The US State Department announces Level 2 guidelines for India to its citizens and Government Officials. In that advisory, it is mentioned not to travel few parts of rural India without special permission, including the India-Pakistan border, Indo-Nepal border, and Jammu and Kashmir. It urged US Women not to travel alone for safety purposes.
On June 16, the US State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory and guidelines for its citizens and workers residing in India. Due to multiple violence incidents, sexual assaults, and terror attacks happening in India, concerns about safety and precautions in the minds; the advisory states that “Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.” Previously, this kind of advisory was also generated about crime, terrorism, and women’s safety in 2022, 2023, and even in 2024.
A special permission is needed if the US Government staff travel to “eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal”, as Maoist extremist groups, or Naxalites, are active in these parts of India. The advisory cites that the US government has limited capability to support emergency services to its citizens in rural parts of India. Additionally, the advisory urged US women not to travel alone due to safety reasons in India. The advisory suggests that the upcoming US travellers not carry or use GPS devices or satellite phones, as it is illegal in India and may cause a penalty or fine of $200,000 or jail time of up to three years.
The advisory mentioned a few Indian states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Odisha- travel to these states, apart from the capital of these states, US government officials need approval for a visit. Along with this, the advisory asked and warned the US Government employees, citizens, and travellers “not to cross the India-Nepal border by land due to risks of immigration-related detentions and fines”; Manipur and other northeastern regions are to be avoided for security reasons.
“Violence also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas along the LOC,” recent terror attacks in Pahalgam hit the US to alert its citizens and the Government officials that they need prior permission to visit Jammu Kashmir and Indian- Pakistan Border.
