The UK
Foreign Office
has updated its
travel advice
to parts of
India
and
Pakistan
following a
deadly escalation of conflict
between the two countries.
Several flights have been canceled or redirected due to developments in India.
fired missiles
over the border into areas controlled by Pakistan.
The incidents that occurred on May 7 are thought to have resulted in 19 fatalities and left 38 individuals injured, as reported by authorities.
India stated that their 'Operation Sindoor' focused on nine locations known for 'terrorist infrastructure,' marking this as part of their 'pledge' to counter the lethal Pahalgam attack that resulted in 26 fatalities in Indian Kashmir the previous month.
The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that they attacked nine sites within Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, whereas Pakistan asserted that they had brought down multiple Indian combat aircraft as a countermeasure.
Following the outbreak of hostilities, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised all individuals in the area not to venture within a 10-kilometre radius of the India-Pakistan frontier.
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Dispute Between India and Pakistan
The two countries equipped with nuclear weapons have been adversaries for many years; however, their tensions have escalated lately.
On April 22, 26 visitors lost their lives due to attacks by extremists in the holiday town of
Pahalgam
In the region controlled by India in Kashmir, survivors reported that Hindu men were particularly singled out as targets.
India accused Pakistan-supported terrorist organizations for the assault, despite Islamabad rejecting all participation claims.
When the incident occurred, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that those accountable would face 'consequences beyond their imagination.' Nevertheless, India hasn’t identified any specific group they suspect of carrying out the attack on Pahalgam, leaving their identities still uncertain.
Over the past fortnight since the assault, diplomatic ties between the nations have worsened. Each side has ejected embassy staff, halted visa processing, and shut down frontier checkpoints.
Pakistan authorities stated that the attacks on May 7 targeted at least two locations previously linked to outlawed Indian extremist organizations.
A missile struck the Subhan Mosque in Bahawalpur, located in Punjab, resulting in 13 fatalities, which included a child, as reported by Dr. Zohaib Ahmed from a local medical facility.
The Indian army stated that at least seven civilians lost their lives in Indian-administered Kashmir due to cross-border shelling from Pakistan.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the 'dishonest adversary has conducted despicable assaults' and emphasized that his nation will respond accordingly.
"Pakistan has every justification to deliver a firm reaction to this act of aggression initiated by India, and such a decisive response is certainly underway," Sharif stated.
Flights to India and Pakistan have been canceled and delayed.
Multiple carriers have altered their routes or canceled journeys linking Europe and Asia due to the tensions between India and Pakistan on Wednesday, impacting several hundred flights.
Over two dozen global flights were rerouted to steer clear of Pakistan’s airspace, and by early Wednesday morning local time, aviation authorities reported the cancellation of 52 trips heading to or departing from Pakistan, as stated by FlightRadar24.
Pakistan initially shut down its airspace during the early hours of Wednesday morning but later reopened it. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced that both domestic and international flights grounded as a result will remain halted.
A number of airports throughout India will be shut down for commercial operations in the coming days, impacting several hundred flights. Flights operated by IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have been canceled and rearranged.
Flights to and from Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam were also affected. Thai Airways said flights to destinations would be rerouted on Wednesday morning, while Vietnam Airlines said tensions had also affected flight plans.
Taiwan’s China Airlines said flights to a number of destinations, including London, Frankfurt and Rome, had been disrupted, with some cancelled and others making stops to take longer flight paths. European airlines, including Lufthansa, said they would take longer routes to and from South Asia.
Multiple flights heading from India to
London Heathrow
They experienced delays on Wednesday. British Airways services to India are running as scheduled today; however, there are presently no flights heading to Islamabad, Pakistan.
Advice for Travelling to India and Pakistan
The
The FCDO revised its travel guidance.
To both India and Pakistan on May 7. It cautioned that your travel insurance might not cover you if you choose to travel despite their warnings.
At present, the FCDO recommends avoiding all trips to certain areas within India. The organization released a statement indicating: “During the evening of May 6th (in UK time), the Indian Ministry of Defence announced they had carried out strikes at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. As a result, there have been accounts of Pakistani artillery shelling over the Line of Control.”
‘We are aware of potential disruption to flights to/from India and are monitoring closely. British nationals should contact their airline for up-to-date information. According to media reports on 6 May, the Indian Government announced a Civil Defence mock drill on 7 May in several states across India. The drill may include temporary power cuts or blackouts, loud air raid sirens, suspension of mobile signals, or traffic diversions.’
The website instructed British citizens to remain current with FCDO travel guidance and adhere to the recommendations of local officials.
For individuals planning to go to Pakistan, the FCDO recommends avoiding travel to certain areas of the country. Additionally, the organization mentioned that the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority stated they would be shutting down Pakistan’s airspace for a minimum of 48 hours.
UK citizens are recommended to get in touch with their airline for the latest details and keep abreast of travel guidance.
UK government guidance for travelers heading to India and Pakistan
UK government travel guidance for India:
Regions where the FCDO recommends avoiding travel:
India-Pakistan border area
The FCDO recommends avoiding all trips within a 10-kilometer radius of the India-Pakistan border. Additionally, the Wagah-Attari border crossing remains closed.
Jammu and Kashmir
The FCDO recommends avoiding all trips to the Jammu and Kashmir area (which includes places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar, as well as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway) with an exception for:
-
fly to and from the city of Jammu by air
-
explore inside the city of Jammu
-
explore inside the Union Territory of Ladakh
Manipur
The FCDO recommends avoiding non-essential trips to the state of Manipur, including its capital city, Imphal. Curfew measures and limitations persist in certain areas due to the ethnic unrest that erupted in 2023. These sporadic events have intensified as of September 2024.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office guidance for travelers to Pakistan:
Areas where FCDO advises against travel:
Pakistan-Afghanistan border
The FCDO recommends avoiding all trips to areas within 10 miles of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
The FCDO recommends avoiding all trips to these regions within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
-
Bajaur
-
Bannu
-
Buner
-
Chārsadda
-
Dera Ismail Khan
-
Hangu
-
Karak
-
Khyber
-
Kohat
-
Kurram
-
Lakki Marwat
-
Lower Dir
-
Mohmand
-
Orakzai
-
Peshawar, encompassing the city of Peshawar
-
Swat
-
Tank
-
North Waziristan
-
Upper South Waziristan
-
Lower South Waziristan
-
The Karakoram Highway from Mansehra to Chilas through Battagram, Besham City, Dasu, and Sazin until reaching the intersection with the N15.
-
the N45 Highway, from the north of the Mardan ring road, to the edge of Chitral City, including Kalash valley
Balochistan Province
FCDO advises against all travel to Balochistan Province.
Pakistan-India Border Area
FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 5 miles of the international border between Pakistan and India. The Wagah border crossing is closed.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir
The FCDO recommends avoiding all trips to areas within 10 miles of the Line of Control.
Sindh Province
The FCDO recommends avoiding non-essential trips to all parts of Sindh Province north of and including the city of Nawabshah.
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