Omar Abdullah Slams Centre On US Travel Advisory On J&K, Says 'Modi Govt Changed Nothing'
The US State Department ranked India at Level 2, but several parts of the country have been placed on Level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, India-Pak border, Manipur and parts of Central and East India.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday hit out at the Centre over the US revised travel advisory saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been unable to change anything in the state.
Abdullah said that despite talk of normalcy, peace and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, the state continues to be the target of the US state department travel advisories.
"So much for ‘naya J&K’. For all the talk of normalcy, peace, tourism & the G-20 tamasha in Srinagar, J&K continues to be the target of US state department travel advisories. The Modi government has been able to change nothing," the National Conference leader said in a post on X.
Omar Abdullah's reaction comes after the US asked its nationals not to travel to Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border, and some other parts due to crime and terrorism.
“In asking US citizens to not visit Jammu and Kashmir, the advisory points to ‘terrorist attacks' and ‘violent civil unrest,’ as well as ‘sporadic violence’ between the Indian and Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC)”
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 25, 2024
So much for ‘naya J&K’. For all the talk of…
In a revised travel advisory for India, issued on Tuesday, the State Department urged its citizens not to travel to "the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest."
"Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk,” the statement said.
"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 and Manipur due to violence and crime,” said the State Department.
The US State Department ranked India at Level 2, but several parts of the country have been placed on Level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, India-Pak border, Manipur and parts of Central and East India.
"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 travel advisory further said.
The travel advisory while elaborating on Jammu and Kashmir said that terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the UT and violence happens sporadically in the area and along the LoC.
"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," the advisory said.
The US State Department put Jammu and Kashmir at Level 4 with the advisory: 'Do Not Travel.'
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