Tensions between India and Pakistan negatively impact tourism in the Kashmir Valley
Peaceful Paradise on Hold: Tension-Filled Kashmir Rifts Tourism Revenue
Nestled amid towering peaks and lush valleys, Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir should be teeming with tourists this season. But instead, it's eerily quiet - roads are empty, and hotels sit vacant. Why? The region's harmony is being disrupted by the soaring tensions between India and Pakistan.
India has leveled accusations against Pakistan, claiming Pakistan's backing in a deadly attack that took 26 lives on the Indian side of the disputed Kashmir territory on April 22. With tempers flaring and every move closely monitored, the region is on edge.
In response to these tensions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his military "full operational freedom," while Pakistan warned of "credible intelligence" that India was planning imminent strikes. Usually, the tourism-loving land of Neelum Valley gathers some 300,000 visitors every year from across Pakistan, but this year, things look bleak.
"It's been a real bummer," lamented 22-year-old photographer Muhammad Awais, stationed at a popular picnic spot. "Our livelihoods depend on tourism, and without it, we struggle."
Authorities have turned tourists away from the valley, allowing only locals to pass through the army checkpoints that now guard the entrances. The move has dealt a devastating blow to the tourism-reliant locale, as much of the local population depends on the roughly 350 guesshouses that employ thousands of local families.
Tourists like Saleem Uddin Siddique, who traveled from the capital Islamabad with his family, are left with shattered hopes. "We were not warned or advised against coming, and now our plans are ruined," said the 69-year-old retired accountant.
Neither nation has confirmed any involvement in the deadly attack, sparking an escalation of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures between the two South Asian nations. Soldiers from both sides have exchanged gunfire for nine consecutive nights along the militarized Line of Control.
With no immediate resolution in sight, Pakistan's military tested a 450 km range missile system in an attempt to assert readiness in case of military action. International pressure has mounted on both nations to engage in talks to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Sharing a border with disputed Kashmir, the Chenab river villages in India have seen an exodus of families. Residents recall the horror of the 1999 conflict when tensions between these rivals reached a boiling point. The attacking tourism industry on the Indian side also saw a decline in tourists due to fears of potential military action.
However, some tourists remain undeterred, like 39-year-old factory worker Mudasar Maqsood from Kasur, over 630 km away. He and his friends were stopped from entering the valley, but Maqsood remained hopeful. "We don't believe the threat of war will materialize. Our lives shouldn't be disrupted," he said.
Raja Iftikhar Khan, president of the private tourism association in Azad Kashmir, knows all too well the devastating impact these tensions have had on local businesses. "This disturbance could become extremely dire for all those connected to the tourism sector," he warned. "We don't want war – no sensible businessperson ever does."
- Tourists like Saleem Uddin Siddique, who traveled from the capital Islamabad, are left disappointed as their plans for visiting Neelum Valley are ruined due to the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
- Muhammad Awais, a 22-year-old photographer based in Neelum Valley, expressed his concern about the impact of the tensions on the tourism industry, stating that the local population's livelihoods largely depend on tourism.
- Authorities in Neelum Valley have imposed restrictions on tourists, allowing only locals to pass through army checkpoints, causing a devastating blow to the tourism-reliant locale.
- International tensions between India and Pakistan have led to the testing of military readiness, such as Pakistan's test-firing of a 450 km range missile system, demonstrating the potential severity of the situation for regions like Neelum Valley that rely heavily on tourism.
