Covid-19 Live Update : US asks its citizens not to travel to India-Pakistan border

Covid-19 Live Update : US asks its citizens not to travel to India-Pakistan border

Covid-19 Live Update : US asks its citizens not to travel to India-Pakistan border

New Delhi : The US State Department issued a travel advisory for India on Wednesday, asking its citizens to exercise increased caution while travelling in the country “due to crime and terrorism”.

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping malls and government facilities,” it said, adding, “Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations.”

The US State Department slotted India in Category Two or one rung below countries in the throes of civil wars. It has especially cautioned its citizens against travelling to Jammu & Kashmir, eastern Ladakh, the entire North-East, Central and Eastern India and within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border “due to the potential for armed conflict”.

It said the US government had limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. The US government employees have been asked to obtain special authorisation to travel to these areas.

It asked its citizens to avoid all travel to J&K as sporadic violence occurs along the LoC and in tourist destinations such as Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam.

In the north-eastern states, it mentioned incidents of violence by ethnic insurgent groups occasionally.

In central and east India, Maoist groups are active in “a large swath of India” and conduct frequent terrorist attacks on security forces and government officials.