Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu

Jammu, Feb 7: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that tourist interest in Jammu and Kashmir remains strong despite last year’s Pahalgam attack, stressing the need for aggressive promotion of the region’s destinations across India. He assured that the BJP-led Centre will extend full support to develop new tourist sites and unlock the state’s tourism potential.

Shah chaired a development assessment meeting at Lok Bhawan in Jammu to review ongoing projects in the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, chief minister Omar Abdullah, Union Home secretary Govind Mohan, chief secretary, DGP Nalin Prabhat, and other senior officials.

The remarks come in the backdrop of the April 22, 2025, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives and severely affected the local tourism industry. Shah highlighted that enthusiasm among domestic tourists has not waned and called for more efforts to promote the region’s attractions.

Earlier on Saturday, he met senior BJP leaders, stating on X that the party will continue expanding its organization and ensuring the ground-level implementation of development initiatives to realize the vision of a “Developed and Secure Jammu & Kashmir.”

During his three-day visit, Shah also visited the International Border in Kathua district, interacting with BSF personnel and urging the use of modern technology alongside human deployment to strengthen vigilance. He paid tribute to J&K Police martyrs and personally handed appointment letters to the next of kin of fallen officers.

This was Shah’s second security review meeting in less than a month, following a January 8 meeting in New Delhi, where he instructed security forces to adopt a mission-mode approach to neutralize anti-state actors and ensure lasting peace in the region. Shah concluded his visit on Saturday evening and departed for Chhattisgarh.