Tourist spots reopen in Kashmir a day after LG Sinha's announcement; move widely welcomed
The reopened sites include the picturesque Betaab Valley, the serene Verinag, Kokernag, Achabal Mughal Gardens, and multiple parks in Pahalgam town. The decision was welcomed by locals, political leaders, and tourists alike.
These destinations had been temporarily closed following the terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen.
With the reopening, tourists were seen flocking to the sites in large numbers.
A female tourist in Pahalgam told ANI, 'This decision of the government is right. If there is no tourism, how will the locals survive? The government's initiative is good. Tourist places are reopening with adequate security. I urge everyone to visit and support tourism here...'
Local politicians also hailed the decision.
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said, 'It's a welcome step. It sends a positive message to the nation that Kashmir is normal now. I appeal to people across India, come to Kashmir. It's as safe as your cities and homes.'
Pahalgam MLA Altaf Kaloo said, 'The places have opened and the Amarnath Yatra is also going to start soon. This is a positive thing. In the coming time, all other tourist places will also open. The number of tourists has started increasing, which is a positive sign. Our message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is that it is our duty to make the Yatra a success...'
On Saturday, LG Sinha, during his visit to Pahalgam, had met delegations comprising MLAs, DDC chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, tour operators, Ponywala associations, and hoteliers. He assured them that other restrictions would be lifted after a thorough security review.
Sharing an update on social media platform X, LG Sinha said, 'I've ordered reopening of some of the tourist spots in Kashmir & Jammu Divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures. Betab Valley & Parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden and Achabal Garden to be reopened from 17th June.'
He added, 'Other tourist destinations being reopened includes Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar, Sarthal, Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba, Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda & Jai valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur. Reopening will be in phase-wise manner.' (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Protests in Bengal's Siliguri over SC order to relocate stray dogs in Delhi-NCR
Animal lovers in Siliguri staged a protest on Monday against the recent Supreme Court directive mandating that stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be shifted to shelter homes within eight weeks. The protests followed the Supreme Court's August 11 order directing authorities to ensure that all localities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad are free of stray dogs.(Vipin Kumar/ANI File Photo for representation) The demonstrators expressed strong opposition, calling the ruling "inhuman" and urging the court to reconsider its decision. Holding placards and raising slogans, protestors gathered in Siliguri and argued that stray dogs are "voiceless creatures," and deserve compassion rather than displacement. "Dogs are voiceless creatures. They haven't done anything wrong to anyone... You can spare criminals, so why can't you spare dogs? Shame on you... This verdict is inhuman... This verdict should be taken back," said Anisha Paul, one of the protestors. A day ago similar protest had erupted in Chennai as well. The protests in Chennai came days after similar demonstrations in the national capital. On Friday, Delhi Police registered four FIRs in connection with protests held by dog lovers without prior permission on August 11 and 12 in the New Delhi district. Police said the demonstrations in Delhi were organised despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), formerly Section 144 of the CrPC, which is currently in force as part of security measures ahead of Independence Day. According to officials, the protests turned unruly when police attempted to disperse the demonstrators, leading to clashes at some sites. "Those who refused to leave the protest sites despite repeated requests were detained. Legal action will be taken against all those found violating the law," the Delhi Police said. One viral clip from the protests shows the Station House Officer of Tughlaq Road police station being manhandled by protesters, while another video shows a confrontation between a woman sub-inspector and a female demonstrator inside a bus. The protests followed the Supreme Court's August 11 order directing authorities to ensure that all localities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad are free of stray dogs. The court had ruled that captured animals should not be released back onto the streets. On August 14, a three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria reserved its order on petitions seeking a stay on the directive. The bench said it would pass an interim order after hearing arguments from all sides. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, said there was a "loud vocal minority" opposing the order, while a "silent suffering majority" supported action. "In a democracy, there is a vocal majority and one who silently suffers. We had seen videos of people eating chicken, eggs, etc., and then claiming to be animal lovers. It was an issue to be resolved. Children were dying... Sterilisation did not stop rabies; even if you immunised them, that did not stop mutilation of children," Mehta submitted. Citing World Health Organisation data, the Solicitor General said 37 lakh dog bites were reported in 2024, with 305 rabies deaths, most among children under 15 years of age. "Dogs do not have to be killed... they have to be separated. Parents cannot send children out to play. Nobody is an animal hater," he added.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
16 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Pakistan rides high on US ties after clash with India, but it won't last
Pakistan's military, buoyed by recent India clashes, sees itself central to regional politics, with Army Chief Munir twice visiting the US, meeting Trump, and addressing overseas Pakistanis Bloomberg Pakistan's army — and its chief Asim Munir — are brimming with confidence at the moment. A bit more caution would be wise: The generals, who hold the real power in Islamabad, have a history of over-promising and getting their country into trouble as a result. The military is reveling in what it sees as its new centrality in regional politics. Munir has been invited to visit the US twice in as many months. On the last trip, he had a long lunch with President Donald Trump. This time around, he visited US Central Command in Tampa, and spoke to overseas Pakistanis about the nation's growing importance. That is, at least, how the generals see their position at the moment. The military emerged from a bruising confrontation with India in May with its domestic and international position enhanced. Several major airbases were hit by airstrikes, which is a major escalation when compared to previous confrontations. But the Pakistani public was nevertheless pleased by reports that several Indian warplanes had been shot down. This buttressed the military's case that they were the nation's irreplaceable guardians — an argument that the jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan, has tried for some time to undermine. Even more importantly, both civilian and military leaders were effusive in their praise of Trump and his administration, whom they credited with brokering an end to hostilities. This infuriated New Delhi, which has always refused to let anyone intervene in its disputes with its neighbor, but it endeared the Pakistanis to the White House. The Trump administration has also thanked the South Asian country for its willingness to provide a back-channel to Iran at a time of heightened tensions. Pakistan's capture of an Islamic State leader accused of plotting a bomb attack in Kabul in 2021 that killed 13 US soldiers was also viewed as positive. But the president is probably most pleased that Islamabad said it had officially nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Partly as a result of this campaign of praise, Pakistan has managed to win a reasonable trade deal from Trump: The lowest tariffs in South Asia, at 19 per cent. Trump also announced that 'both countries will collaborate on developing Pakistan's extensive oil reserves,' and that he would shortly identify the lucky US company that would lead this partnership. This announcement is a bit of a head-scratcher. Pakistan doesn't have a lot of proven, easily accessible oil reserves. It did announce a big find last year, but details are yet to be confirmed; similar announcements in the past have had to be reversed. Even if it's correct, it isn't clear if developing these new reserves would make financial sense. Nor will it be easy to find a corporate partner, given how challenging the security situation remains. Even Chinese companies investing in a state they consider a reliable client have found themselves caught in the middle of various internecine ethnic and religious conflicts. Chances are that the generals just dropped a promise that they would put vast and undiscovered new oil reserves at America's disposal into Trump's ear, and that helped convince him he was getting a better deal. A few other developments might have caught the president's attention. In April, for example, less than a week after terrorists killed 26 people in Kashmir, raising the prospect of war on the subcontinent, Pakistan's finance ministry announced that its new crypto strategy would be run in cooperation with World Liberty Financial. The official press release explained that 'World Liberty Financial is backed by the Trump family, including President Donald Trump and his sons.' In June, the president disclosed that the crypto firm had earned him $57.7 million last year. Iran, oil reserves, crypto. The buzzwords are new, but the strategy isn't. The Pakistani military has always found some way of making itself useful to powerful foreign backers, whether in Beijing, Washington or the Gulf. But, as successive US administrations have discovered, the generals' promises sound good but are rarely kept. The military reuses these methods because they always survive the fallout. Pakistan, however, rarely benefits. If anything, the entire region gets less stable when its generals get overconfident. In Tampa, Munir was relaxed and expansive when talking to the Pakistani diaspora: He warned that a nuclear exchange between the two would impact 'half the world.' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the nation's Independence Day, shot back that 'nuclear blackmail' was unacceptable.
News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
Foreign News Schedule for Aug 18, Monday
**** UN chief expresses sorrow over lives lost in India, Pakistan flash floods First ever India Day parade in Seattle showcases cultural diversity of all Indian states China refines Russian oil, sells to global market; Europe can do more on sanctions: Rubio Zelenskyy brings Europe's top leaders with him to meet Trump on ending Russia's war Stories on developments in Pakistan.
