Security Message for U.S. Citizens

February 2, 2015

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul continues to receive reports of militants planning unspecified attacks in Kabul City, Afghanistan against locations and individuals with potential American connections, including Afghan and U.S. government facilities, foreign embassies, foreign guest houses, airports, civilian institutes, and educational centers such as the American University. With the increased number of riots and protests, the Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Afghanistan to review your personal security plans, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal safety, remain aware of your surroundings, monitor local news for updates, and maintain a high level of vigilance.

Please note that with recent attacks in Kabul, the U.S. Embassy encourages all U.S. citizens planning to travel to or living in Afghanistan to review the State Department’s travel warning regarding Afghanistan, located here:http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/afghanistan-travel-warning.html.  We will continue to provide current threat information as we receive it.

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 CautionCountry 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 on Twitter 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 toKabulACS@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.