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ShareNew Delhi: The Centre has cautioned Indian citizens, particularly pilgrims, against travelling to Pakistan in view of the security situation there, a possible spin-off to Pakistan charging India with backing the Taliban for creating trouble in that country.
Coming ahead of prime minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to Kashmir from Wednesday, the home ministry's move to issue a travel advisory assumes significance in view of reports of increased infiltration from across the border.
Although the advisory is general in nature, ministry sources said it was aimed at cautioning Sikh pilgrims planning to travel to Pakistan from October 31 to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary on November 2.
Another reason the Centre upped the ante against Pakistan on the eve of Singh's Kashmir visit, could be Pakistan-based Kashmiri militant Syed Salahuddin's message to his cadres in Kashmir to avenge the killing of three top Hizbul Mujahiddin commanders.
Intelligence agencies tapped intercepts containing Salahuddin's direction to his cadres on Monday. Salahuddin is also the head of the United Jehad Council, a conglomerate of top militant organisations operating from Pakistan.
Home ministry sources said the first advisory was sent to chief secretaries of states (Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Chandigarh) from where pilgrims are visiting Pakistan on October 22.
It was later decided to issue an advisory of general nature so that those Indians directly approaching the Pakistan high commission for visas were also covered. The pilgrims mostly apply for visas through the Sikh Gurudwara Pranbandhak Committee.
