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IHK criticises India for driving away tourists

NEW DELHI: The India-held Kashmir (IHK) government has resented recent statements by Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram and Indian Army officials, claiming an increase in infiltration and militancy-related incidents, saying they were affecting tourism in the valley.

IHK Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora criticised the Indian media for speculating on the presence of Taliban in the valley. Earlier this week, Indian newspapers and TV channels had quoted a Home Ministry official as saying that 60 Taliban, who had surrendered in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, were waiting for orders from the Inter-Services Intelligence to infiltrate into IHK. The report said the Taliban had been given a choice between long-term imprisonment and “jihad” in IHK. However, addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Chidambaram said the report was baseless.

Jora said such statements created a panic amongst tourists. “These statements are inappropriate and have a negative impact on the state’s tourism industry, which is the backbone of our economy. Such statements damage our tourism prospects,” he told reporters in Srinagar. He said the government had succeeded in attracting tourists and the efforts were paying off. “But then came these reports and everything went down the drain. Bookings were cancelled and we were back to square one,” he added.

On whether he would take up the issue with Chidambaram, Jora said, “I took up the matter with him during his visit to IHK. I will again request the army and the Home Ministry to refrain from making such statements for the sake of the revival of tourism in the valley.” iftikhar gilani

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