Islamabad has welcomed the update in the U.S. Travel Advisory, which has acknowledged that “Pakistan’s security environment has improved.”
“This is a step in the right direction,” the Foreign Ministry said after a State Department update on Friday, which notes improvement in security.
The State Department Travel Advisory continues to ask Americans to reconsider travel to the country, categorized at level 3.
However, the State Department advisory asks Americans not to travel to terrorism-hit Balochistan and KPK provinces and the vicinity of Line of Control in Kashmir.
“Pakistan’s security environment has improved since 2014 when Pakistani security forces undertook concerted counter terrorist and counter militant operations,” the advisory says.
“There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country.
“While threats still exist, terrorist attacks are rare in Islamabad,” the State Department notes.
Pakistan, whose tribal areas became a theater during the height of U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, has been making efforts to showcase improved security and investment potential in the country.
Recently, international cricket has returned to the country, considered a powerhouse of talent but nowhere near its past pinnacle.
Pakistan is particularly eager to have American investment in a number of potential areas . Since July 2019, the US-Pakistan relations have been recovering from several controversies a few years ago.
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan have met three times and both countries are working to have a peace deal in Afghanistan that would offer Washington an opportunity to put an end to the Afghan war, the longest conflict in U.S. history.
In its reaction, the Foreign Office in Islamabad said Pakistan has made resolute efforts to enhance security throughout the country.
“Significant improvement in the security environment has led the United Nations to re-designate Islamabad as a family station for its personnel.
“Recently, the United Kingdom, while acknowledging the measures taken by Pakistan, has revised its Travel Advisory which is a welcome development.”
Moreover, according to the Foreign Ministry, positive decisions by Portugal and Norway with regard to their Travel Advisories for Pakistan also reflect the confidence of these European Governments in Pakistan’s security environment.
Pakistan has also been declared as one of the “Best Holiday Destinations for 2020” by an award-winning travel magazine ‘Conde Nast Traveler,’ a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The statement says with Pakistan’s liberal visa regime and conducive environment for tourism, we are confident that larger number of tourists from all over the world would be travelling to Pakistan. People of Pakistan are ready to welcome foreign tourists in the country.
“The improved security situation also offers opportunities for enhanced economic activity and foreign direct investment in Pakistan.”
