New Delhi: Following the directives of J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Union Territory reopens 12 more tourist spots in Jammu and Kashmir, which
were closed in the wake of the Pahalgam attack in April this year. Among the twelve tourist spots, 5 are located in Jammu division while seven are in the Kashmir division.
The parks and gardens in and around Pahalgam, including Aru Valley, Rafting Point Yanner, Akkad Park, Padshahi Park, Bijbehara and Dara Shikoh Garden, were also reopened for tourists. Those re-opened in the Jammu division included Dagan Top in Ramban, Dhaggar in Kathua, Chinkah in Reasi, Shiv Cave in Salal, Reasi, and Padri in Doda.
How the decision was made
After the Pahalgam attack, almost 48 destinations were closed in Jammu and Kashmir. The horrendous attack left 26 dead and several injured on April 22, 2025. After two months, the LG ordered to reopen 16 destinations, eight each from the Jammu and Kashmir region. The decision was made following the improvement of security in the area. However, the prominent tourist attractions Doodhpathri and Aharbal were still closed.
The latest decision came after Sinha reviewed security with top security officials on Friday. Those who attended the meeting included Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat; GoC 15 Corps Lt. Gen. Prashant Srivastava, GoC 16 Corps Lt. Gen. P.K. Mishra, GoC 9 Corps Lt. Gen. Rajan Sharawat, Air Vice Marshal Vikas Sharma; and ADGP CID Nitish Kumar.
Security forces get praised
A spokesperson from Raj Bhavan claimed that the security forces, the J&K Police and intelligence agencies did an outstanding job, directing the recent successful anti-terror operations in the Union Territory. “War against terrorism is not over yet. Kinetic and non-Kinetic operations must continue. We must maintain the momentum and take stringent action against terrorism and its entire ecosystem,” The Hindu quoted the Lieutenant Governor as saying.
He ordered the security forces to remain consistent with the surveillance of the areas for continuous improvement and keep an eye on the unprecedented threats. The Lieutenant Governor called for ‘Whole of Government Approach’ for effectively tackling radicalization and drug menace.
