The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning July 16 urging tourists to carefully evaluate the implications for their security before traveling to Pakistan. The U.S. Government received information suggesting that extremists based in Afghanistan are preparing to attack U.S. interests in Pakistan. The presence of international terrorist Osama bin Laden in neighboring Afghanistan and a recently issued travel ban against all American citizens and diplomats by the Harkatul Mujahedeen extremist group, have the Department of State seriously concerned. Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil, the chief of Harkatul Mujahedeen, has denied allegations that they are planning to attack American interests.
