public Announcement expires December 31, 1997. Pakistan - Travel Warning November 12, 1997 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan. The security situation in Karachi deteriorated seriously with the November 12, 1997 ambush murders of four American businessmen and their Pakistani driver. These murders, as well as the unsolved 1995 murders in Karachi of U.S. Consulate General personnel underscore the political and criminal violence to which Americans in Pakistan are vulnerable. The November 10, 1997 conviction of Mir Amal Kasi, and the conviction today of Ramzi Yousef in the World Trade Center bombing make Americans potential targets of retaliatory acts by their sympathizers. Further, the rallies, demonstrations and processions that occur from time to time throughout Pakistan on very short notice have occasionally taken on an anti-American or anti-Western character. U.S. citizens residing in Pakistan or U.S. citizens who travel to Pakistan in spite of this warning are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, or the U.S. Consulates in Lahore or Peshawar at the following addresses: The U.S. Embassy, Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad; telephone: 92-51-826-161 U.S. Consulate General Karachi, 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi; telephone: 92-21-568-5170 U.S. Consulate Lahore, Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees, 50 Empress Rd., Lahore; telephone: 92-42-636-5530 U.S. Consulate Peshawar, 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantonment, Peshawar; telephone: 92-91-279-801. For further information regarding travel to Pakistan, please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan dated June 6, 1996. No. 97-035 Pakistan - Consular Information Sheet December 12, 1997 Warning: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan. The security situation in Karachi deteriorated seriously with the November 12, 1997 ambush murders of four American businessmen and their Pakistani driver. These murders, as well as the unsolved 1995 murders in Karachi of U.S. Consulate General personnel, underscore the political and criminal violence to which Americans in Pakistan are vulnerable. The November 10, 1997, conviction of Mir Aimal Kasi and the conviction of Ramzi Yousef in the World Trade Center Bombing make Americans potential targets of retaliatory acts by their sympathizers. Further, the rallies, demonstrations, and processions that occur from time to time throughout Pakistan on very short notice have occasionally taken on an anti-American or anti-Western character. U.S. citizens residing in Pakistan or U.S. citizens who travel to Pakistan in spite of this warning are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, or the U.S. consulates in Lahore or Peshawar at the addresses listed in the Registration/Embassy Location section below. Country Description: Pakistan is a developing country with a parliamentary democracy. Tourist facilities are available in the principal population centers of the country. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. The visa must be obtained from a Pakistani embassy or consulate before arrival. Information on entry requirements can be obtained from the Embassy of Pakistan, 2315 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008, tel. (202) 939-6200. Travelers may also contact one of the Consulates General of Pakistan located at 12 East 65th St., New York N.Y. 10021, tel. (212) 879-5800, or 18050 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (310) 441-5114. If a traveler plans to stay longer than 30 days in Pakistan, he or she must register with the local police station and obtain a residence permit. This permit must be returned to the same office for an exit visa when the traveler is preparing to leave the country. Due to problems with inadmissible passengers, airlines may require travelers departing the U.S. to present multiple photographs and complete copies of passports and other travel documents. Areas of Instability: Rallies, demonstrations and processions occur from time to time throughout Pakistan on very short notice and have occasionally taken on an anti-American or anti-Western character. Karachi and the province of Punjab are experiencing protracted political or sectarian violence that, although not explicitly anti-American, poses a potential danger to American travelers. During the Islamic religious observances of Ramadan and Moharram, sectarian rivalry and violence often increase. Travel in the Northwest Frontier Province: Because of dangerous security conditions, caution is essential when traveling overland through the tribal areas to the Khyber Pass. Substantial areas within the Northwest Frontier are designated tribal areas and are outside the normal jurisdiction of government law enforcement authorities. Travel within these areas is particularly hazardous. Visitors risk being caught in armed clashes between feudal tribal factions or smugglers. Car hijackings and the abduction of foreigners are occasionally reported from the tribal areas. If visitors must enter the tribal areas, a permit from the Home and Tribal Affairs Department is required. The permit may stipulate that an armed escort must accompany the visitor. Even in the settled areas of the Northwest Frontier Province, ethnic, political, or sectarian violence may target foreigners. Travel in Punjab Province: 1997 witnessed a dramatic increase in sectarian violence within the province, resulting in hundreds of deaths. While Americans are not a target of the violence, the foreign community is not immune, as evidenced by the assassination of five Iranians in an attack widely believed to have had sectarian overtones. As a precaution against possible dangers resulting from sectarian violence, U.S. citizens are cautioned to avoid public transportation and crowded areas. In the past, anti-American demonstrations have occurred outside the American Center in Lahore. Travel in Sindh Province: In the areas of Karachi and Hyderabad there have been recurring outbreaks of ethnic and sectarian violence characterized by random bombings, shootings and mass demonstrations. These have resulted in deaths and the imposition of curfews. There have also been numerous incidents of kidnappings for ransom. In rural Sindh Province, the security situation is hazardous, especially in regard to overland travel. Foreigners have occasionally been kidnapped and, in one incident, the foreign kidnap victim was killed in a subsequent gunfight between police and bandits. The Government of Pakistan has recommended that travelers limit their movements in Sindh Province to the city of Karachi. If visitors must go into the interior of Sindh Province, the Government of Pakistan requests that travelers inform police authorities well in advance of the trip so that necessary police security arrangements can be made. Travel in Baluchistan Province: The Province of Baluchistan, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan, is notorious for cross-border smuggling. Armed battles between clans are frequent. Because there is a limited provincial police presence, travelers wishing to visit the interior of Baluchistan should consult with the province's Home Secretary. Advance permission from provincial authorities is required for travel into some areas. Travelers without permission have been detained by local authorities. Although Quetta, the provincial capital, is quieter than the interior, it has experienced serious ethnic violence that has led to gun battles in the streets and the imposition of curfews. Information on Crime: Crime is a serious concern for foreigners throughout Pakistan, with violent crime increasing faster than any other category. Carjackings, armed robberies, house invasions and other violence against civilians have increased steadily in the major urban areas. Lahore and Karachi, in particular, experience high levels of crime. They are large cities beset by poverty, high unemployment, and underpaid, under-manned police forces. Travelers in Karachi are encouraged to use hotel shuttles from the airport rather than taxis, which are subject to police harassment, especially after dark. Petty crime, especially theft of personal property, is common throughout Pakistan. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to South Asia." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Road Travel: Road travel in Pakistan is risky. Roads are crowded, drivers are aggressive and poorly trained, and many vehicles, particularly large trucks and buses, are badly maintained. In addition, roads, including major highways, are poorly maintained and often have numerous potholes, sharp drop-offs and barriers that are not sign-posted. Driving without experienced local drivers or guides is not recommended. For specific current information on road conditions along the Karakoram Highway, travelers may contact the Frontier Works Organization in Rawalpindi at tel. 92-51-566639. Medical Facilities: Adequate medical care is available in major cities in Pakistan, but is limited in rural areas. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment in cash for treatment. Supplemental health insurance that specifically covers overseas treatment is strongly recommended. Additional health information can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404)332-4565 or on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Drug Penalties: Penalties for possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Long jail sentences are frequently imposed and large fines are assessed in some cases. Legislation passed in 1994 makes trafficking offenses punishable by death. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register and obtain updated information on travel and security in Pakistan at the following addresses: -- In Islamabad, the U.S. Embassy is located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, telephone 92-51-826-161. -- In Karachi, the U.S. Consulate General is located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, telephone 92-21-568-5170 (after hours: 568-1606) -- In Lahore, the U.S. Consulate is located on Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees, 50 Empress Road, New Simla Hills, telephone 92-42-636-5530. -- In Peshawar, the U.S. Consulate is located at 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantonment, telephone 92-91-279-801. The normal workweek in Pakistan is Monday through Saturday, with a half-day worked on Friday. However, the U.S. Embassy and consulates are open Monday through Friday. No. 97-166 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan dated June 6, 1996, to add the Department of State's November 12, 1997 Travel Warning; to update information on areas of instability; to advise of increased sectarian violence in the Punjab Province; to warn of increased crime rates throughout Pakistan, and especially of violent crime in Karachi and Lahore; and to include additional risk information on road travel. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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