This warden message is being issued to alert Americans to safety concerns during the upcoming holidays and elections scheduled for January 8th. Historically, the holiday season is a time when the number of terrorist incidents worldwide increases. This year, the confluence of holidays and the elections in Pakistan scheduled for January 8, 2008, makes it particularly important that American citizens in Pakistan pay special attention to their personal security. There have been numerous suicide bombings in the country, with threats of more attacks, and demonstrations are expected during the days leading up to the elections. Due to the holiday season and the increase in the number of people traveling for the holidays, airports in Pakistan present particular security concerns that need to be continually addressed. The main security focus is entry and exit from the airports. We urge citizens to remain vigilant when moving through crowds while entering or exiting the airport.
We would like to remind the American citizen community of the need to stay alert, to be aware of your surroundings, to avoid unnecessary travel, and to act self-defensively at all times. American citizens should vary their routes and times, avoid areas where Westerners are known to congregate, and maintain a low profile. The Embassy would like to remind American citizens that threats, protests, and demonstrations may occur throughout Pakistan without prior notice or warning, and on occasion these events have turned violent. We therefore recommend that American citizens avoid all demonstrations, protests, and large gatherings.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html and the Pakistan Consular Information Sheet http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_992.html and Travel Warning can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Contact information follows for all four posts in Pakistan:
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5; telephone (92-51) 208-0000; Consular Section telephone (92-51) 208-2700; fax (92-51) 282-2632, website
http://islamabad.usembassy.gov
The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, has closed its public operations indefinitely due to security concerns. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should call the consular section in Karachi. Their telephone is (92-21) 520-4200 (after hours: 92-21-520-4400; fax 92-21-568-0496, website
http://karachi.usconsulate.gov
The U.S. Consulate in Lahore is located at 50- Sharah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill Rotary, telephone (92-42) 603-4000 or 603-4250, fax (92-42) 603-4200, website
http://lahore.usconsulate.gov
Email address: acslahore@state.gov
The U.S. Consulate in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar; telephone (92-91) 526-8800; fax (92-91) 527-6712, website
http://peshawar.usconsulate.gov
| 
