Chidambaram rubbishes US travel advisory on India

Home minister P Chidambaram today said on Thursday that the US will be urged to withdraw its advisory urging Americans not to travel to India.

Asserting that India was a safe destination, the minister told reporters that if Washington had issued such an advisory, "we will certainly try to persuade them to withdraw it''.

The US has claimed that India is faced with a "high threat" from terrorism and asked its citizens to be vigilant, prompting New Delhi to assert that the country is a safe place and such an advisory was unwarranted.

Responding to an 'Urgent warden message' posted on the American Embassy website which cautioned American citizens visiting India, Chidambaram said India is "safer than any other country in the world".

"The United States Mission in India wishes to urgently remind all US citizens resident in or travelling to India that there is a high threat from terrorism throughout India," the message said.

"As terror attacks are a serious and growing threat, US citizens are urged to always practice good security, including maintaining a heightened situational awareness and a low profile," it said.