US asks its citizens to exercise 'increased caution' while travelling to India due to 'crime, terrorism'

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By  India Blooms News Service   Oct 08, 2022

New Delhi/IBNS: The United States has asked its citizens to exercise increased caution while travelling to India owing to crime and terrorism and advised them not to travel to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In its travel advisory, the US Department of State stated: Do not travel to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest.

It has also asked its citizens to not travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict.

The US State Department reduced the India Travel Advisory Level to 2 on a scale of one to 4 with the latter indicating the highest.

In the statement, the department said: 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.

Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to these areas, the statement added.