India issues travel advisory, advises citizens to avoid travel to Iran, Israel till further notice

S Jaishankar, MEA, Israel, Iran, Travel advisory — Image Source : PTI External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (April 12) issued a travel advisory for Iran and Israel and advised all Indians to not travel to Iran or Israel till further notice. The MEA also requested all those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel to get in touch with Indian Embassies there and register themselves.

The information was shared by the official spokesperson of MEA Randhir Jaiswal on X.

The government's advisory comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries following a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria 11 days ago. Iran blamed Israel for the strike and there have been apprehensions that Tehran may launch an attack on Israel soon.

MEA advisory for Indians

In the advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also urged the Indians residing in Iran and Israel to exercise utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to minimum.

"In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice," it said.

"All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian Embassies there and register themselves," the MEA said.

"They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum," it added.

Indian workers in Israel should be brought back immediately: Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday demanded that the Indian workers who are currently in Israel should be brought back immediately. He hit out at the NDA Government at the Centre alleging it is sending Indian workers to Israel even after an advisory by the same dispensation discouraging countrymen to go there citing safety.

In a series of posts on "X", Owaisi, also referring to a news article, asked why the Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn't tell the country what the "prolonged situation" on the border is and how much territory was there that Indian soldiers were unable to patrol. Modi govt has issued an advisory, asking Indians not to go to Israel. Why is India then sending Indians to Israel? If it's not safe, then why are Indians being sent to a deathtrap? Is @narendramodi taking personal responsibility for their security? Israel is in the middle of committing a genocide, it doesn’t care about the safety of poor Indians. The export of Indian workers should be stopped immediately, and those already there should be brought back," Owaisi said.

India relocates staff from consulate in Sittwe

India on Friday said it relocated its staff from its consulate in Myanmarese city of Sittwe to Yangon in view of the precarious security situation in that region of Myanmar.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar, adding the Indian consulate in Mandalay remains functional.

"We are closely monitoring the security situation in Myanmar, particularly in the Rakhine State. Necessary steps have been taken to ensure the safety of our citizens," he said at his weekly media briefing.

"We have temporarily relocated our staff at CGI (Consulate General of India) Sittwe to Yangon. Our Consulate in Mandalay remains fully functional," Jaiswal said.

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