Four countries issue terror alerts: Avoid India

Four countries — the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada — have issued travel advisories warning citizens of the high risk of terror attacks in India, reports Nandini R Iyer.

Four countries — the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada — have issued travel advisories warning citizens of the high risk of terror attacks in India.

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The US and UK advisories follow previous ones complaining about New Delhi’s new visa regulations, which require tourists to maintain a two-month gap between the time they exit the country and re-enter it.

Indian security agencies view the new alerts as “retaliatory”. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said: “Let me scotch all speculative reports that India is a country infested by terrorists. I reject this totally.”

The advisory issued by the US mission on Tuesday says: “The US government continues to receive information that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in India… their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners visit.”

Last week’s advisory on visa policy referred to “inconsistent implementation” and said the rules weren’t publicised.

The website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK government says: “Recent announcements by the Indian government on visa rules have caused confusion and concern among British visitors.”

On terror: “There is a high general threat from terrorism throughout India. Recent attacks in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore have targeted public places… Future attacks may target public places frequented by Westerners...”

At a briefing on Wednesday, Krishna said: “You find thousands of foreigners freely going about... I would like to assure foreign tourists that India is absolutely safe.”