Smartraveller issues new travel warnings for India, Pakistan

Aussies have been issued an urgent warning as the hostilities between nuclear powers India and Pakistan erupt.

Australians are being urged to reconsider plans to travel to Pakistan and being warned of potential flight disruptions to India, after hostilities broke out between the two major South Asian nuclear powers.

The updated advice, released by Smartraveller on Wednesday morning, warns the “current security situation” between India and Pakistan means Australians should take additional caution travelling to or around the neighbouring countries.

The alert recommends those bound for Pakistan reconsider their need to travel to the country due to the “volatile security situation”.

“We recommend you monitor local media for updates, stay alert, take official warnings seriously and follow the advice of local authorities,” the advice states.

“There may be flight disruptions due to airspace and airport closures. Check with your airline before arriving at the airport.”

India launched strikes on Pakistan on Wednesday morning. Picture: Chudary Naseer/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Smartraveller alert warned Pakistan had closed the Wagah border crossing until further notice and cross-border travel was suspended.

“If you have plans to travel to India from Pakistan, reconsider your route and follow the advice of local authorities,” it read.

“We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to Pakistan overall. Higher levels apply in some areas.

“The security situation remains unpredictable. Avoid large groups of people, demonstrations, and protests, as they can turn violent quickly.”

For India, the government asks travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” overall.

A “do not travel” warning is in place for Jammu and Kashmir and the India-Pakistan border, except the Atari-Wagah border crossing or Manipur.

A “reconsider your need to travel” alert has been issued for the Atari-Wagah border crossing, Chhattisgarh and the border areas of India’s neighbouring states.

“There may be flight disruptions,” the alert states.

“Some airports in India (particularly in the north-west) may close, and airline schedules may be affected.

“Check with your airline before arriving at the airport.”

Longstanding tensions between the two nations have erupted into hostilities.

India fired missiles into Pakistani territory on Wednesday morning and Pakistan has vowed to retaliate.

The violence is erupting in the disputed Kashmir region. Picture: Muhammed Ali Yigit / Anadolu via Getty Images

The violence follows an attack on tourists in the Indian-run portion of Kashmir - a disputed region - on April 22.

New Delhi has accused Islamabad of supporting the attack in the tourist hotspot of Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead.

Pakistan has rejected the accusation.

The two countries have fought multiple wars against each other since gaining their independence from Britain after the World War Two.

As of 2022, there were some 750,000 Indian migrants to Australia, according to the National Library of Australia, making them the second-largest migrant group in the country.

The Home Affairs Department counted 120,440 Pakistani-born people living in Australia by the end of 2023, making the diaspora the 12th-largest migrant community in the country.

Originally published as Smartraveller issues new travel warnings for India, Pakistan