{"id":2231,"date":"2025-05-07T09:42:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T09:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=2231"},"modified":"2025-05-13T13:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T13:12:06","slug":"is-it-safe-to-travel-to-india-and-pakistan-latest-advice-as-flights-are-delayed-and-cancelled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/07\/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-india-and-pakistan-latest-advice-as-flights-are-delayed-and-cancelled\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to travel to India and Pakistan? Latest advice as flights are delayed and cancelled"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Brits have been warned against travel to parts of India and Pakistan (Picture: Punit Paranjpe\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UK Foreign Office<\/a> has updated its travel advice<\/a> to parts of India <\/a>and Pakistan<\/a> following a deadly escalation of conflict<\/a> between the two countries.<\/p>\n

Airlines have cancelled or rerouted several flights after India fired missiles <\/a>across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory.<\/p>\n

The attacks, which took place on May 7, are believed to have killed 19 people, with 38 wounded, according to officials.<\/p>\n

India claimed that their \u2018Operation Sindoor\u2019 targeted nine sites with \u2018terrorist infrastructure\u2019 \u2013 and was part of a \u2018commitment\u2019 to respond to the deadly Pahalgam attack which killed 26 people in Indian Kashmir last month. <\/p>\n

The Indian Ministry of Defence said it struck nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while Pakistan claimed it shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In response to the conflict, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned anyone in the region against travelling within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Conflict in India and Pakistan\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been rivals for decades, but tensions have soared recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On April 22, 26 tourists were killed by militants in the resort town of Pahalgam<\/a>, in Indian-administered Kashmir. Survivors said that Hindu men were specifically being targeted.<\/p>\n

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Officials say at least 19 people have been killed (Picture: Faisal Bashir\/SOPA Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

India blamed the attack on Pakistani-backed militant groups, although Islamabad has denied any involvement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that those responsible would be \u2018punished beyond their imagination\u2019. However, India has not yet named any group it suspects attacked Pahlagm, and their identities remain unclear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the two weeks since the attack, diplomatic relations between the two countries have deteriorated. Both sides have expelled diplomats, suspended visa services and closed border crossings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pakistani officials said the May 7 strikes hit at least two sites previously tied to banned Indian militant groups.<\/p>\n

One strike hit the Subhan Mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, killing 13 people, including a child, according to Zohaib Ahmed, a doctor at a nearby hospital.<\/p>\n

At least seven civilians were also killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir by Pakistani shelling, the Indian army said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the \u2018deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks\u2019 and that his country would retaliate.<\/p>\n

\u2018Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,\u2019 Sharif said.<\/p>\n

Flights to India and Pakistan cancelled and delayed\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Several airlines have rerouted or cancelled flights between Europe and Asia because of the conflict between India and Pakistan on Wednesday, with hundreds of flights affected.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than two dozen international flights were diverted to avoid Pakistan airspace, and by Wednesday morning local time, airlines had cancelled 52 flights to or from Pakistan, according to FlightRadar24.<\/p>\n

Pakistan had first closed its airspace in the early hours of Wednesday morning before eventually reopening it. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has said that all domestic and international flights on the ground have been put on hold.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Several airports across India are closed for commercial flights over the next few days, with hundreds of flights affected. IndiGo, Air India, Spicejet, Akasa Air, Air India Express flights have been cancelled and rescheduled.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flights to and from Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam were also affected. Thai Airways said flights to destinations would be rerouted on Wednesday morning, while Vietnam Airlines said tensions had also affected flight plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taiwan\u2019s China Airlines said flights to a number of destinations, including London, Frankfurt and Rome, had been disrupted, with some cancelled and others making stops to take longer flight paths. European airlines, including Lufthansa, said they would take longer routes to and from South Asia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Several flights travelling from India to London Heathrow<\/a> were delayed on Wednesday. British Airways flights are operating to India today, but there are currently no flights to Islamabad in Pakistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Travel advice for India and Pakistan\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The FCDO updated its travel advice <\/a>to both India and Pakistan on May 7. It warned that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Currently, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts of India. A statement read: \u2018On the night of 6 May (UK Time), the Indian Ministry of Defence stated it had struck nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In response, there are reports of Pakistani artillery fire across the Line of Control.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018We are aware of potential disruption to flights to\/from India and are monitoring closely. British nationals should contact their airline for up-to-date information. According to media reports on 6 May, the Indian Government announced a Civil Defence mock drill on 7 May in several states across India. The drill may include temporary power cuts or blackouts, loud air raid sirens, suspension of mobile signals, or traffic diversions.\u2019<\/p>\n

The website advised British nationals to stay up to date with FCDO travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities.\u2019<\/p>\n

For those who had plans to visit Pakistan, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Pakistan too. It added that the Pakistan Civil\u00a0Aviation Authority indicated that it was closing Pakistan airspace for at least 48 hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n

British nationals are advised to contact their airline for up-to-date information and stay up-to-date with travel advice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tForeign Office advice for travel in India and Pakistan\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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FCDO travel advice for India:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Areas where\u00a0FCDO\u00a0advises against travel:<\/p>\n

India-Pakistan border area<\/strong><\/p>\n

FCDO\u00a0advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed.<\/p>\n

Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong><\/p>\n

FCDO\u00a0advises against all travel to the region of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for:<\/p>\n