In a bold move to restore confidence and promote peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a maiden Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, five weeks after a deadly terror attack rocked the scenic tourist destination. Abdullah’s choice of Pahalgam as the venue was deliberate, aimed at reassuring tourists and stakeholders that the region remains safe.
“We did not come here just to tick off a Government formality. We came to give a strong message that terrorism and bloodshed will not stop tourism, happiness, and development in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. The Chief Minister’s office echoed this sentiment on X, posting, “Chaired a Cabinet Meeting at Pahalgam today. It was not just a routine administrative exercise, but a clear message — we are not intimidated by cowardly acts of terror. The enemies of peace will never dictate our resolve.” The April 22 terror attack in Baisaran Valley, which claimed 26 lives—mostly tourists — severely impacted Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector, leading to a sharp decline in visitors and near-zero hotel occupancy in popular destinations like Pahalgam, Srinagar, Sonamarg and Gulmarg.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Chief Minister Abdullah emphasised that tourism should be treated as a “conflict-neutral activity” and not entangled with political narratives. “Tourism is an economic activity for us. It is a source of income for people. Unfortunately, it has been entangled with politics. Our Government will try to insulate tourism from the situation,” he said, addressing criticisms that link tourism to broader political claims of normalcy in the region. He argued that tourism should not be a barometer for peace but a standalone economic driver, insulated from the region’s security challenges. Abdullah expressed gratitude to the people of Pahalgam and Kashmir for their unified condemnation of the attack, highlighting acts of bravery by locals like Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who sacrificed his life to protect tourists. “I want to thank the people of Kashmir, especially those of Pahalgam, who condemned and stood in one voice against the April 22 terror strike. For this, I salute them,” he said.
The Cabinet meeting, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet ministers including Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar, and Satish Sharma, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and senior officials, discussed multiple issues, including the revival of tourism and preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.
The lone woman Cabinet Minister, Sakina Itoo, reiterated the Government’s solidarity with affected families, stating, “We stand with them.” Another cabinet colleague, Satish Sharma, praised the armed forces for their response under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps across the border, and expressed optimism.
The meeting follows Abdullah’s recent proposals at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting in Delhi, where he urged the Centre to mandate public sector undertakings and parliamentary committees to hold meetings in Kashmir to boost confidence. He also appealed for the removal of international travel advisories and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances of support for tourism revival.
Local stakeholders welcomed the move. The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has launched the ‘Chalo Kashmir’ campaign, supported by hospitality groups offering discounted packages. A group of 60 tour operators from Maharashtra visited Pahalgam, signaling renewed interest in the region. “What encourages us is that the group was initially 20-25 people, but around 60 tour operators have come to see how the travel and tourism industry can be resumed here,” Abdullah noted.
To a question on the revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and the closure of various tourist destinations following the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, he said the Government is taking “one step at a time”.
“The last five to six weeks have been a difficult time for the country, especially for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. So I would suggest we conduct a security audit of various tourist destinations and gradually start opening them,” he said.
Replying to a question that various stakeholders had huge loans and whether the Government was planning to give them some relief, he said, “Tourism has suffered and talks are already underway with the departments concerned to extend some relief to all stakeholders, big or small.”