India, March 6 -- The United States has issued a 'Level 3' travel advisory for Pakistan, asking Americans to "reconsider travel" to the country.

The advisory was issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad, and cited an "armed conflict, terrorism, crime, and kidnapping" as the reasons for the precautionary measure. However, it said that there had been no alterations "to the advisory level or risk indicators" for Pakistan, except for the changes in operations of US missions in the country.

The embassy stated that the Department of State had ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of the US government personnel from US consulates in Lahore and Karachi "to leave Pakistan due to safety risks." It reiterated that there...