 "Security personnel inspect the aftermath of the attack in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres from Srinagar. Source: AFP")
The United States has issued a travel advisory asking American citizens to avoid travelling to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. It also advised Americans not to go within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border.
“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)," the advisory said.
“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,” it added.
On the day of the attack, US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to console the deaths of the 26 people in Pahalgam. He condemned the attack, saying that the US stands with India in its fight against terrorism and offered all possible support to New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has downgraded ties with Pakistan on Wednesday in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam.
India summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, on Thursday to hand him the official Persona Non Grata notice for Pakistan’s military diplomats who have been expelled as part of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision.
Quick Reads
View AllAt a late evening media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the decisions, said the overall strength of the Pakistani and Indian high commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1.
Misri said the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam attack were “brought out” in a briefing to the CCS, following which it decided to take the measures against Pakistan.
The new retaliatory actions shut down the few existing diplomatic mechanisms between the two sides taking bilateral relations to yet another new low.
The foreign secretary, announcing the five retaliatory measures, said “the defence, military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata” and they have a week to leave India.
With inputs from agencies