A week after a devastating militant attack near the picturesque town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir claimed 26 lives, the once-bustling mountain retreat remains cloaked in sorrow and uncertainty. Yet, signs of resilience flicker as tourists begin to return—cautiously, quietly.
On the main high street, where shuttered shops and vacant hotels had painted a picture of abandonment just days ago, a few visitors now stroll past guarded checkpoints. Beside a selfie spot marked “I Love Pahalgam,” shawl-seller Rafi Ahmed sits hopeful, though he’s sold just a handful of items since the attack. “If this silence continues, I don’t know how long I can survive,” he says.
The attack, one of the deadliest in the region in recent years, targeted mostly tourists visiting Baisaran, a lush meadow known as the “Switzerland of India.” It has sent shockwaves through India and reignited tensions with Pakistan, with both nuclear-armed neighbours exchanging sharp words and fire across the border.
Though violence has long shadowed Kashmir since insurgency erupted in 1989, attacks on tourists remain rare—and this one has struck at the heart of Pahalgam’s economy. Tourism is not just a livelihood here; it is a lifeline.
Tourist Akshay Solanki, who stayed on due to the high cost of return flights, said his group was initially gripped by panic. But reassurances from locals and a visible security presence gave them the courage to continue. “The people here were the first to help. That changed everything,” he said.
Others, like Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni, have called for solidarity through presence. “If militants say ‘don’t come’, we should respond by coming in larger numbers,” he urged during a visit to the town.
Yet recovery will take time. Tour operators report 80-90% trip cancellations from major cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. Tour organiser Abhishek Sansare echoed the dilemma: “There’s fear of war in the air. Many tourists don’t know what to do.”
Security operations have intensified. Indian authorities have detained suspects and demolished homes linked to alleged militants. But the atmosphere remains tense, with locals and businesses wary of what lies ahead.
The broader implications are equally dire. The inauguration of the world’s highest railway arch bridge—expected to better connect the region—is now likely delayed. Budding investments in logistics and tourism may stall. “Confidence is shattered,” said cold-storage entrepreneur Ubair Shah.
In an emotional address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid tribute to the victims, reading each name aloud. “They came at our invitation. But I could not promise them safety,” he said, his voice breaking. “Some will carry the scars of this holiday for life.”
Pahalgam, cloaked in natural beauty, now stands at a crossroads—between fear and hope, grief and resilience. Whether tourists return in greater numbers or stay away will shape the fate of countless families whose futures depend on the valley’s fragile peace.
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