Pakistan: Overview

Travel Warning: Dangerous Destination

Following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf after nine years as president, Pakistan enters a period of political uncertainty and the potential for unrest remains high. Travellers should continue to monitor news reports and exercise great caution. The country's north-west is particularly dangerous at present, with suicide bombings a regular occurrence. Two suicide bombings in the northern town of Wah on August 21 killed more than 60 people and injured dozens. The attacks, about 30km north-west of Islamabad, were outside a military site. Check out Safe Travel for updated government warnings or the Thorn Tree travel forum for insights from travellers.

Due to ongoing sectarian and political violence in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore, travellers are advised to pay attention to any consular warnings before visiting and to take great care when in these cities and nearby regional centres. More than 500 people have been killed since the beginning of the year in a wave of bomb attacks across the country. Travellers should avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.

Avoid travel to northern and western Balochistan, western North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas and Agencies (FATA) including Waziristan, and border areas other than official crossings. Visitors to upper Sindh are encouraged to notify authorities beforehand.

The Swat region in the NWFP should be considered out of bounds as fighting between the army and militants is intensifying. Though tensions along the Kashmiri Line of Control have eased, travellers should keep abreast of the latest developments.

severity: Extreme Danger