– By Riya Shakchi
– Intern IPPCS’21
– Lady Shri Ram College For Women
Set like a jeweled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is like a multi-faceted diamond- always extravagantly beautiful with its changing hues with the seasons. With the sounds of gushing rivers, the lush green forests, the vibrancy of saffron, and an unfathomable calling, it is an emotion everyone wishes to experience.
The majestic beauty of Kashmir appeals to tourists from all over the world. Despite various myriad conflicts in the region, it has immense potential for tourism from domestic and international tourists. Being the largest service industry, tourism can prove to be a significant contributor to the State GDP and foreign exchange for the country.
However, the grave reality is that a state of despondency is observed in all support services to the State tourism industry. The level of unemployment amongst youth within the Valley is high and assumes a dangerous proportion. No well-known financial institutions are willing to invest in Kashmir because of the violence-prone environment.
Apart from the geopolitical tensions, hazardous and non-eco-friendly tourism is a cause of constant concern. ‘Tourism destroys tourism’ is the perfect analogy to the reckless management of the tourism sector.
Climate changes call for well-informed and environmentally conscious efforts towards the promotion of ecotourism.
The Government is required to evaluate the feasibility and tourism potential of rural areas. Rural areas need to be selected as new sites of tourist attraction to strengthen the local economy.
In Jammu & Kashmir, around 80% of the population lives in villages. The Government should adopt a sustainable and participatory approach for the economic and social well-being of villagers to create a climate-resilient green economy.
The Government should conduct site assessment surveys to determine how to mitigate environmental threats and develop long-term eco-friendly policies for the management of tourist destinations.
Local people can be involved in the development of tourism enterprises in the villages. The tourists should be encouraged to explore village cuisine and local handicrafts. Handicrafts like the pashmina shawl and paper mache are famous all over the world. More areas should be explored as tourist spots which will help the Government in earning revenue and ultimately promoting development of the Valley. It will also lead to better infrastructural facilities in Kashmir.
Kashmir has not realized its true potential yet. It can serve as a perfect destination for several other types of tourism which are yet to be explored. Apart from Eco-tourism, Kashmir has immense touristic scope in adventure, medicine, polo, and leisure tourism.
All these recommended changes would have been easy to implement if India had friendly neighbors.
The relations between India and Pakistan have been complex and largely hostile due to several historical and political events. Since independence, the two countries have fought three major wars, an undeclared war over the Kashmir conflict, the 1972 Indo-Pakistan War, Bangladesh Liberation War and have been involved in numerous armed skirmishes along the border.
Moreover, China has strong strategic bilateral relations with Pakistan.
Additionally, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan boosts the morale of other militant groups. As Kashmir is a South-Asian hot spot where conflicts have raged for the past 31 years, this is considered to be an ideal scenario to influence the Kashmiri mindset.
The Taliban’s re-emergence changes the global and regional geostrategic landscape with the realignment of forces and political powers. Also, the role of Pakistan in assuming a central role with the help of China in Afghanistan leads to the isolation of India in the regional geopolitical world.
India’s foreign policies are such that it envisages widening its sphere of influence. We are in a world which is characterized by complex interdependence, so India should compete on geostrategic issues and cooperate on geo-economic issues.
Shri Rabindranath Tagore had stated wonderfully that “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”
India is highly risk-averse, but a low-risk foreign policy earns limited rewards. Thus, India needs to forge a national consensus on its Kashmir policy. Political instability at home would pose grave threats to diplomatic challenges.
Kashmir was a haven for both foreign and domestic tourists. Due to the political turmoil in the past, tourists now prefer going to Ladakh and Leh.
The Kashmir Valley is in dire need of rebranding to re-establish itself as a tourist destination. A re-branded identity will surely help the Valley to peak its dying tourism industry.
It is more than two years now that India bid farewell to Articles 370 and 35(A), marking the beginning of a new era in the politics and policies of Jammu & Kashmir.
The road ahead seems to be filled with optimism and hope. The Centre’s emphasis on proper delimitation followed by full-fledged democratic elections opens the gate for conducive and cooperative politics in the Valley.
Once people get the wings to fly, then Kashmir will make even greater contributions to India’s economy.
Signing off,
Riya Shakchi.
REFERENCES:
- Newsdesk. “Kashmir Needs Sustainable Tourism Strategy – Asian News from UK.” Asian News from UK – Leading Newspaper for Politics, Business & Economy, 9 Sept. 2021, asianlite.com/2021/top-news/tourism-kills-tourism-in-kashmir.
- Excelsior, Daily. “Tourism and Economic Development in J&K.” Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K, 7 Nov. 2016, www.dailyexcelsior.com/tourism-and-economic-development-in-jk.
- DailyTimes.Pk. “Foreign Policy: Kashmir Issue and the Dynamics of International Relations.” Daily Times, 30 Aug. 2019, dailytimes.com.pk/456828/foreign-policy-kashmir-issue-and-the-dynamics-of-international-relations.
- Welle, Deutsche. “How Will the Taliban Takeover Impact Militancy in Kashmir? Here’s What Analysts Say.” Hindustan Times, 10 Sept. 2021, www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-will-the-taliban-takeover-impact-militancy-in-kashmir-here-s-what-analysts-say-101631244581049.html.
- Joshi, Arun. “Taliban’s Rise in Afghanistan and What It Means for Kashmir.” The Siasat Daily, 11 Sept. 2021, www.siasat.com/the-talibans-rise-in-afghanistan-and-kashmir-2190785.
onducted a total of five underground nuclear tests, breaking a 24-year self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing. Pakistan followed, claiming 5 tests on May 28, 1998, and an additional test on May 30. The unannounced tests created a global storm of criticism, as well as a serious setback for decades of U.S. nuclear nonproliferation efforts in South Asia. On May 13, 1998, President Clinton imposed economic and military sanctions on India, mandated by Section 102 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and applied the same sanctions to Pakistan on May 30. Some effects of the sanctions on India included: termination of $21 million in FY1998 economic development assistance; postponement of $1.7 billion in lending by the International Financial Institutions (IFI), as supported by the Group of Eight (G-8) leading industrial nations; prohibition on loans or credit from U.S. banks to the government of India; and termination of Foreign Military Sales under the Arms Export Control Act. Humanitarian assistance, food, or other agricultural commodities are excepted from sanctions under the law. 
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India and Australia signed the 
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The foreign ministry
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