The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advisory for British nationals, urging caution and listing high-risk areas in Pakistan due to security concerns.
The advisory specifically discourages travel to locations within 10 miles of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, citing increased risks in these regions. Additionally, travel to several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has been deemed unsafe. These include Bajaur, Bannu, Buner, Chārsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber, Kohat, Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Orakzai, Peshawar, Swat, Tank, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, and Lower South Waziristan.
The advisory also warns against using the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, as well as the N45 Highway from Mardan to Chitral, including Kalash Valley.
In Balochistan, British citizens are advised to avoid all areas except for the southern coastal region. Only essential travel is recommended for locations south of the N10 Motorway and parts of the N25 leading to the Balochistan-Sindh border, including Gwadar.
Travel to within 10 miles of the Line of Control in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is strongly discouraged, as is travel to parts of Sindh province north of Nawabshah.
Rising Militancy in KP and Balochistan
The advisory comes in the wake of escalating militant activity in KP and Balochistan, where attacks targeting law enforcement and security forces have surged.
Pakistan has urged Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being used by militant groups for cross-border attacks. Concurrently, Pakistani security forces have intensified operations against militants, eliminating at least 15 in a recent response to an infiltration attempt.
Reports from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlight a 90% increase in violence during the third quarter of 2024, with 722 fatalities and 615 injuries in KP and Balochistan alone.
In 2024, Pakistan’s military reported 383 soldiers and 925 militants killed in clashes, underscoring the severity of the situation.
