The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan called on its citizens to exercise caution after the authorities rose up the security warning in Islamabad to its highest level on Monday.
“The Embassy of the Guardian of the Two Holy Mosques in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan would like to warn all citizens residing in and visiting the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to exercise caution and only leave home in an emergency as the authorities are present at the Capital Islamabad has increased the security warning to the highest level,” Arab News reported, citing the embassy’s statement posted on Twitter.
In case of emergency, contact the embassy or consulate general in Karachi.
Saudi Arabia’s statement comes even as several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have issued travel warnings for Pakistan.
US Embassy warning of possible terror threat
The US embassy in Pakistan has warned of a possible terrorist threat against American citizens at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and has banned American employees from visiting the five-star hotel.
The US government is aware of information that “unknown persons may plan to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holiday,” the embassy said in a security alert. The report prohibited his American staff from visiting the popular Ferien hotel.
The US mission also asked all staff to refrain from non-essential travel in Islamabad during the holiday season.
The embassy directive came A police officer was killed two days after a suicide attack in a residential area of the capital and ten others wounded. The explosion happened when police stopped a taxi for inspection while on patrol. According to police, a passenger in the back seat detonated explosives he was carrying and blew up the vehicle.
Australia travel warning
The Australian High Commission in Islamabad has also issued a travel warning for Pakistan and warned against travel due to the unstable security situation in the country.
A statement said the US government has warned its citizens of information that unknown persons may be planning an attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad during the holiday. It added that increased security has been put in place and public events have been banned.
Great Britain issues travel advice
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also issued a travel warning for British nationals from visiting Pakistan. In its travel advisory, the FCDO advised against all travel to Bajuar, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
It also advised British citizens against traveling to Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner and Lower Dir districts and Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
2008 attack on the Marriott Hotel
At least 54 people were killed and several others injured when a dump truck loaded with explosives exploded in front of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad’s Red Zone on September 20, 2008.
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