ISLAMABAD: The United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and several countries of the world have issued a new travel advisory to their citizens amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India.
The UK Foreign Office has asked its citizens to avoid travelling within 10 kilometres of the Pakistan-India border.
The United Kingdom has issued a warning advising its citizens against travelling to most areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The US State Department has also revised its travel advisory for Pakistan and warned its citizens against travelling to the Line of Control (LoC), Balochistan, and former tribal areas.
Similarly, Russia has also advised its citizens to avoid travel to Pakistan due to the current regional tensions.
The Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for Pakistan, urging caution. It has specifically advised against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has also issued a caution, advising its nationals to avoid regions in Pakistan where military operations are currently taking place.
Australia has also issued updated travel advisory for its citizens amid escalating volatility between the neighbouring countries.
Indian army gets befitting response
Earlier Pakistan Army gave a befitting response to Indian Army ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kashmir region, destroying several posts during the night between April 29 and 30.
Pakistani defence sources have confirmed that the country’s armed forces remain fully alert and prepared to respond to any form of aggression.
Indian forces opened unprovoked small-arms fire on the Kiani and Mandal sectors, according to security sources.
One of the positions hit during the exchange was the Chakpatra post, situated in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Following a retaliatory response by the Pakistani Army, the Indian firing came to a halt.
Officials stated that “any hostile move by India would be seen as an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and would receive a strong and immediate response.”
PAF forces IAF jet to retreat
The timely and efficient action of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) forced the Indian Rafale aircraft to flee in panic, Pakistan state media reported on Wednesday.
State-run media, PTV News and Radio Pakistan cited security sources as saying, “On the night of April 29/30, four Rafale aircraft of the Indian Air Force patrolled overnight in the airspace in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).”
It reported that PAF aircraft immediately identified these Indian Air Force warplanes, forcing them to flee.
Pakistan shoots down two quadcopters
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday shot down two Indian quadcopters that violated Pakistani airspace along the Line of Control (LoC), in what officials described as a clear breach of sovereignty and an act of aggression.
According to security sources, the first incident occurred in the Munawar Sector in Bhimber district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where an Indian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), identified as a Phantom-4 quadcopter, was intercepted and neutralised after it attempted aerial surveillance within Pakistani territory.
Later the same day, a second Indian quadcopter was downed in the Satwal Sector in Poonch district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
In both instances, the Pakistan Army responded swiftly, preventing the devices from gathering any intelligence and neutralizing the threat.
Pahalgam crisis
Tensions escalated between Pakistan and India after gunmen attacked local tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 22 April, killing 26 people and injuring 17.
India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting any credible evidence. Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly rejected the Indian government’s baseless accusations.
A day after the Pahalgam incident on 23 April, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security approved measures including the closure of the Wagah-Attari border crossing and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
In response, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) met on 24 April and warned that any attempt by India to block water flows into Pakistan would be considered an act of war.
The Pakistan Foreign Office on Friday said India was in no position to make a unilateral decision on the Indus Waters Treaty which is of critical importance for Pakistan’s water security and economy.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee also announced to closure of the Wagah border crossing with India.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Islamabad was open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the Pahalgam attack. However, New Delhi has yet to respond to Pakistan’s offer.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that it has no interest in escalating conflict but would defend itself if attacked.
