WASHINGTON – The United States on Wednesday issued a new travel advisoryfor countries including India, as it is based on ready-to-understand levelof advice ranging from one to four.

India has been ranked Level 2 (exercise increased caution). Level 1 advisestravllers to exercise normal precaution, while Level 4, which has countrieslike Afghanistan, recommends “Do Not Travel”.

Now every country has a travel advisory based on this system, which hasreplaced all the previous such advisories.

“These improvements will provide US citizens with clear, timely, andreliable safety and security information worldwide,” the State Departmentsaid.

Placing India on Level 2, the State Department identified “crime andterrorism” for Americans to exercise increased caution. However, it asksAmericans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir, except for eastern Ladakh andLeh and not to venture within 10 miles of the India-Pakistan border due tothe “potential for armed conflict”.

The State Department explained that while it will issue an overall traveladvisory level for every country, levels of advice may vary for specificlocations or areas within a country.

“Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes inIndia. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sitesand in other locations,” the new India travel advisory said.

Terrorists or armed groups are active in east-central India, primarily inrural areas, it added.

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting touristlocations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and localgovernment facilities,” it said.