Pahalgam terror assault: Following the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, the UK issued a warning to its residents not to travel within 10 kilometers of the India-Pakistan border due to escalating tensions.
Due to rising tensions between the two neighbors following recent attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the United Kingdom issued a similar warning to the United States, warning its citizens not to travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also listed places where UK nationals should stay away from, including popular tourist spots like Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
In the UK, FCDO is the ministry of foreign affairs.
Two days after militants from Pakistan opened fire on a group of tourists in Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, killing 26 people—two locals and two foreigners—the UK has revised its travel advisory.
Jammu and Kashmir travel advice from the UK
The FCDO recommended British citizens to travel exclusively inside the city of Jammu and discouraged them from visiting popular tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Travel to the Jammu and Kashmir region (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar, and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway) was discouraged by the FCDO, with the following exceptions:
Take a plane to and from Jammu city.
Explore the city of Jammu.
Travel inside Ladakh’s Union Territory.
Why was the UK’s travel alert updated?
According to the FDCO, “foreign nationals are vulnerable in rural districts and outside the main population centers and tourist areas,” and it has warned UK citizens to stay away from the aforementioned locations due to “frequent terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Unpredictable acts of violence, such as bombings, grenade assaults, shootings, and kidnappings, are possible. The UK government has a lengthy history of refusing to make significant compromises to hostage-takers. The recommendation explained why the FDCO has recommended against travel to specific regions of Jammu and Kashmir: “The level of consular assistance that the British High Commission in India can provide in Jammu and Kashmir is severely limited.”
The UK’s Manipur travel advisory
In addition to regions of Jammu and Kashmir, the FCDO cautioned UK nationals against visiting Manipur unless absolutely necessary.
Travel to the state of Manipur is discouraged by the FCDO unless absolutely necessary. According to the UK’s most recent travel advisory, “some insurgent groups are active in north-east India in the state of Manipur.”
