US bars citizens from travelling theses Indian destinations

The US State Department on Thursday advises its citizens to avoid travel to several regions in India including illegally occupied Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

The advisory elevates the risk level for several areas, placing them under “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”

These destinations include: Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh region, Leh, Manipur and parts of central and east India.

Apart from that it also discourages travel to the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam, due to the risk of violence.

The advisory was issued due to terrorism and civil unrest in the areas within 10 kilometers of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict; Manipur, due to ongoing ethnic conflict, violence, and crime, including attacks on government targets; and parts of central and east India, where the presence of Naxalite (Maoist) extremist groups poses a significant threat with regular attacks on government officials and security forces.

The advisory warned its locals to reconsider their travel to aforementioned areas.

The advisory highlights the high incidence of crime in India, including sexual assault, which has occurred even at tourist sites.

Moreover, the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas, particularly in regions affected by Naxalite activity.

Travelers are also advised to be aware of the heightened risk of attacks in regions affected by Naxalite activity, which extend from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal.