Britain bans travel to parts of Pakistan

LONDON: The British government has issued new travel guidelines to Pakistan for British citizens, citing “anti-western sentiment” as a main reason.

According to the government’s website, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has instructed against travelling to most areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar.

The FCDO also advised against any travel in Balochistan, with the exception of the southern coast of the province.

It has also frobidden travel on the Mansehra ring road and the N15/N35 Chilas interchange of the Karakorum Highway, as well as anywhere near the Line of Control.

All but essential travel has been recommended for southern Balochistan and northern Sindh.

According to the FCDO, guideline adjustments are made when “the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high”.

“There’s a high threat of terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence throughout the country, including the major cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Foreigners, in particular westerners, may be directly targeted”, the instructions say.

The FCDO also said that “political rallies and protests regularly take place across Pakistan. Some may have an anti-western dimension and could turn violent”.