• Source:JND
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Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by his Cabinet ministers, convened a special Cabinet session at the Pahalgam Club and Convention Centre in Pahalgam.

The meeting comes just a month after a tragic terror attack in the region claimed the lives of 26 people. In a bid to boost confidence and rejuvenate the struggling tourism sector, the CM chose Pahalgam as the venue to send a strong message of resilience.

This session marked a historic first, as it was the only instance where a Cabinet meeting was held outside the traditional administrative centres of Srinagar or Jammu.

Tourism, a vital component of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy, suffered a severe blow following the Baisaran meadows attack. The violence prompted a mass exodus of tourists, further weakening the already fragile industry.

Addressing the media, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasised the urgent need to bring tourists back to the valley.

He stated, "... Since we are in Pahalgam, tourism is also on our agenda... A group of Maharashtra tour operators is here in Pahalgam. They will also visit Srinagar. What encourages us is that earlier the group was going to be of 20-25 people... But, around 60 tour operators from Maharashtra have come to see how the travel and tour industry can be resumed here... I want to thank these people..."

Highlighting the importance of de-politicising tourism, Abdullah stressed that it should remain a “conflict-neutral” sector. He revealed that the state government had undertaken extensive security audits in the aftermath of the attack, particularly around the Baisaran area, and certain sites have now been deemed safe for reopening.

"Tourism is an economic activity for us. It is a source of income for people. Unfortunately, it has been entangled with politics. But our government will try to insulate tourism from the prevailing conditions. We want the world to look at Jammu & Kashmir's tourism as an economic activity. We have to take steps with caution, but we will try to ensure that tourism begins in Kashmir and the valley soon. The last 5-6 weeks have been tough for the nation, but J&K has paid the highest price. The government of J&K will decide what steps we need to take to overcome this situation. I am sure that the centre will give us the required support..." the JKNC leader told ANI.

The April 22 attack in Baisaran, where four to six terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists, was one of the deadliest incidents in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack. The assault escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.

In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, a targeted military operation that struck nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The offensive triggered a series of retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Pakistan, impacting several northern and western states in India.

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Despite the challenging circumstances, the Jammu & Kashmir government remains focused on rebuilding the region’s tourism industry, with strong hopes that domestic and international visitors will soon return to experience the beauty of the valley.

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