DNA Verified: Did Canada ask its citizens in India to avoid travel to Jammu-Kashmir amid terrorism threat?

Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government has issued a fresh travel advisory asking its citizens to avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir “due to the unpredictable security situation”. This comes amid a row over Hardeep Nijjar's killing.

'Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," Canada said in its updated travel advisory for India.

However, the travel advisory issued by Canada since 2021 has remained the same, where the country has repeatedly warned all its citizens to refrain from travelling to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and other disturbed areas. In the updated version of the advisory, Trudeau's government added the states Manipur and Assam to the list.

The travel advisory was updated on September 18, 2023, after the Khalistani movement controversy between Canada and India broke out over the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Nijjar. It must be noted that this travel advisory is not new, and all advisories issued by Canada have warned civilians from travelling to Jammu and Kashmir.

The only new update in the advisory issued by Canada is in the Health section, and not the travel section. This means that Canadian citizens being asked not to go to Jammu and Kashmir is not new information, as mentioned on the official website of the Government of Canada.

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