United Kingdom, Australia and Germany warn citizens not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir

As part of the list of recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir, Britain advised against "any essential travel to the city of Srinagar and travel between the cities of Jammu and Srinagar on the Jammu-Srinagar National Road".

New Delhi:

Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom asked their citizens on Saturday to avoid any travel to Jammu and Kashmir, a day after the government asked tourists and pilgrims from Amarnath Yatra to "immediately" shorten their stay and return, in an unprecedented notice based on information provided by intelligence of terrorist threats.

"There is a risk of unpredictable violence, including bomb attacks, grenade attacks, gunfire and kidnappings," said the UK Foreign Office, recommending that travel to Jammu and Kashmir be avoided, with the exception of air travel to Jammu and the city, as well as the Ladakh region.

Expressing the list of recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir, Britain advised against "essential travel to the city of Srinagar and travel between the cities of Jammu and Srinagar on the Jammu-Srinagar National Road", and also advised against travel to tourist destinations in Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg. "If you are in Jammu and Kashmir, stay alert, follow the advice of local authorities and keep abreast of developments, including through travel advice," the commission said.

Thousands of tourists, including foreigners, pilgrims, students and workers from other parts of the country, began to leave the Kashmir Valley on Friday after the government had asked them to return home.

"Travellers staying in Kashmir (especially in the Kashmir Valley and on the Amaranath Yatra pilgrimage route) are invited to leave Jammu and Kashmir," said the German Foreign Ministry.

Australia has also asked its citizens "to exercise great caution in India because of the strong threat of terrorist activity", ANI news agency reported.

The advisory let the tourists scramble for airline tickets, which caused confusion at Srinagar airport when they rushed there. Several airlines have decided to grant a full waiver of the costs of rescheduling or cancelling flights to and from Srinagar until 15 August, when Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to end.

The Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir sent buses on Friday, immediately after the publication of the notice, to various tourist destinations to bring tourists back to Srinagar, announced the head of Department.

The center's advice is considered an unprecedented move, as pilgrims and tourists have never been invited, even at the height of militancy, to leave Kashmir, which saw a massive build-up of troops last week.