Kashmir youth no longer being drawn towards terrorism: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that Kashmiri youth are no longer being drawn towards terrorism, crediting the change to the policies of the Narendra Modi-led government. He said that Pakistan is now compelled to send its own terrorists, as local recruitment in Kashmir has nearly stopped.

Speaking during a discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, Shah noted that in the past 11 years, terror incidents in India have either been sponsored from across the border or remained confined to Kashmir, with no significant attacks reported in other parts of the country.

“In 11 years, not a single terror incident has occurred in other parts of the country. The situation today is such that Pakistan has to send its own terrorists. Kashmir mein terrorists ab nahin hain (There are no longer terrorists in Kashmir),” Shah said, drawing applause from the treasury benches.

Shah said that Pakistan-backed strikes and shutdowns in the Valley were once common, but that time has now passed. “Earlier, when a strike was announced from Pakistan, the entire Kashmir Valley would shut down. Today, neither Pakistan nor any group in the Valley can enforce such shutdowns,” he added.

The Home Minister also took aim at the previous governments’ approach to separatist groups, stating that the Hurriyat Conference once received VIP treatment, but that has now ended. “All components of the Hurriyat have been banned and their leaders are behind bars. We will not talk to Hurriyat; we will talk to the youth of Kashmir,” Shah said.

He highlighted how the security situation in the Valley has improved significantly. He said during previous regimes, the Valley used to remain closed 132 days a year. In contrast, there have been zero shutdowns over the past three years, he added.

“Also, annual deaths from stone-pelting incidents, once over 100, have also come down to nil,” he stated.

“Terrorist funerals, which earlier saw thousands of attendees, are now disallowed. Terrorists are buried locally with no public procession permitted,” Shah said, referencing the past glorification of terrorists like Burhan Wani.

Shah further stated that relatives and supporters of terrorists have been jailed, their passports cancelled and government contracts terminated. A special UAPA court has been established, under which 2,260 cases were registered between March 2022 and 2025.