The Australian government has issued an emergency travel warning for residents planning to visit India or Pakistan amid a sudden and serious military escalation between the two nations.
Smarttraveller raised its advice level for India to “exercise a high degree of caution”, urging Australians to take official warnings “seriously” as tensions flare.
The travel advisory warns of potential flight disruptions due to the closure of airports—particularly in northwest India—and advises that airline schedules may be affected.
“We continue to advise do not travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the entire India-Pakistan border, or Manipur,” the Smarttraveller alert stated.
It also noted that India has closed the Attari border crossing with Pakistan. The statement added:
“Exercise a high degree of caution in India overall due to the threat of terrorism and crime and the risk of civil unrest. Higher levels apply in some areas.”
The warning does not apply to the Union Territory of Ladakh, which remains unaffected by the current advisory.
For Pakistan, the government has upgraded its travel warning to “reconsider your need to travel”, following an Indian military operation that struck nine targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The operation, named “Operation Sindoor”, was launched in retaliation for an Islamist terror attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, which left 25 civilians dead.
The alert warned:
“Terrorist and separatist groups hostile to foreign interests operate in Pakistan. The threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping remains very high. Foreigners may be targeted.”
Australians are being urged to avoid travel to both countries unless absolutely necessary, as the volatile situation continues to unfold.
Amid ongoing flight disruptions due to the India-Pakistan conflict, the All Ladakh Hotel & Guesthouses Association in Leh has announced that stranded tourists will be given complimentary accommodation at their current hotels.
In a statement reflecting local solidarity and national pride, the association said the move was “a true reflection of Ladakh’s spirit of hospitality and patriotism.”
“Atithi Devo Bhava! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!” the group added, invoking the Indian cultural value of treating guests as divine.
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