United States/Pakistan – Warning that violence remains a significant threat in Pakistan, the United States has asked its citizens hold off on all non-essential travel to Islamabad. "Pakistan continues to experience significant terrorist violence, including sectarian attacks. Several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups continue to pose a danger to the US citizens throughout the country," Dawn quoted the State Department as saying on the 7 Apr 16. The State Department's statement further tightens a previous warning issued on the 28 Aug 15. It also said that the Pakistani government continued to enforce blasphemy laws and religious minorities had been victims of targeted killings and accusations of blasphemy. Noting that even heavily guarded facilities which included military installations and airports had faced armed assaults, the State Department asserted that terrorists had also attacked universities, schools, rallies, places of worship, and large marketplaces in several Pakistani cities. The statement further reminded its citizens about the how an American educator was shot on April 16, 2015 in Karachi and the evidence suggested that she was targeted, in part, because she was a US citizen. The State Department also noted about the incidents since the beginning of 2016, a suicide bomber killing at least 15 people and injuring 25 others outside a health centre in Quetta, the attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda which killed 22 people; and the latest a suicide bomber attack at a park in Lahore which killed over 70 people and injured over 300. "The government of Pakistan maintains heightened security measures, particularly in major cities, following attacks or in response to threats," the statement said. The State Department highlighted that while the US embassy in Islamabad and its consulate in Karachi continue to provide consular services for all its citizens, services are no longer provided in Peshawar consulate, and the one in Lahore remains suspended temporarily.
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