* UK newspaper warns of high threat of terrorism in Pakistan
LONDON: The three-day long terror strike in its financial capital Mumbai has pushed India among the 20 most dangerous places to visit on Earth, the Times of India quoted a British report as saying on Sunday.
Listing India among the worlds 20 most dangerous places after the Mumbai terror strike that claimed close to 200 lives, UK daily The Telegraph said in an online report that the British government was currently advising against all, but essential, travel to Mumbai.
India has been listed alongside places like Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel Palestine, Mexico, Thailand and South Africa in this list.
Chechnya, Jamaica, Sudan, Colombia, Haiti, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Burundi, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Lebanon have also been named among the 20 most dangerous places to visit on Earth.
Writing about India, the report said, Although the foreign office is currently advising against all but essential travel to Mumbai, most of the rest of the country is considered safe.
Exceptions include the rural areas of Jammu, Kashmir (other than Ladakh) and the border area with Pakistan. There remains a high threat from terrorism throughout India.
Pakistan: Meanwhile, pointing out that there is a high threat of terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan, The Telegraph said, There are regular suicide bombings and attacks on positions of authority and locations frequented by foreign nationals. In September this year, a major explosion destroyed the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, killing more than 50 people.
Noting that security situation in Iraq remains highly volatile, the daily said that there is a continuing high threat of terrorism throughout the country, including the threat of kidnapping of foreign nationals.
It said Afghanistan has a high threat of terrorism, with a strong risk of kidnap, violent crime and suicide attacks.
The foreign office website strongly advises against all but essential travel to Kabul, adding that no part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, it added.
