ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Pakistan warned its nationals on Wednesday against travelling to Iraq due to volatile situation there, saying anyone going there would be doing so at their own risk.

Responding to a question at a weekly briefing here, a foreign office spokesman said about 400 Kuwait-based Pakistanis are working in Iraq.

He said an inter-ministerial meeting between Pakistan and Kuwait held recently had decided that the Pakistanis should restrict their movement in Iraq as they could be easily kidnapped or executed. But, he added, now the Kuwaiti government has lifted the ban and has allowed Kuwait-based Pakistanis to work in Iraq.

Expressing concern, the spokesman said that a travel advisory against travelling to Iraq was already in place.

The spokesman said despite warning by the Government of Pakistan to these Kuwait-based Pakistanis, they are still working in Iraq on various projects.

He warned that those Pakistanis who were still travelling in the Iraq "would be doing so at their own risk".

The spokesman added that at the time of kidnapping of the two Pakistani hostages, most of the Pakistanis working in Iraq had revealed to the Pakistan embassy in Kuwait that they have been sent to Iraq for work by the agents without any prior intimation.

Replying to a question, the spokesman said there were about 400 Pakistanis working in Iraq on various projects when two Pakistanis were kidnapped there.-APP