ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a fresh advisory urging nationals to exercise extreme caution in Syria due to the rapidly evolving security situation.
The warning comes as insurgent groups have made significant territorial gains, capturing key areas such as Aleppo and Hama from government forces.
“In view of the recent developments and the ongoing conflict, Pakistani nationals are strongly advised to avoid unnecessary travel to Syria until the situation stabilizes,” the ministry stated in a press release.
“Those currently in Syria are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain in contact with the Embassy of Pakistan in Damascus,” the ministry added.
The foreign office has also provided contact details of the Embassy.
Pakistani nationals in Syria can contact the Pakistan Embassy via the following telephone/WhatsApp numbers +963 987 127 822, +963 990 138 972 and Email: [email protected].
Meanwhile, thousands of people have fled the Syrian city of Homs as fighters of armed groups push their offensive further south towards Damascus, according to a war monitor.
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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Friday that thousands of Homs residents started fleeing overnight towards the western coast.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based monitoring group, said fighters of the armed group were five kilometres (three miles) “from the outskirts of Homs city” after capturing two towns in the wider Homs governorate.
