10 August 1999
(Cites growing indications extremists planning anti-U.S. attacks) (600) The State Department has warned U.S. citizens "to evaluate carefully the implications for their security" before travelling to Pakistan. The August 10 travel warning says the U.S. government "continues to receive a growing body of information that suggests strongly that extremists based in Afghanistan are preparing to attack U.S. interests in Pakistan in the near future," and notes the "public sympathy and support" for international terrorist Osama bin Laden in that country. The warning notes that, because of recent threats against U.S. citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan is deferring all travel to the northwest frontier region, which borders Afghanistan, and "urges that private Americans defer planned travel through or to the tribal areas." U.S. citizens in Pakistan are "strongly urged" to register with their embassy in Islamabad or with the U.S. Consulates in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. Following is the State Department text: (begin text) Pakistan - Travel Warning August 10, 1999 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Pakistan. Recent information received by the U.S. Government suggests a continued need for vigilance on the part of American citizens resident in, or traveling through, Pakistan. The U.S. Government continues to receive a growing body of information that suggests strongly that extremists based in Afghanistan are preparing to attack U.S. interests in Pakistan in the near future. Given the presence of international terrorist Osama bin Ladin in neighboring Afghanistan and the public sympathy and support for him in Pakistan, the Department urges all American citizens resident in, or traveling through, Pakistan to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Further, due to recent threats against U.S. citizens in Pakistan, on August 6, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad decided to defer all official travel to the tribal areas of Pakistan's northwest frontier province, areas which lie outside the normal jurisdiction of the Government of Pakistan. At the same time, the U.S. Embassy urges that private Americans defer planned travel through or to the tribal areas. Additionally, while tension between India and Pakistan over the military situation in Kargil, Kashmir, has declined, certain extremist groups in Pakistan have voiced opposition to the Government of Pakistan's role in the de-escalation. In the past, such groups have also issued threats against Americans, the U.S. Government and U.S. facilities overseas. One such group, the Harakat-Ul-Muhajideen, recently issued "a ban" against "the travel of all American citizens, including diplomats," to Kashmir in India. This group, previously known as the Harakat-Ul-Ansar, has been active on both sides of the line of control between India and 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: U.S. Embassy, Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad. Telephone 92-51-208-0000. U.S. Consulate General Karachi, 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi. Telephone 92-21-568-5170 (after hours: 568-1606). U.S. Consulate Lahore, Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees, 50 Empress Road, 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, U.S. citizens are encouraged to consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan. This replaces the Travel Warning dated July 16, 1999 to note the decision to defer official travel to the tribal areas of Pakistan's northwest frontier province. (end text)