Pahalgam (J&K), Apr 22: “I wanted to see Munni here, but Munni is gone!” joked Mohammad Fadli, an international tour leader from Malaysia, referring to the young protagonist of the Bollywood movie ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’.
Yet, standing along the river Lidder where parts of the film was shot, his primary message to the world was far more serious that entire Kashmir region including Pahalgam is “safe, and very peaceful”.
Fadli’s arrival in Pahalgam on Wednesday with a group of 21 visitors, exactly one year after the terror attack of April 22, 2025 that left 26 people mainly tourists dead, serves as a powerful testament to the valley’s resilience.
Despite the heavy presence of security forces acting as a sombre reminder of last year’s tragedy, Fadli was among a growing number of international travellers helping to turn the tide for local tourism.
A self-proclaimed fan of Indian cinema, Fadli said that the towering pines and rushing Lidder river are iconic landmarks for fans back home. “In Malaysia, we always watch Hindi movies,” he said, specifically mentioning the Salman Khanstarrer filmed in these scenic heights.
Having already accompanied a group of 30 Malaysian tourists through the valley just last month, Fadli remains undeterred by the past.
As his current group snapped photos along the river’s edge, he said that the peace of the landscape has remained intact for his travellers, offering a hopeful glimpse into a future where Pahalgam is defined by its beauty rather than its scars.
Stakeholders feel that tourists like Fadli underscores efforts of recovery for a tourism industry that was nearly paralysed by last year’s incident.
“We are safe. My group is really enjoying it and it is very peaceful here,” Fadli told PTI Videos. While his wife had visited previously, this trip has allowed him to experience the landscape that has long captivated Malaysian audiences through the silver screen.
When asked what he would say to those hesitant to visit Jammu and Kashmir following the tragedy, Fadli was clear in his message: “All people around the world can come here. Don’t worry about anything…the river is beautiful, everything is good. It is safe and very peaceful.” Meanwhile, Managing Director of Ahad Hotels and Resorts Asif Iqbal Burza thanked the people from rest of the country for coming back to their favourite destinations despite inhuman attack last year.
“The people of the rest of the country are sending strong messages to enemies who wanted to disrupt the peace and create a communal divide,” he said and thanked J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for initiating a campaign in favour of people of Kashmir personally.
Abdullah had earlier camped in Pahalgam and held a cabinet meeting besides cycling on road. (Agencies)
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