From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The United States, has warned against travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence in the country.

The United States gave the warning in a travel advisory reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

In the advisory issued in Washington, the United States urged its nationals to reconsider travel to Pakistan, especially its restive provinces due to terrorism and sectarian violence.

The United States Department of State urged its citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) due to terrorism and kidnapping.

“Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. Some areas have increased risk,” the United States said.

The PTI also reported that the United States puts the advisory to Level three.

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“Level 3 travel warning is issued when a long-term or serious situation puts travellers and visitors at risk, and non-essential travel to the destination should be avoided.

“The advisory also recommended Americans not to travel in the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.

“Noting that terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan, it said a local history of terrorism and ongoing ideological aspirations of violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian as well as local military and police targets,” the PTI further reported.

The United States also said: “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past.”

The PTI also reported that terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA, while also saying that large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties.