USA Warns Its Citizens Against Travelling to India

The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for India, telling its citizens not to go to specific regions. The highlighted regions in India, against which the US has issued a warning, are Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur. The reason for the warning is said to be “crime and terrorism”. The US government has also escalated the travel advisory of these two states to Level 4, which means ‘Do Not Travel’, whereas India, overall, remains at Level 2, which means ‘Exercise Increased Caution’.

The USA has asked its citizens not to go to central and eastern India, where Naxalite insurgents are active. Northeastern states of India, especially Manipur, also have been put on the red list because of the inner conflicts of the state. The government has also stated that they can only able to provide “limited emergency services to citizens in rural areas” so all US government employees travelling to Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Odisha, and some parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh should first obtain special authorisation.

India Travel Advisory by USA

The advisory by the US State Department stated:

“Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. 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.
• Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict.
• Portions of Central and East India due to terrorism.
• Manipur due to violence and crime.

Reconsider travel to:

• The northeastern states due to terrorism and violence.

Country Summary: Indian authorities report that rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has happened at tourist sites and other locations. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target 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. These areas stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. U.S. government employees must get special authorization to travel to these areas.

If you decide to travel to India:

• Do not travel alone, particularly if you are a woman.
• Review your personal security plans and remain alert to your surroundings.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• Review the Country Security Report for India.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir – Level 4: Do Not Travel: Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Do not travel to this state (with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh). Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. It also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam.  The Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas along the LOC.

India-Pakistan Border – Level 4: Do Not Travel: India and Pakistan have a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official border crossing for non-citizens of India or Pakistan is in Punjab. It is between Attari, India, and Wagah, Pakistan.  The border crossing is usually open, but check its current status before you travel. To enter Pakistan, you need a Pakistani visa. Only U.S. citizens residing in India may apply for a Pakistani visa in India. Otherwise, apply for a Pakistani visa in your home country before traveling to India.

Portions of Central and East India – Level 4: Do Not Travel: Maoist extremist groups, or “Naxalites,” are active in a large area of India that spans from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. Attacks against officers of the Indian government continue to occur sporadically in the rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand that border with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. Southwest areas of Odisha are also affected. The Naxalites have carried out many terrorist attacks, targeting local police, paramilitary forces, and government officials.

Due to the fluid nature of the threat, U.S. government employees are required to obtain permission prior to traveling to most areas in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Odisha. Permission is not required if employees are traveling only to the capital cities of these states. U.S. government employees also need approval to travel to the eastern region of Maharashtra and the eastern region of Madhya Pradesh.

Manipur -  Level 4: Do Not Travel: Do not travel to Manipur due to the threat of violence and crime. Ongoing ethnic-based civil conflict has resulted in reports of extensive violence and community displacement. Attacks against Indian government targets occur on a regular basis. U.S. government employees traveling in India require prior approval before visiting Manipur.

Northeastern States – Level 3: Reconsider Travel: Ethnic insurgent groups occasionally commit acts of violence in parts of the northeast. These incidents include bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets. There have been no recent reports of violence in Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, or Tripura. U.S. government employees traveling in India require prior approval before visiting the states of Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as when visiting any areas outside of the capital cities of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura."

India Reacts

The news has been met with heated reactions amongst Indians. Politician Omar Abdullah has criticised the current Indian government for failure in “addressing negative travel advisories”. “So much for ‘naya J&K. Despite all the talk of normalcy, peace, tourism, and the G20 event in Srinagar, J&K remains the target of US State Department travel advisories. The Modi government has been able to change nothing,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

On the other hand, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the warning, saying, “It is a routine matter. We look at it that way. We also issue travel advisories.”