The United Kingdom has issued a travel advisory for its citizens regarding certain regions in Pakistan. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued this warning on Tuesday.
In the advisory, the FCDO has instructed citizens to avoid traveling to any border areas of Pakistan. Additionally, it has advised against traveling to several regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Bajaur, Bannu, Buner, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber, Kohat, Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Orakzai, Peshawar (the provincial capital), Swat, Tank, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, Mardan, Chitral, and Mansehra districts—essentially the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Furthermore, the FCDO has advised against traveling on the Karakoram Highway, which connects Pakistan and China, along with the Chilas district of Gilgit-Baltistan. It has also warned against traveling within 10 miles of the border with Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as most areas of Balochistan, except for its southern coastal region.
Recently, incidents of terrorism, militancy, and separatism have increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Both provinces share borders with Afghanistan, and Islamabad has accused Kabul of providing shelter and support to Pakistani militants and separatists. However, Kabul has repeatedly denied these allegations.
According to official data, Pakistan witnessed 444 terrorist attacks in 2024, resulting in the deaths of 685 soldiers and 927 civilians. Statistically, this marks a 40% increase in terrorist incidents and casualties compared to any year in the last decade.
To combat terrorism and separatism, Pakistan has launched military operations. According to data from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 934 militants were killed in joint military and police operations across Pakistan last year.