Omar Abdullah happy to see tourists returning to Pahalgam after terror attack

Jammu and Kashmir’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed happiness over the return of tourists to Pahalgam, a popular hill station that had seen very few visitors after a deadly terror attack on April 22.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Abdullah said that Pahalgam looked very different now compared to his last visit. “The last time I was in Pahalgam, the market was almost empty. Today, it was full of activity. Tourists from all over the country and local people were enjoying the cool, rainy weather,” he wrote.

He said the improvement in the situation is a result of his administration’s hard work. “It’s very satisfying to see that the efforts my colleagues and I put in are finally paying off,” he added.


What Happened on April 22?
On April 22, terrorists attacked the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 26 people — 25 tourists from India and one person from Nepal. It was one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

The attack shocked the entire country. Many tourists cancelled their trips to Kashmir, and questions were raised again about safety in the region.

India’s Response: Operation Sindoor
In response to the attack, India launched a major military operation called Operation Sindoor on the night of May 6–7. Indian forces targeted nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, run by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Though India said the strikes were carefully planned and not meant to start a war, Pakistan responded with drone attacks on Indian cities. India then destroyed Pakistan’s HQ-9 air defence system.

As things escalated, India struck eleven Pakistani air bases on May 10, including Nur Khan, Murid, and Rafiqui. After four days of intense fighting with drones and missiles, both countries agreed to a ceasefire due to pressure from the international community.

Tourism Slowly Returns
Operation Sindoor was not just a military response but also a message that India is serious about keeping Kashmir safe for tourists. Thanks to improved security, people are slowly starting to visit again, and places like Pahalgam are seeing a revival in tourism.

[With TOI inputs]