US warns citizens to defer travel to India, Pak

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The United States has warned its citizens to defer travel to India and Pakistan, saying the risk that current tensions could spark a war could not be ruled out.
"Conditions along India's border with Pakistan and in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have deteriorated," the State Department said in twin travel warnings covering the two countries.

"Tensions have risen to serious levels, and the risk of intensified military hostilities between India and Pakistan cannot be ruled out."

The State Department also advised any Americans remaining in India and Pakistan to consider leaving.

Americans were especially advised to avoid the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab, as well as Jammu and Kashmir, the site of escalating clashes with Pakistan across the Line of Control.

"Terrorist groups, some of which are linked to Al-Qaeda and have previously been implicated in attacks on Americans, are active there as well, and have attacked and killed civilians," the warning said.

Americans in Pakistan were reminded that there have already been attacks on their compatriots in the country since Washington launched its campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.

Those include a March 17 attack on a church which killed the wife and step-daughter of a US diplomat and the kidnapping and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl who worked for the Wall Street Journal.