What started as a new, picture-perfect holiday destination in India, accessible after ages, is now at the epicenter of a global backlash against terrorism. Yes, we are talking about Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including 25 tourists, the Jammu and Kashmir government has closed 48 of the Valley’s 87 tourist destinations, citing security concerns. The attack, executed by Pakistan-based terrorists in Baisaran meadow, targeted Hindu men, triggering a sharp decline in tourist arrivals at Srinagar airport and nationwide condemnation. Closed sites include popular spots like Yousmarg, Doodpathri, Aharbal, Verinag Garden, and Naranag, with authorities temporarily securing the remaining 39 destinations.
The closures aim to prevent further attacks amid heightened tensions, with security forces demolishing 10 homes of active terrorists, including Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, linked to the Pahalgam assault. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to hunt down the perpetrators and their backers, promising severe punishment. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on April 28, denouncing the “barbaric and inhumane” attack as an assault on Kashmiriyat and constitutional values, expressing solidarity with victims’ families.
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The attack, attributed to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s offshoot, The Resistance Front, has fueled public outrage and diplomatic fallout, with India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and visa services for Pakistanis. Local officials noted that some closures are temporary, but the tourism slump threatens Kashmir’s economy, which saw 1.8 crore visitors in 2024.
Enhanced security measures at open sites aim to restore confidence, but the region braces for prolonged challenges as it grapples with the attack’s aftermath. What the future holds, given the rising tensions, only time will tell.
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