Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated its travel advisory for India, urging citizens to avoid the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the entire India–Pakistan border, and the north-eastern state of Manipur, amid mounting military tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The updated SmartTraveller notice, issued on 7 May, comes as both countries remain locked in a volatile standoff following India’s launch of Operation Sindoor—an airstrike campaign on suspected militant targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The advisory warns Australians to monitor local media, stay alert, and heed instructions from authorities. With airspace closures and disrupted airline schedules expected, travellers are advised to check with airlines before heading to the airport.
Airports in north-west India may shut at short notice, and India has already closed the Attari land border crossing with Pakistan. Although the advisory does not apply to Ladakh—now recognised as a separate union territory since 2019—concern is growing over the broader regional fallout from the military escalation.
The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 people, triggered the Indian government’s decision to launch strikes on May 6 across Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Muridke and Bahawalpur. Pakistan has since claimed civilian casualties and retaliated with its own military action, including claims of downed Indian jets and destruction of key targets.
DFAT’s warning is consistent with earlier assessments, but the updated language reflects the sharp rise in risk. Both nuclear-armed nations have hardened their diplomatic positions, with India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan revoking the Simla Agreement.
The Australian government continues to advise against travel to conflict-prone areas, stating that the situation could deteriorate rapidly. With little sign of de-escalation and borders heating up, the advice is clear: stay away, stay informed, and be ready to change plans at short notice.
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