"The presence of al-Qaida, Taliban elements, and indigenous militant sectarian groups poses a potential danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan, especially in the western border regions of the country," the state department said in a travel warning.

It said threat reporting indicates terrorist groups continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where US citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit, such as shopping areas, hotels, clubs and restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events.

It also noted that the Pakistan government has heightened security measures, particularly in major cities, some of which have been targets of suicide bombings.

In recent incidents, terrorists have disguised themselves as Pakistani security forces personnel to gain access to targeted areas.

"The Embassy reiterates its advice to all US citizens to take measures for their safety and security at all times. These measures include maintaining good situational awareness, avoiding crowds, and keeping a low profile," it said.

The warning said some media reports have recently falsely identified US diplomats – and to a lesser extent US journalists and NGO workers – as being intelligence operatives or private security personnel.

US officials in Lahore and Islamabad are instructed to restrict the frequency and to minimise the duration of trips to public markets, restaurants, and other locations.

Visits by US government personnel to Peshawar and Karachi are limited, and movements by the government personnel assigned to the consulates general in those cities are severely restricted, it said.

Only a limited number of official visitors are placed in hotels, and for limited stays, the state department said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6204055.cms?prtpage=1

2. HRW points finger at Pak over violations in Swat
ISLAMABAD (AFP) – A US-based rights group on Thursday urged Pakistan to probe reports of collective punishment by security forces of relatives of Taliban militants in Swat valley.
Pakistan launched a major offensive in Swat last year to clear it of Taliban and restore government control.
“Punishing people because their family members may be militants has become rampant in the Swat valley,” Ali Dayan Hasan, senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
He said the rights group had received numerous credible reports about collective punishments including arbitrary detention and forced evictions since September 2009, when the military re-established control over the valley.
“Human Rights Watch has investigated these allegations on the ground in Swat since February 2010 and documented scores of abuses.”
Dayan added: “Not only is collective punishment illegal, it’s counterproductive because it angers the very people the government hopes to win over”.
Pakistan launched a blistering air and ground offensive in the valley after militants marched out of Swat and advanced to within 100 kilometres of the capital Islamabad in April 2009.
After heavy fighting that displaced an estimated two million people, the military declared the region back under army control last summer and tentative efforts have begun to kick start development and revive the local economy.
But sporadic outbreaks of violence continue, while some fear the Swat Taliban are regrouping elsewhere in the northwest. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online//Politics/23-Jul-2010/HRW-points-finger-at-Pak-over-violations-in-Swat