The US has advised its citizens not to travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except eastern Ladakh and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest.

The US has asked its citizens not to travel to Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border and central and eastern parts of the country where Naxalites are active. In a revised travel advisory for India, the State Department said it has been updated to reflect information on northeastern states. “Crime and terrorism have increased vigilance in India. Danger has increased in some areas,” it said.

Overall, India has been placed at Level 2. But many parts of the country have been kept at level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, the Indo-Pak border, Manipur and parts of central and eastern India. Do not travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except Eastern Ladakh and its capital Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest; within 10 km of India-Pakistan border due to possibility of armed conflict; Parts of central and eastern India due to terrorism and Manipur due to violence and crime,” the State Department said.

In addition, it recommends that Americans reconsider traveling to the northeastern states due to terrorism and violence.

“Indian authorities report that rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crimes such as sexual assault have occurred in tourist destinations and other places. Terrorists can attack with little or no warning. They target tourist destinations, transport hubs, markets/shopping malls and government facilities,” the travel advisory said.

The US government has limited capacity to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas. These areas are spread from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana to western West Bengal. US government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to the area, it said.

Placing Manipur at “Level 4: Do Not Travel”, the State Department said: “Do not travel to Manipur due to threat of violence and crime. The ongoing ethnic-based civil conflict has resulted in reports of widespread violence and community displacement. Attacks on Indian government targets are regular. US government employees traveling to India require prior permission before traveling to Manipur.

Also, terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. “Do not travel to this state (except for visits to eastern Ladakh region and its capital Leh). Violence in the area is sporadic and common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. It is also found in the tourist destinations of the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The Government of India does not allow foreign tourists to enter certain parts of the LoC,” it said.

“India and Pakistan have a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official border crossing for non-citizens of India or Pakistan is in Punjab. It is between Attari, India and Wagah, Pakistan. The border crossing is usually open, but check its current status before you travel. To enter Pakistan, you need a Pakistani visa. Only US citizens residing in India can apply for Pakistan visa in India. Otherwise, apply for a Pakistani visa in your country before traveling to India,” it said.

Maoist militant groups or “Naxalites” are active in large parts of India stretching from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana to western West Bengal, the advisory said.

Attacks on Indian government officials have been sporadic in rural areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, bordering Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha. The southwestern part of Odisha has also been affected. Naxalites have carried out several terrorist attacks targeting local police, paramilitary forces and government officials, it said.

“Due to the fluid nature of the threat, US government employees must obtain permission before traveling to most areas in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Odisha. If the employee is traveling only to the capital cities of these states, then permission is not required. Permission is also required for US government employees to travel to the eastern region of Maharashtra and the eastern region of Madhya Pradesh,” the advisory said.

Additionally, Northeastern states – Level 3: Reconsider travel. “Ethnic insurgent groups occasionally resort to violence in parts of the northeast. These incidents include bombings in buses, trains, railway lines and markets. There have been no recent reports of violence in Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim or Tripura,” it said.

“US government employees traveling to India require prior permission before visiting the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as any area outside the capital cities of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura,” it said.