US issues travel advisory to citizens for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, adds extremist elements also ‘active’ in India

Washington: The US today issued a travel warning for its citizens visiting Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, and said extremist elements are also “active” in India. “The US government assesses terrorist groups in South Asia may be planning attacks in the region, possibly against US facilities, citizens and interests. US citizens should avoid travel to Afghanistan, as no region in the country is immune from violence,” the State Department said in its worldwide caution.

“A number of established terrorist organisations, indigenous sectarian groups, and other militants pose a danger to US citizens in Pakistan.”Extremist elements are also active in India, as outlined in a recent emergency message. Terrorists have hit a wide variety of targets and institutions in Bangladesh,” it added.

Also, expected today in US from President Donald Trump is the signing of a revised executive order on immigration, after his first version was blocked by federal courts, senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway said.

Conway told Fox News that the order would take effect on March 16. The first version temporarily closed US borders to all refugees and to citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries.

She confirmed that legal permanent residents and current visa holders would be explicitly exempt from the order, and also indicated that Iraq would no longer be on the list of countries affected.

“Iraq is no longer on the list based on their enhanced screening and reporting measures,” Conway said.

The first order signed one week after Trump took office on January 20 barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to all citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were barred indefinitely.

— PTI