The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan has issued a security alert for Americans to leave conflict areas after India struck Pakistani-controlled territory earlier Wednesday.
“We advice U.S. citizens to depart areas of active conflict if they can safely do so, or to shelter in place,” the embassy said in a Wednesday statement.
The embassy said it was aware of the military strikes in Pakistan and that it continues to be an “evolving situation.”
They reminded citizens of the “Do Not Travel” advisory in areas in the vicinity of the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control due to “terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.”
The State Department also has a “Reconsider Travel” advisory in place for Pakistan.
The embassy said it was aware that airspace has been closed and that many flights have been canceled due to the attack. It will continue to send alerts and updates as needed through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program messaging system, the embassy said.
India struck Pakistan early Wednesday in response to a massacre of tourists in an Indian-controlled territory last month. India’s missile attack killed nine people, including one child, and wounded several others.
The Indian government said it was striking infrastructure used by militants where attacks against India have been “planned and directed.”
The U.S. Embassy of India said no Pakistani civilian, economic or military targets were hit and only “known terror camps” were targeted.
The Pakistani Foreign Affairs Office said the attack was “unprovoked” and other Pakistani officials claimed the strike was on “innocent civilians and mosques.”
Tensions rose after a militant attack last month killed 26 people in the Indian-controlled part of the Kashmir region, which has long been a disputed area of land between the two countries. Pakistan has denied India’s claim that it was behind the April attack.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was monitoring the situation “closely” and would engage with both country’s leadership to work “towards a peaceful resolution.”
