The growing militant footprint in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir has cast a shadow over the border tourism that had picked up two years ago against the backdrop of a renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. The process to get passes for areas closer to the Line of Control (LoC) has now been made stringent again, and many areas in north Kashmir are now listed as no-go zones, official sources said.
Several visitors and off-roaders heading for Keran — named among 12 off-beat tourist destinations to be promoted by the J&K government — failed to get permission to travel there this month, official sources said. The security forces suspected movement of militants after three infiltrators were killed on July 14 close to the LoC in the Keran Sector of Kupwara. The Lieutenant Governor’s administration had planned to promote Keran as a border tourist village as hundreds of tourists have shown interest in the destination since 2022. The high-altitude circuit — which connects Machil with Point 4040 with Zamindari Gali and Bandipora’s Razdan Top — has also been closed for off-roaders this year.
The administration’s move to issue on-spot permission at the Kralpora police station in Kupwara has also been stopped. “Only online permission seven days prior to visit can be applied [for]. It may or may not be granted,” a local off-roader told The Hindu.
The process of police verifications of local tourists has also been made a must to visit the border areas of Kupwara. “Online permission can only be processed once the local police station of a visitor clears the name after a background check,” the off-roader said.
This year, the upper reaches of the Jammu region have seen increased activity by highly-trained militants. Around eight to 12 groups of infiltrators are believed to be active in the Pir Panjal valley and the Chenab Valley. Of late, official sources said, security forces have stepped up their vigil in north Kashmir, especially in Kupwara district, following reports of the movement of armed men in the forests.
