NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday issued a fresh travel
advisory cautioning citizens against visiting large parts of
Iraq in view of the deteriorating security situation.
In the
advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian citizens to specifically avoid travelling to Nineveh, Salahuddin, Diyala, Anbar and Kirkuk which witnessed escalation in tension in the wake of fresh attacks by ISIS terrorists.
Indian nationals have been advised not to travel to these five provinces as they "remain unsafe" due to the prevailing security situation, the
advisory said.
"Those Indian nationals wishing to travel for employment and already having work permits and appropriate visas may return to their jobs in the safe areas in
Iraq other than those listed as unsafe areas," it said.
It also asked Indians planning to visit
Iraq to inform the Indian Embassy in Baghdad or Consulate General in Erbil prior to travelling to the country.
"Indian nationals wishing to travel for religious purposes, and having appropriate visa and return air-ticket, may also travel for pilgrimage to the holy places of Najaf and Karbala.
"They should not extend their religious pilgrimage to neighbouring Syria and not travel by road from
Iraq to Syria or vice-versa," the
advisory said.
India had issued a travel
advisory on June 15, 2014, cautioning Indian nationals to avoid visiting
Iraq in the wake of the precarious situation then developing in the country after the ISIS terrorists had taken over large Iraqi territories.
As the security situation improved, another travel
advisory was issued on February 4 last year allowing Indian nationals to consider travelling to the country except the five provinces.
Another
advisory was issued on January 8 cautioning Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within
Iraq in view of escalation of tension.