Traders anticipate tourism revival as calm returns to Kashmir Valley

A sense of calm has settled over Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley today, with peaceful scenes observed on the iconic Dal Lake. This follows a recent period of heightened tensions and cross-border shelling.

Bashir Kongposh, the general secretary of the J&K Traders and Manufacturers Federation, voiced his relief following the recent understanding between India and Pakistan. “We hope tourists will return to Kashmir; we promise them a warm welcome,” he stated. He noted that prior to the attack in Pahalgam, hotels in the region were operating at full capacity, indicating a strong influx of tourists.

Kongposh urged authorities to reassure potential visitors about the safety of Kashmir and appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to consider reopening air services and schools in the region.

The positive impact of the de-escalation was evident in the reopening of the local Reddi Chowkibal market in Kupwara, North Kashmir, on Sunday. The market had remained closed for a week due to the cross-border shelling. Local shopkeepers and residents, while expressing their relief, have appealed to the government for the construction of bunkers and for compensation for the repeated damages and risks they face during such incidents.

Naseer Ahmad, a shopkeeper in the Reddi Chowkibal market, expressed his gratitude, saying, “First of all, I thank Allah that he has dealt with this big trouble. We got rid of this big problem. It is heard that the firing has stopped.” He recounted the seven-day closure of the market due to the shelling, highlighting the fear and displacement it caused. “People lost their lives in the night; when they heard that the firing stopped, they were very happy,” he added.

Despite the reopening, Ahmad pointed out the significant damage already inflicted on shops and surrounding infrastructure by the shelling. “Shelling has also taken place in this market of ours. There are many shopkeepers whose shops are completely damaged. You must have noticed that the shutters are broken and the goods inside are completely destroyed,” he explained.

Emphasising the market’s vital role in the livelihoods of the residents, Ahmad stressed the urgent need for safety provisions. “We have appealed to the government many times that we suffer losses here, and there is a lot of damage due to cross-border shelling. Bunkers should be built here for our safety,” he pleaded. He further explained the financial constraints faced by most residents, making relocation during conflict an impossible option. “We are middle-class people. We don’t have enough income to go from here to Srinagar or in any city to find a place to rent,” he said.

Another local shopkeeper echoed the sentiment of relief at the market’s reopening. “Today, after about six days, our market is starting to open up a bit. We have breathed a sigh of relief,” he shared. He described how the shelling had forced residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. “Our lives were completely messed up. With this shelling, we left our homes and shifted to another place,” he recounted. He also highlighted the suffering endured by vulnerable populations during the displacement, including children and patients. Like Ahmad, he urged the government to construct protective bunkers for the community.

Both shopkeepers made a heartfelt appeal for consistent government intervention to ensure the safety and security of their lives and livelihoods. “Today we appeal to the whole community that this happiness remains intact forever,” Ahmad concluded.

The border areas of Jammu and Kashmir bore the brunt of the recent escalation in military tensions between India and Pakistan, triggered by India’s Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which tragically claimed 26 lives.