Canada has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid travelling to Jammu & Kashmir and areas within 10 km of India’s border with Pakistan, in light of recent Indian airstrikes conducted under Operation Sindoor. The strikes, which targeted sites in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan’s Punjab province on Wednesday, were carried out in retaliation for a terror attack in Pahalgam two weeks ago.
These precision operations marked the first time since the 1971 war that India has targeted locations in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab. According to Canadian authorities, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with reports of artillery exchanges across the Line of Control (LoC)—the de facto border in J&K—raising concerns of further escalation. The advisory warned that “tensions could rise and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.”
In J&K’s Poonch region, Pakistani shelling resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians and one soldier, while injuring 42 others and prompting emergency evacuations. The Canadian advisory also highlighted air travel disruptions, noting that local authorities may impose further measures, such as temporary airspace closures.
Following India’s airstrikes, 27 airports in northern India were closed to commercial flights until Saturday, and 25 international flight paths were suspended. Canadians in the region were advised to closely follow local instructions, heed air-raid sirens and evacuation notices, and be ready to shelter in place if necessary.
The advisory emphasized that “violent clashes between militants and security forces are frequent,” and that terrorist attacks targeting security personnel often result in civilian casualties. “Such incidents could occur at any time, placing bystanders at risk.”
Citizens were specifically advised against travelling within 10 km of the border areas in Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan due to the “unpredictable security environment.” Overall, the advisory recommended exercising a high degree of caution throughout India.
A separate advisory was also issued for Pakistan, where airspace closures have led to flight disruptions. It noted that security forces remain on high alert in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi, including port areas, as the security situation continues to evolve unpredictably.
In response to the Indian strikes, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the country would respond. His government has authorised the armed forces to take “corresponding actions,” describing India’s operation as “an act of war.” Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, affirmed that Pakistan retains the right to retaliate “at a time, place, and method of its choosing,” even as international calls for restraint grow.
