Editorial photo #13604354 Human Interest

Security Tightened Across Kashmir's Tourist Destinations Ahead Of Pahalgam Attack Anniversary

Indian tourists walk inside the Botanical Garden in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 20, 2026. Security is significantly tightened across major tourist destinations in Kashmir ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam incident on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a civilian. Jammu and Kashmir authorities have introduced a new QR code-based identification system for service providers. Officials state that every operator has been police-vetted and registered to ensure only genuine, verified individuals work in the sector, a move aimed at rebuilding visitor confidence as tourism in the Valley shows signs of revival. India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors, control parts of Kashmir but claim it in full, having fought two of their three wars over the region. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)