Path to Baisaran: Of Targeted Terror

The 2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre stands as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region.

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On August 1 and 2, 2000, Islamist militants carried out coordinated attacks in Anantnag and Doda districts, killing between 89 and 105 people and injuring at least 62 others.

Pilgrims on their way to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath at Baltal in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. (File photo) underscores a calculated effort to disrupt the socioeconomic fabric of Kashmir and to challenge the state's authority and capacity to protect its citizens and visitors.

Understanding this historical context is crucial for developing effective counter-terrorism strategies and for fostering resilience among communities. It highlights the need for vigilant security measures, community engagement, and sustained efforts to address the underlying issues fueling such violence.

The Pahalgam attack is not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing pattern of targeted violence in Kashmir. Recognizing and addressing these patterns is essential for breaking the cycle of terror and for paving the way toward lasting peace in the region.

Pahalgam's economy, like much of Kashmir's, is heavily dependent on tourism. From the shimmering Lidder River to the gateway leading up to the Amarnath cave shrine, the region thrives on seasonal inflows of tourists and pilgrims.

After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, authorities worked aggressively to revive and promote Kashmir as a safe travel destination. By 2023-24, tourism had seen a modest revival, with nearly 2 crore domestic tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir. Pahalgam, along with Gulmarg and Sonamarg, became a centerpiece of the new promotional drive. But the recent attack casts a dark cloud over these efforts. The viability of promoting tourism in a known conflict zone must now contend with the reality of intermittent but devastating violence.