Islamabad (TDI): The Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan has issued travel instructions for Swedish citizens in Pakistan or travelling to the country. The advisory has been issued as a risk of possible escalation looms large between India and Pakistan, following the 22 April’s attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Embassy has advised people to avoid going to Gilgit Baltistan, for tourist and other non-essential purposes. In addition, travel along the border with India has also been discouraged. The Wagah border between the two countries is already closed, and air space has also been restricted.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said on Wednesday that “credible intelligence” reports indicated that India was planning to conduct a military action against Pakistan in the next 24 to 36 hours.
#Pakistan 🇵🇰 : Tourist and other non-essential travel to Gilgit-Baltistan is now discouraged. Furthermore, travel to the entire border region with India and other parts of the country is generally discouraged.
More info👉https://t.co/X8JKYM39V0— Embassy of Switzerland in Pakistan (@SwissAmbPak) May 2, 2025
This statement put the country on high alert and Embassies also started cautioning their citizens. The risk of escalation hasn’t dies down yet but the United States has urged both countries to be careful and practice restraint.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio initiated separate telephone calls with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and discussed the situation in the region, on Wednesday.
Yesterday, Vice President JD Vance said that Washington hoped that India’s response to the attack does not lead to a broader regional conflict.
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Earlier, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi gave complete operational freedom to air, naval, and military forces, to respond to the attack which India blamed on Pakistan without sharing evidence.
Hours after, Pakistan’s Interior Minister told the media that the next 24-36 hours were critical and that Pakistan was prepared to respond.
Nuzhat Rana is the Managing Editor (website) at The Diplomatic Insight.
