March 12, 2015
To provide the American community in Afghanistan additional security, the U.S. embassy will begin to post (and occasionally send to registrants) precautionary messages about public gatherings and demonstrations to the Travel & Security Information portion of the U.S. Embassy Kabul website. The messages will follow the template with the applicable and known information:
U.S. Embassy Kabul informs U.S. citizens that demonstrations are expected to take place (LOCATION) from (TIME) on (DATE). The (GROUP) in (City, Country) will be demonstrating with the stated purpose of protesting against the (purpose-violation of human rights in (Country)). We anticipate the size of the protest to be approximately (number of people XX to XX) people.
Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Afghanistan enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. citizens in Afghanistan should regularly monitor the Travel Advisories on the website of the Embassy of the United States Kabul, Afghanistan, as well as the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the Worldwide Caution, Country Specific Information and the Travel Warning for Afghanistan are found. In addition, the Embassy encourages U.S. citizens to review “A Traveler’s Checklist” which includes valuable security information for those traveling or living in foreign countries. You can also follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs onTwitter and on Facebook. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The U.S. Embassy is located at Great Massoud Road between Radio Afghanistan and the Ministry of Public Health in Kabul. To reach the American Citizen Services (ACS) unit of the Consular Section during business hours, please call 0700-108-499 or send an email to KabulACS@state.gov. You can also reach the ACS unit through the Embassy’s switchboard by calling 0700-108-001/002. For after-hours emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please call the Consular Duty Officer at 0700-10-8001.
