Srinagar, April 19: In anticipation of the anniversary of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, security has been significantly tightened across the Kashmir Valley, particularly at tourist sites.
On April 22 last year, terrorists from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) killed 26 innocent people in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam.
Intelligence sources indicate that all security forces have been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance around April 22, especially at tourist locations, to prevent any suspicious activities.
VK Birdi, the Inspector General of Police for the Kashmir Zone, held a meeting at the Srinagar Police Control Room with police and other security agencies to review security arrangements.
Meetings were conducted to devise a robust ground security plan, and senior officials assessed these preparations.
The attack escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant the military a free hand in responding.
Under “Operation Sindoor,” the Indian Army targeted terrorist camps inside Pakistan without crossing the border. These strikes occurred near Lahore in Muridke, Bahawalpur, and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).
The situation further deteriorated when the Pakistani military retaliated.
In response, India destroyed 18 Pakistani defense installations, including several airfields.
To prevent further attacks like the one in Pahalgam, the administration temporarily closed 50 tourist sites in Jammu and Kashmir, which were later reopened gradually.
Prior to the attack, tourism in Kashmir was booming, but this incident dealt a severe blow to the industry, affecting the livelihoods of thousands.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah convened a cabinet meeting in Pahalgam to restore tourists’ confidence, even taking a bicycle tour to demonstrate that the area is safe.
Several measures have been implemented to ensure tourist safety, including police checks for service providers and shopkeepers, as well as a QR code-based identification system for easy verification by tourists.
Today, the number of tourists in Pahalgam is on the rise again, and the events of April 22 have become a painful memory that should never be repeated.
Local residents condemned the attack, and tourists have expressed their trust in the community’s support and goodwill.
The victims of this attack have been honored not only through the elimination of terrorists but also through a widespread atmosphere of mourning and grief across Kashmir.
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