Terrorism Eclipses Tourism in Kashmir

Pahalgam tourist carnage has served the purpose of injecting fear and horror among the common masses and the tourists that were thronging Kashmir to rejuvenate themselves with the bounties of nature in Kashmir. For some years there had been an appreciable influx of tourists and it was giving the local people confidence and livelihood. Besides it was catalysing the multiplier effect by allowing the tourism economy to catalyse the allied industries that are dependent on tourism. The question arises who will be benefitted by this act of disruption and a grave human tragedy that led to the genocide of innocent tourists who had come as friends of Kashmir and enjoy the weather and hospitality of Kashmir. Realising the fallout of this carnage the people of Kashmir expressed their anguish by resorting to complete shutdown. This was a clear message that people of Kashmir want peace and at the same time they want revival and sustainability of the economy as a whole. They know it well that 35 years of ethno-religious conflict has relegated them to the background and disconnected them from the market. Tourism is intangible and depends on word of mouth. The tourists who lost their dear ones in Pahalgam in front of their eyes when they were shot point blank in front of their eyes cannot forget these images of cold blooded murder till the end of their lives. Men were separated from the women and asked their religious identities and then shot. Small children and women were in fear psychosis. Theses people undoubtedly will carry the message to the rest of India that terrorism is a reality in Kashmir. This will certainly eclipse the tourism business in Kashmir. Those who have orchestrated this act of grave injustice cannot be friends of Kashmir or Kashmiris. They are the worst enemies who not only want destabilisation but pauperisation of Kashmiris. Forcing them to be hostages of regression. Negative word of mouth has already spread far and wide and advisories are being issued for not visiting Kashmir.Tourism cannot function under the threat of terrorism.Annual Amarnath Ji Yatra is going to commence shortly.This Yatra is the mainstay of the Kashmir’s tourism industry.Terrorist operatives have executed the Pahalgam carnage keeping that in view.There can be no doubt about that.And mind it Pahalgam where the carnage took place is the base camp for the Yatris.It is an open challenge for the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the proper security of the Amarnath Ji Yatris who are registering for the pilgrimage.One more act of terror will have devastating impact of the left over hope to revive tourism in Kashmir in the aftermath of Pahalgam massacres of the tourists.It can be said without any doubt that there is a conspiracy to keep away the tourists from Kashmir and at the same time revive the ethno-religious conflict in Kashmir by terrorist modules.As per the inputs already in the public domain there is a apprehension of threat to the railway infrastructure and Kashmiri Pandits.The security agencies and the intelligence agencies need to work with professional precision to neutralise these threats. The Kashmiri Pandit employees who are working under the Prime Minister’s package must be given security cover in their transit camps.As there have been incidents of targeted killings of the community in the previous years.Time has come to act at various levels to neutralise terrorism so that peace and stability is made sustainable in Kashmir.