DFA issues advisory to Filipinos amid tension between India, Pakistan
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday warned Filipinos in India and Pakistan to be vigilant and take necessary precautions amid the rising tension between the two nations.
The foreign affairs agency also warned Filipinos to avoid traveling to the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir where the two nations on Thursday morning exchanged fire.
READ: Pakistan, India trade fire in Kashmir; villagers flee homes
“The DFA has expressed hope that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint even as it closely monitors the situation in Kashmir in the wake of rising tensions between the two countries,” it said in a statement.
While the DFA said there are no Filipinos in the Kashmir region, the agency said there are seven Filipino military observers serving with the United Nations Military Observer Group In India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
The foreign affairs agency, however, assured that the seven Filipino military observers were safe along with the approximately 1,780 Filipinos in Pakistan and 1,167 others in India. /je
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