A cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam has once again shaken Kashmir’s fragile yet hard-earned calm. What was meant to be a serene vacation turned into horror as armed militants opened fire on a group of tourists, singling out people of a particular religion who are a minority in the state. Innocent lives were lost, and the message from the perpetrators was chillingly clear: to create fear, polarisation, and economic disruption.
This heinous act comes at a time when Kashmir has been on the road to recovery and resurgence. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which revoked the region’s special status, the Valley has seen a remarkable turnaround—economically, socially, and in terms of security. This attack threatens to undo years of progress and reinforce damaging stereotypes, punishing the vast majority of peace-loving Kashmiris who have worked hard to rebuild their lives.
A tourism-driven economy, now wounded
Tourism is the lifeline of Kashmir’s economy. The years following Article 370’s removal have seen a dramatic increase in tourist footfall. From just over 3.5 million visitors in 2020 (amid COVID restrictions), numbers jumped to 11.3 million in 2021, and hit an all-time high of 21.1 million tourists in 2023—the highest ever recorded in independent India.
This surge has revitalized local businesses. Hotels, houseboats, taxi services, handicraft sellers, and tour guides across Kashmir have flourished. Revenue from tourism-related services now contributes around 8.5% of the region’s Gross State Domestic Product, up from 7.8% just a few years ago.
But all it takes is one incident to reverse this momentum.
When terror strikes, tourists stay away. Cancellations begin immediately. Travel advisories are issued. Hotel bookings dry up. For a region that relies so heavily on visitor income, the losses are swift and devastating. A peaceful summer could have meant full bookings and booming business. Instead, Kashmir stares at empty shikaras and deserted markets once again.
The economic cost of terror
The tragedy isn’t just human—it’s economic. Pony-wallas in Pahalgam, who guide families through the meadows, may now struggle for riders. Shops that stocked up for the season could now struggle to break even. The ripple effect of one terror attack affects tens of thousands of livelihoods.
This is the cruel irony: those few locals who assist terror outfits—by giving shelter, information, or moral support—are not aiding any noble cause. They are, in fact, destroying their own people’s bread and butter. They hurt the very community they live among. Every bullet fired at a tourist is also fired at a guide’s income, a student’s chance to study in peace, a child’s future in a better Kashmir.
A region rebuilding, now at risk
The progress since 2019 has been undeniable. Several new colleges and schools have opened across the Valley, while institutions like AIIMS Jammu, IIM Jammu’s Srinagar campus, and new medical colleges have boosted access to higher education and healthcare. Infrastructure projects like the Chenab Railway Bridge and new tunnels have brought connectivity, economic opportunities, and hope.
Additionally, Indian Railways is all set to rollout Vande Bharat sleeper trains following completion of the strategic Kashmir railway link connecting Jammu & Kashmir to the rest of India, and finalizing the rolling stock procurement for the bullet train project.
For the first time, foreign investment entered Kashmir, with global firms like Dubai’s Emaar Group investing in malls and IT infrastructure. These are not just economic indicators; they are signals of renewed faith in Kashmir’s potential.
But terrorism tries to break that faith. This attack isn’t just on innocent tourists—it’s on the idea of a peaceful, modern, and thriving Kashmir. It aims to push the region back into the shadows, to scare away not just visitors, but investors, educators, and reformers.
The perpetrators and their enablers
This attack was not an isolated act of violence. It was part of a larger design fueled by state-sponsored terrorism from across the border, where certain elements have long used militancy in Kashmir as a tool to mask their own internal failures. Terror outfits, supported and armed from outside India, have made it their mission to destabilize any signs of peace in the Valley.
Their few sympathizers within Kashmir must understand this: they are not fighting for a cause—they are sabotaging their own people. Every time they provide aid to these militants, they pull the region back from development, peace, and dignity.
Defiance and resolve
Yet, amid the grief, there is growing resolve. Local voices are condemning the attack unequivocally. The people of Kashmir want normalcy, not nostalgia for violence. They want jobs, schools, tourists, and businesses—not curfews, raids, and sirens.
The government must respond not just with security operations but with a reaffirmation of development efforts. Continue building schools, opening industries, connecting the Valley to the world—because progress is the strongest reply to terror.
Kashmir has seen enough setbacks. It deserves peace and prosperity now. And it deserves to see that no bullet, no cowardly act of terror, can halt its journey forward.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author's own.
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