US issues travel alert warning of attack on its citizens, facilities in S.Asia

ISLAMABAD - The United States has issued a travel warning regarding the threat to American establishments and citizens in South and Central Asia.

The US State Department said that extremist groups like Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and their other off shoots may target US national and facilities using improvised explosive devices (IED’s), vehicle-born explosives, and rocket attacks.

Militants could also resort to assassination, carjacking, or kidnappings, the warning said.

“The presence of al-Qaeda, Taliban elements, indigenous sectarian groups, and other terror organisations, many of which are on the US Government’s list of foreign terror organisations, poses a potential danger to American citizens in the region,” The Nation quoted the travel alert, as saying.

Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners are known to congregate or visit, it added.

The advisory comes days after three US aid officials were killed and scores other injured in a powerful bomb blast in Lower Dir district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

All the three officials belonged to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (ANI)