NEW DELHI:India has reacted "softly" to the recent travel advisory issued by the United States wherein it asked its nationals not to travel to Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border, and parts of central and eastern parts of the country where Naxalites are active. In a weekly press conference held in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dubbed the advisory as "a routine exercise of any country". The remarks from India came a day after a revised travel advisory for India issued by the US State Department on Wednesday said: "Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk".
Level 2 advisory for India
Overall India has been placed at Level 2. But several parts of the country have been placed on Level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pak border, Manipur and parts of Central and East India. "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.
In addition, it recommended Americans to reconsider travel to the northeastern states due to terrorism and violence. "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 said.
US' inability to perform emergency rescue in rural areas
The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas. These areas stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. The US government employees must get special authorization to travel to these areas, it said.