The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad cautions U.S. citizens that the security situation in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area remains unsettled, unsafe in places, and highly fluid. Police attempted unsuccessfully to disperse protestors from the Tehreek-e-Labaik party at the Faizabad intersection, and a large number of demonstrators remain at the protest site. Small groups of protestors have fanned out across the Islamabad and Rawalpindi metropolitan area, and groups of several hundred protestors have randomly blocked roads across the area, resulting in severe traffic disruptions. Some groups of protestors have clashed with security forces, resulting in casualties. Protestors have periodically blocked major roads to and from Islamabad airport, stranding some travelers at the airport for extended periods of time. Authorities remain concerned about the potential for ongoing protests in and around Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Access to the Islamabad government and diplomatic area (red zone) remains restricted. Police continue to restrict access to the original protest site at the Faizabad intersection and surrounding areas.
Conditions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are changing rapidly, and we urge U.S. citizens to remain in place, if possible. All U.S. citizens are advised to monitor the situation via local media and our website. If required to travel, avoid areas where protests are ongoing. U.S. citizens traveling by air to Islamabad should be aware of the potential to be delayed for unspecified periods of time at the airport due to road closures and blockages.
U.S. Embassy Islamabad will be open for limited business on Monday, November 27. Routine consular services have been suspended for Monday, but emergency services for U.S. citizens remain available. The Embassy continues to restrict the movements of Embassy personnel in the Islamabad/ Rawalpindi area.
U.S. citizens should carry appropriate identity documents when in Pakistan and should cooperate with police and security forces in any encounter. It is possible that cell phone connections may be disrupted during periods of unrest.
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Worldwide Travel Alert, the active Travel Warningfor Pakistan, and Pakistan Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, +92 51 201 4000. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 051 201 4000.) This number is also available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in other parts of Pakistan.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate in Karachi , located at Plot No. 3-5, TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road, Karachi, at +92 21 3527 5000. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 021 3527 5000.) This number is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, located at 50 Shahrah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees (Old Empress Road), at +92 42 3603 4000. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 042 3603 4000.) This number is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in the province of Punjab south of the Jehlum River and the district of Bhakkar.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, located at 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantonment, at +92 91 526 8800. (Calling within Pakistan, dial 091 526 8800.) This number is available 24 hours a day for emergencies involving U.S. citizens in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). See also Consulate General Peshawar’s section on the Mission Pakistan webpage
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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