WASHINGTON: The US Department of State warned Americans in Afghanistan on Monday about “credible reports of an imminent attack in Kabul in the next 48 hours”.

“The security situation in Afghanistan is extremely unstable, and the threat to all US citizens in Afghanistan remains critical,” said a message posted on the department’s website.

“The US government remains highly concerned about possible attacks on US citizens, US facilities, businesses, and perceived US and foreign interests,” it added.

The US Embassy in Kabul issued a similar message, urging Americans “to exercise extreme caution if moving around the city ... during this period of heightened threat”.

In a statement entitled “Emergency Message for US Citizens,” the embassy said it had “received credible reports of an imminent attack” but added there were “no further details regarding the targets, timing, or method”.

“Kabul remains at high risk for militant attacks, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, direct and indirect fire, and suicide bombings,” the State Department added.

A security source within the embassy told various US media outlets that the attack “may involve multiple assailants and car bombs” and was “classified as credible”.

The source added it had “not affected the normal embassy operation”.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry, told NBC News: “We take these reports very seriously and deal with accordingly.”

In a note on the security situation in Afghanistan, the State Department warned that travel to all areas in the country “remains unsafe due to ongoing military combat operations, landmines, banditry, armed rivalry between political and tribal groups, and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne or other improvised explosive devices”.

It noted that extremists associated with various Taliban networks, the militant state of group — Khorasan Province (IS-KP), and members of other armed opposition groups were active throughout the country.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015