India advises citizens against travel to Pakistan

By Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has advised its citizens against travel to Pakistan, citing security reasons, the home ministry said on Tuesday, as ties between the two nuclear rivals continue strained.

Thousands of Indian pilgrims, mainly Sikhs, travel to Pakistan's Punjab province, home to some of the most revered Sikh sites including the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the 15th century founder of their faith.

Islamic militants have staged attacks on a variety of targets in Punjab province in recent times and there have been several bloody firefights between the militants and security forces.

"Government of India is of the view that it is not advisable for the Indian pilgrims to visit Pakistan in the prevailing situation when frequent terrorist attacks are taking place," the ministry said in a statement.

Pakistani forces backed by heavy artillery have also been attacking Taliban insurgents since last week in a bid to gain control of militant strongholds in South Waziristan, a lawless northwestern region on the Afghan border.

"MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has advised Indian citizens to avoid visiting Pakistan in view of (the) deteriorating security situation there," the statement read.

India had asked citizens to be careful on visits to Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks last November, in which 166 people were killed in three days of carnage. It did not issue an official advisory at the time, however.

India suspended a 2004 peace process with Pakistan after the attacks, saying it could be resumed only if Pakistan acted to dismantle the "terrorist network" on its soil.