Overview

• Abdullah said he will ask Union home minister Amit Shah to approve a phased reopening of locations sealed after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
• He identified half of Gulmarg, Drung, Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Tosa Maidan, Aru and Betaab Valley as still out of bounds for tourists.
• Authorities closed about 48 sites after the massacre that killed 26 people, and the lieutenant governor reopened 16 in June, leaving many marquee destinations shut.
• He argued that if sites remain closed the government must compensate businesses and workers who are losing income.
• He announced plans to scrutinise hotel lease agreements across major destinations and rebuked industry stakeholders for not publicly backing promotion efforts.