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Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
The Pahalgam attack crushed Kashmir's fledgling offbeat tourism. The Amarnath Yatra could be a new start.
SRINAGAR : In March 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir |(J&K) government launched an ambitious initiative to spotlight 75 offbeat destinations—37 in Jammu and the rest in the Kashmir Valley. But April brought a brutal end to the fragile optimism that had begun to take root in these lesser-known tourist attractions. Baisaran Valley, known as 'mini Switzerland' for its picturesque meadow, is now remembered for the haunting image of a numb young bride sitting beside her husband's lifeless body. The first-ever terror attack on tourists in 'Paradise on Earth' claimed 26 lives, and with them, the hard-earned trust. Six days after the 22 April attack, the Union territory's administration ordered the closure of 48 out of 87 tourist destinations across the Valley. Nearly all offbeat spots, such as Gurez Valley, Lolab Valley, Bangus Valley, Tulail Valley, Keran, and Doodhpathri, were declared off limits, leaving once-lively trails and meadows in deafening stillness. 'Coming in April, just as the peak summer season was about to begin, and directly targeting tourists, the attack dealt a heavy blow to the industry at its most crucial moment," Javed Bashir, a 33-year-old tour operator from the Baramulla district, 53 kilometres from Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) summer capital Srinagar, told Mint. While some tourists can be spotted at popular tourist destinations, the far-flung places remain completely deserted, said Bashir, who has been in the business since 2018. Encouraged by the newfound normalcy in the Valley following the abrogation of Article 370, tourists turned up in droves, with J&K recording 23.6 million tourist visits in 2024—the highest ever, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. To accommodate this growing influx, the administration gradually started promoting offbeat destinations. Hidden valleys, quiet villages, and virgin alpine meadows began welcoming visitors, marking an unexpected turning point for tourism in the Valley. There was a tourist boom, and with it came hope. "Many hotels, guest houses, and other properties were under construction. People invested heavily, believing the momentum would continue. But now, it seems all is lost," said Mushtaq Chaya, chairman of the J&K Hoteliers Club. Thousands of families who depend on tourism for their livelihood are suffering. 'Many are now on the brink of bankruptcy unless tourist confidence is restored soon," a senior tourism official told Mint on the condition of anonymity. The official added that repeated communications with higher authorities have proven futile, as not a single site has been reopened yet. Struggling to make ends meet, two million people—from hotel and homestay owners to their staff, tour guides, transport operators, 'ponywallahs'—are now pinning their hopes on the Amarnath Yatra (3 July to 9 August), an annual Hindu pilgrimage, to revive the industry this winter season. Investments down the drain The tourism had also been flourishing along the Line of Control (LoC), a rare and hopeful sight after years of uncertainty. By the summer of 2021, just months after the February ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, the streets of border villages were alive. Also Read: From Konkan's Alphonso to Andhra's Imam Pasand, why are Indian mangoes losing their sweet spot? For the first time in nearly three decades, people of these once-restricted zones were able to welcome tourists, both domestic and international, eager to explore the serene valleys that had long been off limits. The calm along the border seemed to promise a new chapter for Kashmir, a peaceful and prosperous future where the beauty of the land could finally shine through without the looming threat of conflict. For example, in 2023, the border district of Kupwara hosted 140,000 tourists. Those who invested in offbeat tourism now find themselves idle with no work. In Kupwara's Lolab Valley, about 20 hotels set up by locals through loans and leases are now facing heavy losses, said Talib Hussain, who has lost his job as a travel agency manager. 'Between April and June, we usually see a good flow of tourists who come to enjoy trekking, camping, the gushing streams, lush green forests, and the centuries-old Kalaroos caves, but not this year," the 29-year-old told Mint. Similarly, Keran, nestled amid lush green forests, walnut trees, meadows, streams, and wooden houses, once provided a serene escape for visitors, drawing many to its peaceful atmosphere. One part in Kupwara district and the other in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the village is bisected by the Kishanganga River (known as Neelum on the other side), making it a unique offbeat tourist attraction. In its Jhelum Bazar, hotelier Dilshad Ahmad Bhat remembered the joy of welcoming tourists after the 2021 ceasefire, which inspired him to take a ₹5 lakh bank loan in 2024 to renovate his hotel. But now, 'the hotel is empty, and so are the vegetable and meat shops I used to buy from for my guests. It's not just about the money, but it is also my mental health, slipping away with every silent day," Bhat told Mint. Gurez Valley in the Bandipora district is another breathtaking slice of paradise, bordered by thick forests, towering mountains, and the winding Kishanganga River. Nestled 123km from Srinagar, at an altitude of 2,400 meters, once a key stop on the ancient Silk Route, the valley's beauty is rivalled only by its isolation, with snowfall cutting off access for more than six months each year. Mohammad Ismail Lone, a homestay owner and the head of the Gurez Traders Federation, recalled with quiet pride how his modest homestay welcomed hundreds of visitors in just a single year, earning him ₹5-6 lakh, a lifeline not just for him, but also for the four employees who ran the place like family. 'After the attack, everything changed. The tourists disappeared overnight, and so did the jobs." Also Read: India's liquor stocks are on a high—what's fuelling the rally, and what could derail it 'After years of living under the shadow of cross-border shelling, we were finally beginning to breathe easy, watching tourists bring life back to Gurez Valley, but we never imagined it would all slip away so soon and we would find ourselves back where we started," he added. Today, the homestays and hotels are empty. Restaurant shutters creak half-open in the wind. Taxis purchased on credit wait silently at village junctions, their engines cold. Livelihoods interrupted For the past three years, 55-year-old Ghulam Qadri Bhatti and his wife Mughali had begun each morning in the hills of Doodhpathri, or 'Valley of Milk', 44km from Srinagar, by setting up their modest tea stall in the open meadows, gently brewing Nun Chai, the traditional pink salty tea of Kashmir made with green tea leaves, milk, and baking soda. 'Our days were spent making tea and talking to tourists. We served not just tea, but a piece of Kashmiri hospitality. But after the violence, the authorities told us to leave because of security concerns. Now, with no tourists around, we had to pack up our stall," said Bhatti, his voice trailing into a sigh. For years, the region's tea sellers earned a modest living—between ₹20,000 and ₹40,000 a month—every summer. Bhatti is one of nearly 200 such tea sellers who lost their livelihood in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. 'We are landless people. Since Doodhpathri in the Budgam district was sealed off and our stalls were shut, we have been left jobless, with nothing to do. It has become a daily struggle just to make ends meet. Our dreams of providing a better future, of sending our children to school, seem impossible now, " Bhatti said. In the adjoining Riyar Riyar Ich village in the same district, 32-year-old tourist guide Mohammad Shafi Mir has the same story to share. For the past 13 years, he has guided visitors through Doodhpathri, supporting his entire family through this job. 'When there are no tourists, there is no work and no income," he said. Since the attack, Mir has not earned a single rupee, calling it the most unprecedented situation he has faced in his career. About 10,000 people directly associated with tourism, including hoteliers, transporters, pony riders, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) operators, tea sellers, and tourist guides, have lost their livelihoods in Doodhpathri alone, according to Mir. 'In anticipation of the growing influx of tourists, many hoteliers and ATV operators took out loans to construct hotels and purchase ATVs. It is concerning to think how they will repay these loans, given that they are not earning anything at the moment," Mir lamented. In Budgam's Yusmarg, pony riders sit quietly next to their horses, watching the empty paths. The place, which once echoed with tourists' adventure and the sound of hooves on the ground, is now silent. Long-lasting impact Political instability has a profound impact on global tourism. 'Tourists always look for peace and security, which are fundamental prerequisites for travel. Incidents like 9/11 and the 2008 Mumbai attack have had far-reaching consequences beyond their immediate regions," said Reyaz Ahmad Qureshi, head professor at the department of tourism, hospitality and leisure studies, University of Kashmir. Also Read: Why is walking on eggshells beyond Gurugram, its home turf He added that while Kashmir has endured a prolonged period of unrest, it has been gradually transitioning into a post-conflict phase since 2021, fostering a sense of growing optimism within the tourism sector. He argued for a more nuanced approach to dealing the terrorism's impact on tourism. 'Sealing off tourist spots or banning trekking sends the wrong message. Offbeat destinations could be reopened gradually with proper regulation." 'We must project Kashmir as a safe, beautiful, and affordable destination. Campaigns like 'Aao Kashmir Chalein' should be sustained and should emphasize the warmth and sacrifices made by locals to ensure visitors feel welcome," added Qureshi, stressing that negative media coverage must be addressed with professionalism and assured security. Still many, including Bashir, remain cautiously optimistic about a revival in tourism in the Union territory. He expects the Amarnath Yatra and snow-draped landscapes during winters to lure visitors back to the Valley. 'While the summer season may have slipped away in the shadow of recent events, the story is not over yet. The season is definitely behind us, but once the Amarnath Yatra concludes in August, the spotlight will shift to winter," he said. The successful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra will now serve as a litmus test for the government's ability to restore confidence among tourists.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Will Rishabh Pant surpass Adam Gilchrist as best keeper-batsman in history?
For all the temptation to berate Pant's judgement, there is logic to his approach. Essentially, Pant has little faith in his defence at the start of his innings. Rather than allowing himself to poke uncertainly at the ball and still risk getting out, he prefers to accept the dangers of attacking, but knowing that this can bring a flurry of early boundaries. Such early adventure also encourages teams to reposition fielders from close-in to the ropes. On both 31 and 45, Pant edged Josh Tongue to the slips, into a gap that would not have been vacant for less audacious batsmen. So there is a rationale to Pant's essential approach – though his self-admonishing on the fourth morning at Headingley showed that his initial aggression was too extreme, even for him. The wild strand to the start of Pant's innings obscured that he is among the most extraordinary Test batsmen – let alone wicketkeeper-batsmen – of this age. If his more restrained approach after the early jitters never exuded the clinical calm of KL Rahul, that is not the point of Pant. He continued to use his feet against seamers, nullifying lateral movement while crashing Tongue through the covers. Two sixes in three balls launched over long-on off Shoaib Bashir showed Pant's power. There was also ample evidence of his easily overlooked finesse. When he was on 91, Ben Stokes packed the off side. With finesse and force, Pant still bisected the two cover fielders. At Headingley, the presumption was that Pant would seek to reach his century with a six, just as he had in the first innings. But, within a single blow of reaching twin centuries, Pant surprised the crowd almost as much as in the morning: he slowed down. As he repeatedly left deliveries from Bashir, and defended forward with ostentatious care, Pant exuded the air of a man playing at being responsible, like a reformed naughty schoolboy on his first day as a prefect. Twenty-one balls after reaching 95, Pant was still on 99. Then, with a cut off Bashir for a single, he had his moment of history. This time, there was no somersault. Just a beaming smile and a glance to the heavens. In 2586 Tests, just one man – Zimbabwe's Andy Flower – had ever scored twin centuries in a match while also keeping wicket. Now, Pant is the second member of this club. He is rapidly compiling a record fit to compare to any wicketkeeper in Test history. Had he converted all his 90s into centuries, Pant would have a staggering 15 centuries in 44 Tests. His eight hundreds include four in just 10 Tests in England; Rahul Dravid is the only Indian to score more here. For all the scrutiny about Pant's early method against pace bowling, he is the only wicketkeeper in history to score centuries away in Australia, England and South Africa. The upshot is that Pant is swiftly mounting a formidable case to challenge Adam Gilchrist for the tag of greatest keeper-batsman of all time. While Pant averages three runs fewer than Gilchrist – 44.4, compared to 47.6 – he has done so in a far worse era for batsmen worldwide. Pant's feats are further elevated by his position in the order: No 5, two places higher than Gilchrist normally batted. In 19 Tests at third drop, Pant now averages 59.7 while scoring at a strike rate of 82. If the notion of responsibility bringing the best out of him was not backed up by Pant's frenzied start, batting at five gives him full scope to shape an innings. Loading Pant has achieved all this while the apparent sense of imminent peril in his batting remains. To change this would be to change the essence of Pant. Even when he plays with a straight bat, he is among the most intoxicating sights that Test cricket has ever seen.
The Age
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Will Rishabh Pant surpass Adam Gilchrist as best keeper-batsman in history?
For all the temptation to berate Pant's judgement, there is logic to his approach. Essentially, Pant has little faith in his defence at the start of his innings. Rather than allowing himself to poke uncertainly at the ball and still risk getting out, he prefers to accept the dangers of attacking, but knowing that this can bring a flurry of early boundaries. Such early adventure also encourages teams to reposition fielders from close-in to the ropes. On both 31 and 45, Pant edged Josh Tongue to the slips, into a gap that would not have been vacant for less audacious batsmen. So there is a rationale to Pant's essential approach – though his self-admonishing on the fourth morning at Headingley showed that his initial aggression was too extreme, even for him. The wild strand to the start of Pant's innings obscured that he is among the most extraordinary Test batsmen – let alone wicketkeeper-batsmen – of this age. If his more restrained approach after the early jitters never exuded the clinical calm of KL Rahul, that is not the point of Pant. He continued to use his feet against seamers, nullifying lateral movement while crashing Tongue through the covers. Two sixes in three balls launched over long-on off Shoaib Bashir showed Pant's power. There was also ample evidence of his easily overlooked finesse. When he was on 91, Ben Stokes packed the off side. With finesse and force, Pant still bisected the two cover fielders. At Headingley, the presumption was that Pant would seek to reach his century with a six, just as he had in the first innings. But, within a single blow of reaching twin centuries, Pant surprised the crowd almost as much as in the morning: he slowed down. As he repeatedly left deliveries from Bashir, and defended forward with ostentatious care, Pant exuded the air of a man playing at being responsible, like a reformed naughty schoolboy on his first day as a prefect. Twenty-one balls after reaching 95, Pant was still on 99. Then, with a cut off Bashir for a single, he had his moment of history. This time, there was no somersault. Just a beaming smile and a glance to the heavens. In 2586 Tests, just one man – Zimbabwe's Andy Flower – had ever scored twin centuries in a match while also keeping wicket. Now, Pant is the second member of this club. He is rapidly compiling a record fit to compare to any wicketkeeper in Test history. Had he converted all his 90s into centuries, Pant would have a staggering 15 centuries in 44 Tests. His eight hundreds include four in just 10 Tests in England; Rahul Dravid is the only Indian to score more here. For all the scrutiny about Pant's early method against pace bowling, he is the only wicketkeeper in history to score centuries away in Australia, England and South Africa. The upshot is that Pant is swiftly mounting a formidable case to challenge Adam Gilchrist for the tag of greatest keeper-batsman of all time. While Pant averages three runs fewer than Gilchrist – 44.4, compared to 47.6 – he has done so in a far worse era for batsmen worldwide. Pant's feats are further elevated by his position in the order: No 5, two places higher than Gilchrist normally batted. In 19 Tests at third drop, Pant now averages 59.7 while scoring at a strike rate of 82. If the notion of responsibility bringing the best out of him was not backed up by Pant's frenzied start, batting at five gives him full scope to shape an innings. Loading Pant has achieved all this while the apparent sense of imminent peril in his batting remains. To change this would be to change the essence of Pant. Even when he plays with a straight bat, he is among the most intoxicating sights that Test cricket has ever seen.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Pahalgam attack: Two locals helped Pakistani attackers for a few thousands
NEW DELHI: The two Kashmiris arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday not only harboured the three Pahalgam attackers for two days in their 'dhok' (hut) in Hill Area, located around 2 km from Baisaran, before the latter headed out to massacre 26 civilians but also tipped them off on the deployment of security personnel in and around the attack site "in return for a few thousand rupees". Sources aware of NIA probe told TOI that three Pakistani terrorists affiliated to Lashkar were sheltered by accused Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar in the seasonal 'dhok' on April 20 and 21, immediately preceding the fateful day. NIA had said on Sunday the accused "knowingly provided the Pakistani terrorists food, shelter & other logistical support". On Monday, Parvaiz and Bashir were produced before the NIA court in Jammu, which remanded them to NIA custody for five days. The agency said though the accused had disclosed the identities of the three attackers, it was carefully analysing a "large body of evidence" gathered, including eyewitness accounts, video footage, technical evidence and sketches released by J&K police. "NIA has not reached any conclusions. .. the identities and further details of the terrorists will be made public at an appropriate time," the agency said. A source told TOI that Parvaiz and Bashir were not just passive supporters but active facilitators in the April 22 terror act involving the gunning down of 25 tourists based on their religious identity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mistura chinesa faz cabelo crescer e homem fica irreconhecível Resultados em 30 dias Undo "They studied the area domination exercises undertaken from time to time and the pattern of security deployment at the attack site in Baisaran, and shared the report or findings with the Pakistani terrorists, helping them plan their approach to the attack site, the actual massacre as well as the subsequent escape," an officer told TOI. "The accused were fully aware of the plans to hit tourists since Baisaran was teeming with visitors at the time. Since they were also operating pony rides in the area, they were fully aware of the police/security pickets at the attack site, the gap between consecutive area domination exercises and the pattern of deployment of troops at the site. Despite being aware of the terrorists' intentions, they willingly shared these details, making themselves active participants in the Pahalgam terror attack conspiracy," a source said. When confronted by NIA, Parvaiz and Bashir claimed that though they knew of plans to unleash a terror strike, they had no idea that tourists in Baisaran were the target. This explanation, however, has few takers. The accused admitted to having facilitated the terrorists in snuffing out 26 innocent lives in lieu of "chand hazaar rupaiye".
India.com
22-06-2025
- India.com
Pahalgam terrorist attack: How NIA identified 3 Pakistani terrorists behind the Baisaran massacre? Arrest two..., three Pakistani...
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has achieved a crucial breakthrough in the Baisaran, Pahalgam terror attack case that took place on April 22 killing 26 people as the agency disclosed that three Pakistani nationals carried out the massacre. An NIA spokesperson said that these three are Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists whose names and identity have beef emerged for the first time. Pictures of three suspects, including Adil Hussain Tokar, a local terrorist from Anantnag in south Kashmir while the two others, Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai from Pakistan, had been released by the Jammu and Kashmir Police soon after the attack. 'We have arrested two people and they have revealed that three Pakistani Lashkar terrorists were involved in Baisaran. These three are not the same whose sketches were released,' said an NIA official. The two men arrested by the NIA are accused of sheltering the terrorists who carried out the Baisaran massacre. 'Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam, have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),' the NIA spokesperson said. Parvaiz and Bashir had 'knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack', says the NIA probe. 'The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever,' the NIA spokesperson said. This is the first arrest in the case since the April 22 massacre. Top NIA officials said they are working on the leads provided by the arrested accused to figure out where the three terrorists could be hiding. A massive manhunt was launched based on the sketches released by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. However, new revelations have led to further attempts to identify the fugitive terrorists. 'This is a massive success,' police officials in Jammu and Kashmir said. The NIA has arrested Parvez and Bashir under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and it will seek further custody to question the two after producing them in the court. The Pahalgam attack sparked nationwide outrage following which India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the killings and targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
