By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : Britain said it was “gravely concerned” at the imposition of emergency in Pakistan and has advised against all travel to areas where there are reports of “military or militant activity”.
Incorporating the latest developments in its travel advisory on Pakistan, the Foreign Office urged British citizens to follow the developing situation in the news media and consult its travel advice regularly.
Britain has a large minority of Pakistan origin that maintains close links with home. Many of them hold British passports and travel to Pakistan regularly for family and religious reasons. In the 2001 census, people of Pakistan origin numbered nearly 750,000.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Britain was “gravely concerned” at the situation, and asked President Pervez Musharraf to abide by the commitment he gave to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to hold free and fair elections on schedule.
Brown and Musharraf spoke to each other on Nov 1, during which Musharraf made a commitment to hold ‘free and fair’ elections. Foreign secretary David Miliband recalled the commitment Saturday and hoped that it will be fulfilled.
Miliband said: “We recognise the threat to peace and security faced by the country, but its future rests on harnessing the power of democracy and the rule of law to achieve the goals of stability, development and countering terrorism.
“I am gravely concerned by the measures adopted today, which will take Pakistan further from these goals. It is vital that the government acts in accordance with the constitution…All friends of Pakistan will be concerned by the turn of events today.”
Miliband said that Britain will continue to engage with the Musharraf regime, and the first post-emergency contacts would be between the British high commissioner in Islamabad and the Pakistan foreign ministry.
Miliband will also be interacting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Ahmed Kasuri.
He said: “We are working closely with friends of Pakistan across the international community to encourage all parties to show restraint and to work together for a peaceful and democratic resolution.
“We hope that the strong communities in the UK of Pakistani origin will also use their contacts through family and business to make the case for democracy and the rule of law.”
The travel advisory identified some areas in Pakistan where British citizens are advised not to travel. This includes northern and western Balochistan, including the Sui/Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas; the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, including Waziristan; Swat (North West Frontier Province); and all border areas except for official crossing points.
The advisory says: “We advise against all but essential travel to Quetta (Balochistan) and we advise against using the rail network or bus services in the whole of Balochistan because of the unsettled security situation.
“There is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan. Since January 2007 there has been a series of attacks and suicide bombings targeted both at the authorities and at locations frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Pakistani authorities believe there is currently a high risk of suicide attacks in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area, targeting both government and diplomatic interests.
“There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Pakistan. On 19 October 2007, there was a bomb attack on a political procession welcoming Benazir Bhutto, which killed at least 135 in Karachi. You should avoid demonstrations or large crowds of people.
“There is reliable evidence that terrorists continue to target Western, including British, interests and individuals throughout Pakistan.”