Several countries have issued warnings and travel advisories for their citizens residing in Pakistan or intending to visit Pakistan, advising them to exercise caution amid a recent uptick in violent attacks across the country.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Pakistan said that Islamabad had raised its “security alert to the highest level.” As a result, it warned its citizens in Pakistan to “take caution and not go out except for necessity.”
#تنبيه pic.twitter.com/6A7Q7z3lAl
— السفارة في باكستان - سعودی سفارت خانہ (@KSAembassyPK) December 26, 2022
The declaration closely followed a warning by Australia, which issued a travel alert and warned citizens against visiting Pakistan, citing the “volatile security situation” and the high risk of terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and violence. The release also warned Australian diplomats in Islamabad to “increase vigilance” and “limit travel within the city.”
The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also warned against travelling to Pakistan, particularly certain districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Khyber, Kurram, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan.
The release warned about frequent political rallies and protests, which could have an “anti-Western dimension” and turn violent. In light of the upcoming tour of the English cricket team to Pakistan, the UK urged all those planning on attending the matches to closely follow developments in entry requirements and the safety and security situation.
The FCDO said, “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Pakistan.” To this end, it noted that attacks could occur in major cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi, further stressing that the militants could mainly target foreign nationals.
Read our travel advice for more: https://t.co/E5polKCJ45 pic.twitter.com/ewuLwk8hUn
— Neil Hawkins (@AusHCPak) December 26, 2022
Similarly, the United States (US) embassy in Pakistan on Sunday said that the government had received information about a possible attack on American citizens in the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad during the holiday season. The Marriot Hotel in Islamabad was the site of the 2008 attack that caused 54 deaths, raising concern about similar violence.
As a result, it barred all American diplomats from visiting the hotel. Citing the local authorities’ decision to issue a Red Alert in Islamabad, the US embassy asked all its employees to avoid “non-essential, unofficial travel” throughout the holiday season.
It also urged staff to remain vigilant at public events and places of worship, highlighting the need to avoid areas with large crowds. Furthermore, the embassy recommended that US personnel review their security situation, abide by law enforcement directions, and follow local media sources for regular updates.
The series of advisories came just days after a suicide bombing in a civilian area in Islamabad resulted in the death of a police officer, with ten others injured in the attack. The security officials had stopped the vehicle for inspection when a passenger in the back seat detonated the bomb.
#Pakistan updated info about a possible attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad: https://t.co/YEKwY7ygZz pic.twitter.com/hPnMHjUwrl
— FCDO Travel Advice (@FCDOtravelGovUK) December 25, 2022
This was the latest in a series of attacks targeting security officials and civilians across Pakistan.
Seven blasts in Balochistan killed five army personnel and left 19 others injured on Sunday alone. On the same day, four died in an explosion in Quetta.
The uptick in violence has been largely attributed to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) decision to end its ceasefire with the Pakistani government in November, following which it called on its workers across the country to orchestrate attacks on security officials.
The TTP also hoisted its flag in a tribal district in North Waziristan on Friday.
In addition, Pakistani security forces took back control of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) prison in Bannu, where TTP fighters took the facilities’ security officials as hostages. The soldiers freed all the hostages during the two-hour operation, killing 33 militants, while seven surrendered. Between 10 and 15 soldiers were injured during the operation.
List of attacks in Pakistan since Friday as security situation deteriorates: https://t.co/0lch7yDpuE pic.twitter.com/ZNYQlmIr6G
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 25, 2022
According to News 18, 150 TTP-led attacks have killed 150 Pakistanis from the beginning of the year to the end of November. In addition, since the end of the ceasefire, the TTP has killed 35 security personnel in 33 attacks.
In this regard, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed on Monday to counter the surge in “incidents of terrorism.” He also paid homage to the soldiers and police officers that died during security operations.
According to a security official cited by Tribune, authorities are considering deploying a “major military offensive” to regain control over the security situation. The source said “the talks with the TTP are no longer taking place and the return of militants as part of an earlier understanding will have to be reversed.”
He also highlighted that the Pakistani government’s decision to hold talks with the TTP “was a big mistake” as the organisation had used it as an opportunity to regroup.