UK issues India terror warning too

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its travel advisory on Friday, warning its nationals about terror strikes in India, especially in light of the upcoming festive season.

“We advise against all travel to, or through rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir other than Ladakh; all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan (Northern and Western India), other than at the international border crossing at Wagah; and all travel in Manipur and Tripura (East and North East India),” says the advisory, adding, “We advise against all but essential travel to Srinagar (Northern India) and Imphal (East and North East India). If you do travel to these areas then you should only do so by air.”

The advisory also goes on to add, “There is a high general threat from terrorism throughout India. Recent attacks in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad. Hyderabad and Bangalore have targeted public places, including luxury hotels, railway stations, markets and places of worship. Future attacks may target public places frequented by Westerners and expatriates, including in the major metropolitan centers (Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai) and tourist areas such as Goa.”

The British FCO also asks subjects to remain extra vigilant around days of national significance, specifically referring to Eid (20/21 September) and Diwali (17 October) as ‘terrorists have mounted attacks in these periods in the past’.

“British nationals should exercise particular caution when in the vicinity of key government installations and tourist sites, attending public events (including religious and sporting events), and in public places including hotels, airports, shopping malls, markets and on public transport,” says the FCO, also adding, “Celebration venues, prominent government buildings, public transport, places of worship and public areas are potential targets for such attacks as are high profile events attended by large numbers of foreign nationals.”

This updating of travel advice comes at the same time as Israel issuing its highest level warning of a terror strike in India.

Sources have also indicted to StratPost that the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, is sending a high-ranking officer to liaise with Indian authorities.

The US too had issued a travel advisory on September 12 advising citizens to register at the nearest US consulate in India. The advisory is valid till the end of October.