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The US State Department on Wednesday updated its travel advisory for Pakistan and advised US nationals against all non-essential travel to the country.
"Pakistan continues to experience significant terrorist violence, including sectarian attacks.," said the state department advisory.
The advisory added that targeted attacks against government officials, humanitarian and non-governmental organisation (NGO) employees, tribal elders, and law enforcement personnel are common.
"The Government of Pakistan maintains heightened security measures, particularly in major cities, following attacks or in response to threats."
The travel advisory also said that sectarian violence remains a serious threat throughout Pakistan, with the government continuing to enforce blasphemy laws.
"Religious minority communities have been victims of targeted killings and accusations of blasphemy," said the US State Department.
Areas where access to US nationals is restricted by local government were also mentioned. It further added that travel by US government personnel within Pakistan is restricted and movements by US government personnel outside of Islamabad is severely restricted.
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Comments (30) Closed
Apr 12, 2017 10:52pm
Yet another feather in the Pakistan cap.
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Apr 13, 2017 12:00am
Is there any difference between the old and latest advisory? I guess there was no need to update it as the situation hasnt changed much
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Apr 13, 2017 12:09am
If compared to US statistically Pakistan has a much lower murder rate per capita, much lower alcohol related fatalities, suicides, and all other crimes. The US population according to 2016 census stands at 322,762,018 and Pakistan's population stood at 192,826,502 for same year, with US being 1.67 times more populated than Pakistan.
The estimated number of murders in the nation at end of 2016 was 15,696, 90, 185 rapes, 327,374 robberies.Property crimes resulted in losses estimated at $14.3 billion. The total value of reported stolen property (i.e., currency, jewelry, motor vehicles, electronics, firearms) was $12,420,364,454.
Pakistan's crime rate is statistically much much lower than what the US holds if both nations were at equal population as far as I can imagine. Pakistan is okay to live in and okay to visit as well.
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Apr 13, 2017 12:55am
@Ronaldo Arif : Don't be naïve-You think that Pakistan's crime statistics are accurate? You think rapes and crimes are effectively reported from rural areas and urban women are reporting? Not to mention the FIRs the police refuses to file for the poor! Then we have almost zero tourism and if we had Europeans and North Americans roaming the streets would they be safe? Sorry don't agree with your comparison at all! Yes Pakistan is ok to visit if you are an overseas Pakistani.
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Apr 13, 2017 01:17am
I wonder how our Ministers will go to the USA for alms and donations now?
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Apr 13, 2017 01:38am
Cassie De Pecol, the 27-year old American woman who recently finished her ambition of visiting all 197 countries in the world - when asked in an interview to name one country she liked the most, she picked Pakistan! She said she found it absolutely safe, comfortable with very hospitable people, exactly opposite of what the media feeds everyone.
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzae1-8AFvc
"It was an absolutley beautiful experience in Pakistan, and I would head back there in a hurry"
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Apr 13, 2017 01:47am
@Ronaldo Arif Still We are standing in rows to get American visas.
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Apr 13, 2017 01:55am
RONALDO ARIF - None of the crime statistics are of value to a tourist or a business traveler.
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Apr 13, 2017 02:31am
No one cares wat US says
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Apr 13, 2017 02:45am
@Arif, very well put.
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Apr 13, 2017 03:54am
@Ronaldo Arif , your comment and analysis is spot on. I am a white American living in the US. Pakistan has a great deal to be proud of, and a wonderful history. I have never been there but would love to come and see your rich culture. From what I have read I wish the people in power would put the people before kickback money and the country could surpass India. May god bless and help all of us.
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Apr 13, 2017 04:06am
And we should care because?
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Apr 13, 2017 04:15am
I think US is not safe as well. Its got gun issuess where anyone anywhere can just pull his gun out and start a shooting spree! Very common as well!
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Apr 13, 2017 04:54am
@Ronaldo Arif Good Comparision on worst indicators :)
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Apr 13, 2017 05:09am
@Ronaldo Arif .....The travel advisory update could have also been a ban on Pakistan if some sections had been successful
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Apr 13, 2017 05:47am
@Ronaldo Arif well said now your are comparing Pak with usa
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Apr 13, 2017 06:38am
@Ronaldo Arif Lol..Keep saying
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Apr 13, 2017 06:46am
@Ronaldo Arif - Crime has to be reported first before it is counted. Of course life is much more secured in US. These hypothetical comparisons are just to hide yourself from reality.
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Apr 13, 2017 06:47am
@Ronaldo Arif by the way how many % of people have dare to ragistered F.I.R in pakistan
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Apr 13, 2017 07:19am
@Ronaldo Arif So DO NOT let any Pakistani go to US! Simple! Trump and everyone will be happy if Pakistani's voluntarily unwelcome themselves from rest of the world.
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Apr 13, 2017 08:02am
@Ronaldo Arif why giving this nonsense update your travel advisory and don't let your citizens visit US.
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Apr 13, 2017 08:10am
@Ronaldo Arif ; Silly and very wrong analysis - provide SIMILAR data for Pakistan and then make your point. I bet you can not - because even any such data exists - government will NOT release it. In case you just want to fell good by "lowering" US, then no problem- we all need solace in some form or the other.
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Apr 13, 2017 08:18am
@Ronaldo Arif
Very optimistic, but world see things differently
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Apr 13, 2017 08:35am
Proud time for Pakistan
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Apr 13, 2017 08:39am
beautiful great people.
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Apr 13, 2017 08:44am
@Ronaldo Arif : Your statistics of crimes in US, even if to be believed, do not make Pakistan look crime- free and peaceful. There is no authentic and scientific way to compile the crime rate in Pakistan.
Anyway, being an Islamic Republic, the crime rate in Pakistan should be one of the lowest, which is not the case.
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Apr 13, 2017 08:48am
Ronaldo Arif! You have relieved me to be honest. For many weeks I have been thinking to visit my beloved Pakistan but each time I am deterred because of security reasons but now your comparison encourages me to visit without any fear and I have planned to be there after Eid ul Fiter inshaallah. Please give me your contact to meet you in person when I am there. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Apr 13, 2017 12:28pm
Pakistan should update US travel advisory too. It's more dangerous for Pakistanis to visit US now.
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Apr 14, 2017 06:43am
@Ashraf That is correct. These advisories are only a "lip service" and nothing more. Same citizen in US has a higher chance of becoming a victim.
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Apr 14, 2017 07:46am
@Sound bytes That is true and fair to state. I have never heard of someone dropping a business deal anywhere in the world even due some terrorism incident.
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