Reviving Pahalgam: Mufti's Call to Reopen Kashmir's Closed Tourist Spots

Mehbooba Mufti, the chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday urged the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, to reconsider the ongoing closure of key tourist spots that were shuttered following last year’s Pahalgam terror attack.

Mufti’s appeal came during her visit to Anantnag, where various delegations highlighted the economic impact of these closures on local livelihoods. Specific mentions were made of Chandanwari and the Bijbehara-Langanbal route, with investment losses in resorts being a core concern.

In the aftermath of the April 22 attack in Baisaran, where 25 tourists and a local ponywala fell victim, several hubs remained closed for security reasons. Mufti stands firm that these closures should be reversed, stressing that the whole region should not be penalized for isolated incidents. Additionally, she flagged issues of LPG shortages and advocated for the regularization of dailywagers nearing retirement.