More than half of the tourist destinations in India’s Kashmir region have been closed to the public from Tuesday, following last week’s deadly attack on holiday-makers that has reignited tensions with Pakistan.
According to a government document reviewed by Reuters, 48 of Kashmir’s 87 tourist destinations have been shut, with security significantly tightened at the remaining locations. Officials have not specified how long the closures will remain in effect.
The closures follow a brutal attack in the Pahalgam area where assailants, after segregating men and asking their names, specifically targeted Hindu tourists, killing 26 people. Officials identified two of the three attackers as “terrorists” from Pakistan. Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for a neutral investigation.
Hindu-majority India accuses Muslim-majority Pakistan of backing insurgency in Kashmir, a claim Pakistan rejects, insisting it offers only moral and diplomatic support for Kashmiri self-determination.
Since the attack, both nations have taken retaliatory measures: India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a vital river-sharing agreement, while Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
The attack has also devastated Kashmir’s vital tourism industry, with panic-stricken visitors rushing to leave the picturesque Himalayan region just as the busy summer season began.
Meanwhile, ceasefire violations along the 740-km Line of Control have intensified, with India reporting “unprovoked” small arms fire from multiple Pakistani army posts for a fifth consecutive day. No casualties were reported.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, told Reuters that a military incursion by India appeared imminent, prompting Pakistan to reinforce its forces.
