Is it safe to travel to India and Pakistan? Latest advice as flights are delayed and cancelled

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

Airlines have cancelled or rerouted several flights after India fired missiles across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory.

The attacks, which took place late on May 6 (UK time), are believed to have killed 19 people, with 38 wounded, according to officials.

India claimed that their ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeted nine sites with ‘terrorist infrastructure’ – and was part of a ‘commitment’ to respond to the deadly Pahalgam attack which killed 26 people in Indian Kashmir last month.

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. 

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. 

Conflict in India and Pakistan 

The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been rivals for decades, but tensions have soared recently. 

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

India blamed the attack on Pakistani-backed militant groups, although Islamabad has denied any involvement. 

At the time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that those responsible would be ‘punished beyond their imagination’. However, India has not yet named any group it suspects attacked Pahlagm, and their identities remain unclear. 

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. 

Pakistani officials said the May 6 strikes hit at least two sites previously tied to banned Indian militant groups.

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.

At least seven civilians were also killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir by Pakistani shelling, the Indian army said in a statement.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ‘deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks’ and that his country would retaliate.

‘Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,’ Sharif said.

Travel advice for India and Pakistan 

Several Asian airlines said they were re-routing or cancelling flights to and from Europe because of the fighting between India and Pakistan on Wednesday. 

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.

Several flights travelling from India to London Heathrow were delayed on Wednesday. Some carriers, including American Airlines, cancelled some of their services from Delhi airport.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has said that all domestic and international flights on the ground have been put on hold. 

The FCDO updated its travel advice to both India and Pakistan on May 7. It warned that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice. 

Currently, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts of India. A statement read: ‘On 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. 

‘We 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.’

The website advised British nationals to stay up to date with FCDO travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities.’

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 Aviation Authority indicated that it was closing Pakistan airspace for at least 48 hours. 

British nationals are advised to contact their airline for up-to-date information and stay up-to-date with travel advice. 

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