Front Page

'Avoid travel to India'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, May 31. The United States State Department has authorised the voluntary departure of all non-emergency personnel and all dependants from its Embassy and Consulates in India. A warning has been issued to American citizens to defer travel to India.

''Conditions along India's border with Pakistan and in the State of Jammu and Kashmir have deteriorated. Tensions have risen to serious levels and the risk of intensified military hostilities between India and Pakistan cannot be ruled out,'' it said. American citizens in India - estimated at around 60,000 - have been advised to avoid travel to border areas between India and Pakistan, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Department said that apart from military movements along the Line of Control in Kashmir and in the border between India and Pakistan, artillery firing along the LoC had caused death and injury.

''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.''

On Thursday, the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said on the Public Broadcasting Network that infiltration of terrorists into Kashmir was continuing despite assurances from the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf.

"We were receiving assurances from President Musharraf that infiltration activity across the Line of Control would be ended. But unfortunately, we can still see evidence that it was continuing. He has now given assurances again and these assurances are more positive, and we hope he is giving the necessary orders and taking all the necessary actions to stop the infiltration,'' Gen. Powell said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Infiltration still on: Powell
• 'Avoid travel to India'
• Shelling continues
• Fernandes downplays threat of war
• Gujral suggests PM, Musharraf meet in Almaty
• Japan for global monitors
• World Cup opens in swirl of ancient tradition and high tech
• Byelections peaceful
• FERA goes
• Caught spying
• Meeting ruled out

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu