From: brafman@CS.Stanford.EDU (Ronen Brafman)
Subject: Re: Travel in Kashmir
Keywords: international, non-usa government, government, violent crime,
Organization: Robotics Department, Stanford University, Ca. USA
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 19:25:52 GMT

For those who were contemplating visiting Kashmir, the following 
may change their mind. 
This is unfortunate, since Kashmir is extremely beautiful,
and it is one of the most enjoyable parts of India

In article <india-violenceU2S5105pe@clarinet.com>, clarinews@clarinet.com (UPI) writes:
|> 
|> 	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- Several gunbattles erupted in the troubled
|> northern state of Kashmir Saturday and foreign tourists began fleeing
|> the scenic Himalayan region after Muslim rebels threatened to kidnap
|> them, officials and news reports said.
|> 	In neighboring Punjab, another northern Indian state torn by
|> violence, Sikh gunmen opened automatic fire on a New Delhi-bound express
|> train, but no casualties were reported, according to local authorities.
|> 	Insurgency-related killings occur daily in Kashmir and Punjab.
|> Saturday, officials said 22 people were killed in incidents in the two
|> northern states.
|> 	In Kashmir, army and paramilitary troops were rushed to the Kathua
|> region near the border with Pakistan to reinforce police forces engaged
|> in a running gunbattle with heavily armed militants.
|> 	A state government spokesman said three policemen and an insurgent
|> were killed and several others were wounded in the Kathua fighting.
|> 	Gun battles also were reported in Srinagar, the state capital and
|> center of the Muslim insurgency.
|> 	Guerrillas hurled a grenade inside the police operations headquarters
|> in Srinagar, wounding seven officers, the Press Trust of India said. The
|> news agency also reported bomb attacks on a police patrol and on homes
|> of three policemen.
|> 	The Jamait-ul Mujahideen, one of several Islamic groups waging a
|> separatist terror campaign in Kashmir, has ordered all foreign tourists
|> to leave the picturesque state by Sunday. In a statement, it threatened
|> to kidnap those who defied its ultimatum.
|> 	The group accused foreigners of ``spying for Indian agencies while
|> posing as tourists and journalists.'' It also claimed that Israeli
|> intelligence agents were active in Kashmir, ``trying to divide and
|> sabotage our movement.''
|> 	Several Western nations, including the United States, have advised
|> their citizens not to visit the troubled state because of several
|> attacks on foreigners since 1990.
|> 	Last year, one Israeli was slain and two others wounded when
|> guerrillas attempted to abduct them and their companions while they were
|> on vacation.
|> 	Kashmir was a popular tourist attraction until the separatist
|> movement took hold in 1990. Now, few tourists dare to tour the
|> landlocked region.
|> 	State authorities reported Friday that a monthlong police crackdown
|> has left at least 180 Kashmiri rebels dead and 1,000 others in jail.
|> 	Hundreds of people have died this year alone in the secessionist
|> violence in Kashmir and Punjab.


I would substitute Manali or Dharhamsala for Kashmir, and try to 
get to Leh by air.

Ronen
From: del@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (David Larson)
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 18:39:40 GMT
Subject: Re: Eurail Pass and Supplements.
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA