In the wake of the advisory issued by the Jammu and Kashmir government, asking the Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir at the earliest, considering the security situation in the valley, the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia on Saturday followed suit.
The UK government asked its citizens to remain watchful and follow the advice of local authorities, while travelling in the terror-affected state. The British High Commission in New Delhi was also keeping a watch on the developments.
According to the British foreign office, there was a risk of unpredictable violence, including bombings, grenade attacks, shootings and kidnapping in the valley. They also advised their citizens not to travel to J&K, with the exceptions of travel by air to Jammu and within the city, and within the region of Ladakh.
Berlin issued a similar advisory to its citizens, discouraging them not to travel to the Valley. According to the German advisory, travel to the Kashmir area, including Srinagar, was not advisable. It also asked its citizens to keep themselves updated about the developments.
According to the Australian government, the citizens were asked to remain cautious, while travelling to Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir government had issued a security advisory on Friday, urging the Amarnath Yatris and tourists to curtail their stay in the valley.
“Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats with specific targeting of Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible,” said an order issued by Principal Secretary, Home Shaleen Kabra.
The Amarnath pilgrims on Saturday returned from Yatri Niwas base camp, without having darshan of the self-made Shivlingam, in the holy cave shrine.
(UNI)
