Is Kashmir Safe To Travel? Pahalgam Attack Shockwaves: A Dream And Travel Note

Is Kashmir safe to travel to? 

Is India safe to travel to?

These have been the questions from most international tourists as the sound of gunshots in Pahalgam, Kashmir, reverberated across the world.

“When a terror attack targets tourists in any part of a country, tourism in the entire country gets impacted, as it is difficult to explain to an overseas tourist that Kashmir is very far from Kolkata, Udaipur, or Kochi. 
They want to avoid India. They may even prefer traveling to Kathmandu, which is closer to Kathmandu than Kolkata.”
– Debjit Dutta, Chairman, The Indian Association of Tour Operators

As Kashmir bleeds again, the words of Amir Khusroo, “Gar firdaus, bar ru-e zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast,” become haunting lullabies for us. The lives of 26 tourists were lost, adding one more “Black Day” to the history of terrorist attacks in India.

The tourism industry in the country is shaken, with the best places to visit in Kashmir being the crown jewels of the country’s tourism landscape. 

Many Delhi-based travel agencies have confirmed that 90% of the bookings for Jammu and Kashmir trips have been canceled in the aftermath of the incident. There is also a rising panic in the travel industry of Eastern India. 

However, the intangible consequence of the terrorist attack is deeper. It’s an attack on humanity and the united spirit of India as a nation that believes in “Sangachhadhwam samvadadhwam samvo manaansi jaanataam,” the concluding words of the Rig Veda.

Also, as a travel guide platform, the attack on tourists (the first of its kind) feels personal!

So, let’s delve deeper and make a pledge to combat every force that shuns our rights to dream, travel, and LIVE!

So, What Happened In Pahalgam? 

There is an attack in Pahalgam, just 50 km away from the city of Srinagar, the Summer Capital of Jammu. 

Armed men in camouflage clothes “opened indiscriminate fire at Baisaran meadow, a scenic uphill area accessible only by foot or pony rides.” 

This resulted in the death of 26 tourists, and most of them were civilians. Also, Lt Vinay Narwal, a naval officer who was on his honeymoon, lost his life in the attack. 

Our heart bleeds to see the video clips of his newly married bride, Himanshi, choking in tears at the coffin of her husband. 

Furthemore, one Nepalese tourist was killed in this attack. Additionally, one employee of the Inteligence Bureau was the victim of this attack.

Who Were Killed In The Pahalgam Attack?

Here is a full list of the people who lost their lives in the Pahalgam Attack. 

1. Sushil Nathyal, Indore
2. Syed Adil Hussain Shah, Pahalgam
3. Hemant Suhas Joshi, Mumbai
4. Vinay Narwal, Haryana
5. Atul Srikant Moni, Maharasthra
6. Neeraj Udhawani, Uttarakhand
7. Bitan Adhikari, Kolkata
8. Sudeep Neupane, Nepal
9. Shubham Dwivedi, UP
10. Prasant Kumar Satpati, Malashwar Odesa
11. Manish Ranjan, Bihar
12. N. Ramachandra, Kerala
13. Sanjay Lakshman Lali, Mumbai
14. Dinesh Agarwal, Chandigarh
15. Sameer Guhar, Kolkata
16. Dileep Dasali, Mumbai
17. J, Sachandra Moli, Andhra Pradesh
18. Madhusudan Somisetty, Bangalore
19. Santosh Jaghda, Pune
20. Manju Nath Rao, Karnataka
21. Kastuba Ganvotay, Pune
22. Bharat Bhusan, Bengaluru
23. Sumit Parmar, Gujarat
24. Yatesh Parmar, Gujarat
25. Tagehalying, Arunachal Pradesh
26. Shailesbhai Kalathia, Gujarat

Is The Pahalgam Attack A Violent Response To Article 370 Abrogation?

Two local men, identified as Ahsan (Pulwama) and Adil Guri (Anantnag), were part of the six-member terrorist group attacking the tourists. 

Further, “The Resistance Front” (TRF), a branch of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. 

Now, beyond this apparent “Whodunit” scene, this attack seems to be an attack on the abrogation of Article 370 in the Indian Constitution. 

Article 370 was a provision to allow Jammu and Kashmir a special status to Jammu and Kashmir. However, it was abolished in 2019, and Jammu and Kashmir were identified as two union territories. 

There is still time to draw a conclusion regarding the connection between the abolition of Article 370 and the Pahalgam attack. However, the promise of establishing long-term peace in Jammu and Kashmir with the abolition of Article 370 holds no ground today.

Is Kashmir Safe To Travel To? What Happened After The Pahalagam Attack?

Twenty-six lives were lost, and many were injured in the Pahalgam attacks. But that’s not all! 

The Pahalgam attack triggered numerous consequences, sending shockwaves across the country and beyond. 

Here are some incidents that took place in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.

‣ Flight Prices From Srinagar Shoot Up

Making matters worse, the flight prices from Srinagar to Chandigarh continue to increase. The flight tickets, previously available for INR 4,990, are now being sold at INR 9,605. 

This is madness, for sure!

‣ A Kashmir Bandh Happens After 35 Years

A Kashmir Bandh was called in response to the Pahalgam Attack. It was after 35 years that the valley came to a standstill. 

The Bandh on 23rd April, 2025, was called by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference.

‣ Karnataka Chief Minister Orders An Evacuation

Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, has asked the officials to operate an airlift for the rescue of 40 Kannadiga tourists stuck in Kashmir.

‣ PM Modi Cuts His Saudi Arabia Trip Short

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi on 23rd April, 2025, after shortening his trip to Saudi Arabia. 

‣ IndiGo And Air India Start More Flights 

IndiGo and Air India have announced plans to operate four additional flights to transport tourists back to Delhi and Mumbai.

‣ “Bharat Won’t Bend To Terror” – Says Union Home Minister

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the Pulwama Attack Site on 23rd April 2025, and said that India will not bend to terrorism. 

Later, he met the family members of the deceased and offered consolation.

“India Will Identify, Track And Punish Every Terrorist,” PM Modi Responds To The Pahalgam Attack

In response to the terrorist attack in Baisaran, the “Mini Switzerland of India,” PM Modi said that crores of citizens in the country, from Kargil to Kanyakumari, are in deep rage and sorrow.

He has also thanked the people and leaders of other countries who have stood by India in these hard times. Furthermore, he prayed for a speedy recovery of the people who were injured in the attack and are now being treated at hospitals. 

Additionally, he called the act of terrorism an attack on the spirit of India, and India will not spare these terrorists and their backers. He said, “We will pursue them to the ends of the earth.”

Along with the war cry from PM Modi against terrorism, a raft of measures taken by India against Pakistan show how the government and the nation react to this attack.

Measures Taken By India Against Pakistan After The Terrorist Attack

• There has been an immediate suspension of the “Indus Water Treaty 1960,” and the treaty will remain suspended until “Pakistan credibly and irrevocably stops support for cross-border terrorism.”
• The closure of the Attari Post on Wednesday. 
• Withdrawal of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani Nationals traveling to India. Also, any Pakistani tourist in India with the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme has to leave India within 48 hours. 
• India calls the defense, air force, and naval officials in the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi “Persona Non Grata,” and they are ordered to leave within 1 week. India will also withdraw their defense officials from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. 
• Moreover, India will reduce the High Commission strength to 30 from 55 by May 1st. 
• Visa services to Pakistani nationals have been suspended immediately, and every Pakistani National has to leave India by 27th April 2025. Only the persons with medical issues can stay here till 29th April, 2025. 
• The Border Security Force (BSF) has said that provocation and peace cannot coexist. So, the ceremonial display will be scaled down at Hussainiwala, Sadki, and Attari Borders.
• There will be no handshakes between the Indian and Pakistani Guard Commanders. Also, the gates will remain closed. 

How Pakistan Reacts To The Indian Government Measures After The Pahalgam Attack

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called this terrorist attack a “hoax” and said that it had been “orchestrated.” 

Calling it a “False Flag Operation,” he also referred to it as an incident similar to the Pulwama attacks, which were orchestrated, as admitted by the Indian Media.

Further, as a consequence of the measures taken by India after the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has shut its airspace and cut trade ties with India. 

Additionally, Pakistan will consider the measures to stop the Indus Water, “An Act of War.”

However, in this scenario, the United Nations has asked both countries to exercise maximum restraint.

Is Kashmir Safe To Travel? The USA Issues Travel Advisory, And Other Countries Respond

Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, and Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, extended their condolences to PM Modi after this attack. 

Other leaders to convey their concern over this heinous act and show an act of solidarity toward India are:

• Donald Trump, The President of the USA
• Vladimir Putin. The President of Russia
• Giorgia Meloni, The Prime Minister of Italy
• Benjamin Netanyahu, The Prime Minister of Israel
• Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK
• Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor
• Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark
• Irfaan Ali, the President of Guyana
• Ursula Von der Leyen, European Commission President
• Ina Hagniningtyas Krisnamurthi, Indonesia’s Ambassador to India 
• KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal

Now, as a response to the concern of whether is it safe to travel to Kashmir now, the USA government has issued a travel advisory. It has advised “Do Not Travel to J&K” for all the citizens of the country because of the terrorist attack and possible civilian unrest.

“Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Do not travel to this state (with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh). Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. It also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam.” 

– USA Travel Advisory

So, Is Kashmir Safe To Travel To?

Is Kashmir safe to travel alone?

Is Kashmir safe to travel with kids?

We should rest these questions for now. Traveling is not a consideration for now, as Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the entire country fight against terrorism.

However, we know things will get better soon, as India has always fought back and we have overcome incidents such as the Pulwama Attack of 2019 and the Kargil War of 1999. 

Having said that, these acts of terrorism and wars leave long-lasting impacts on humanity. Nobody keeps a count of the lost lives, money, and resources once the war is over. 

So, Pahalgam and the entire Jammu and Kashmir will be back on our dream travel destination bucket list.

Additionally, if you are currently in Kashmir and require assistance, you can refer to the following tourist assistance contact details.

• PCR Anantnag: 9596777669, 01932-225870
• WhatsApp Support: 9419051940
• Emergency control room – Srinagar: 0194-2457543, 0194-2483651
• Adil Fareed (ADC Srinagar): 7006058623

With prayers for the deceased and a wish for the speedy recovery of the people injured, we sign off for now and hope that we will be able to visit Kashmir soon.