A recent advisory from the United States urging its citizens to avoid travel to Jammu and Kashmir and other specific regions in India has provided fresh ammunition to politicians here to question the Centre’s claims of normality in the region.

The criticism comes amid a significant increase in militant violence in the Jammu region since 2021, marking an escalation following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on June 9.

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday paid his third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since last month, suggesting a growing concern over the situation.

Rubbing salt into the wound of the Centre, National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah posted on X: “So much for ‘naya J&K’ (new J&K). For all the talk of normalcy, peace, tourism and the G-20 tamasha in Srinagar, J&K continues to be the target of US state department travel advisories. The Modi government has been able to change nothing.”

Omar was reacting to the travel advisory issued by the US state department asking its citizens not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, the India-Pakistan border and central and eastern parts of India where Maoists are active.

Such state department advisories are an annual feature but the government was not expecting it this time, particularly after the G20 summit in Kashmir last year.

Last month, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha had said he had met senior officials from the US embassy who reportedly assured him that they would write to their government and strongly recommend the rollback of any negative
travel advisory.

The state department said in its latest advisory: “Do not travel to: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest; within 10km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict; portions of central and east India due to terrorism and Manipur due to violence and crime.”

The advisory suggested that Americans reconsider travel to the Northeast because of “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 at tourist sites and other locations. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist areas, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls and government facilities,” the advisory said.