Donald Trump Delivers Big Blow To Asim Munir, Advises US Citizens Against Visiting Pakistan

Washington: The US has once again dealt a blow to Pakistan. The Trump administration, on Thursday, citing security concerns, advised American citizens planning to travel to Pakistan to reconsider their plans. According to Pakistani local media, in its latest advisory, the US State Department advised travelers to think twice before traveling to Pakistan due to the threat of crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.

What action has Trump taken against Pakistan?

According to a report in the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Pakistan has been placed under a Level 3 advisory. This is a category that indicates a high risk, where terrorist attacks can occur without warning. According to the State Department, common targets include transportation hubs, hotels, markets, shopping malls, military and security sites, airports, trains, schools, hospitals, places of worship, tourist destinations, and government buildings.

What has Trump said on Pakistan?

Some areas, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have been placed under Level 4, meaning travel to these areas is not recommended. The advisory urges US citizens not to travel to Level 4 areas for any reason, warning that attempts at murder and kidnapping are common, especially against government officials and ordinary citizens.

According to Dawn, this warning also applies to American citizens of Pakistani origin. The US advisory further states, "Do not travel to Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping." It further explains that violent extremist groups have carried out attacks in Pakistan. Terrorist attacks are common in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former FATA, but have also occurred in major cities such as Karachi and Islamabad.

What has the US State Department said?

The US State Department also stated that local law prohibits protests or demonstrations without a permit. It stated, "Participating in any protest could attract the attention of Pakistani security forces. US citizens have been detained for participating in protests. You could also be detained for posting content on social media that is critical of the Pakistani government, military, or officials."

Earlier this month, a US State Department spokesperson announced that the Trump administration was suspending immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting January 21. This will affect applicants from countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America, the Balkans, and parts of South Asia, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. Responding to the announcement of the US visa restrictions, the Pakistani Foreign Office expressed hope that the suspension is temporary and that normal processing will resume soon. Until then, a backlog of applications is expected to grow.