Sonamarg, Jun 18: Amid the huge tourist arrival and ahead of the annual AmarnathYatra, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President MehboobaMuti on Thursday urged people of Kashmir to use the yatra as an opportunity to build harmony.
The former chief minister said tourists and AmarnathYatris visiting Kashmir should go back as “ambassadors of peace” and share the real, welcoming face of Kashmir with rest of the country. 

She made the remarks while interacting with a group of stakeholders and locals including representatives of Pony Association, Beopar Mandal, and Tour and Travel Guide Association in Sonamarg tourist destination.
Mehbooba said that in times of growing hate and polarisation, AmarnathYatra was an opportunity to defeat hate and mistrust. 
“I came to Sonamarg today to talk to the people here about the upcoming AmarnathYatra. I requested them to make the yatra as successful as possible and serve the yatris as much as they can,” she said. 

Asserting that the people of Kashmir had always supported the annual yatra, the PDP chief pointed out that a lot of “hatred” was spread throughout the country against Muslims, especially Kashmiris. 

Hence, she said, the yatra should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of trust, understanding, and shared belonging between Kashmir and the rest of the country. The former chief minister said the yatris should leave Kashmir happy and satisfied. 
“Kashmir was always known for its hospitality, compassion, and respect for guests. Kashmiris, especially people living in areas like Sonamarg and Pahalgam, have always welcomed visitors with warmth and dignity. This spirit of Kashmiriyat is our greatest strength and our biggest message to the world,” she said.

Mehbooa said the narrative about Kashmir needs to change. 
“Tourists come here with some fear in their minds. But when they meet our people, taste our food, see our hospitality, they leave with love. That love should travel with them,” she said. “Every tourist who returns home is an ambassador. Kashmiris are warm, and this land deserves peace, not conflict.”
Mehboobaemphasised that Kashmir’s hospitality, kindness, and compassion should serve as a response to prejudice and mistrust. 
She urged people to warmly welcome yatris and ensure that every visitor leaves the Valley with positive memories and a deeper understanding of Kashmiri culture and tradition. 

“The yatra is an opportunity for us to connect with people from across the country. Our hospitality, kindness, and compassion should be our answer to prejudice and mistrust,” she said. 
The former chief minister said that yatris may well become ambassadors who carry their experience of Jammu and Kashmir back to their homes and communities. 

She said the “misinformation and prejudice” directed against J&K could best be challenged through genuine human outreach and a heartfelt welcome to every yatri. 

She also urged the administration to improve facilities, cleanliness, and safety for visitors at places like Sonamarg so that tourists leave with only good memories.
The PDP President also voiced concern over the hardships faced by locals, alleging that the registration and verification process for the AmarnathYatra had become cumbersome. 
She said many locals who invested lakhs of rupees in preparations for the yatra season had not been granted permission to operate at the Baltal base camp. 

Mehbooba also opposed the proposed cable car project in Sonamarg, warning that it could adversely affect the livelihoods of thousands of people dependent on tourism. She urged the administration to consider an alternative location for the project and highlighted the continued closure of trekking destinations following the Pahalgam incident.

Srinagar, Jun 18: Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sinha on Thursday reviewed the security situation and operational preparedness along the southern route of the Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir valley.

The annual pilgrimage begins on July 3.

“Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC, visited #Pahalgam and #Chandanwari to review the security situation and assess operational preparedness along the Southern Route ahead of the commencement of #ShriAmarnathJiYatra2026,” the Army’s Northern Command said in a post on X.

It said the Army is committed to ensuring safe pilgrimage for all devotees through seamless coordination with all stakeholders, vigilant security measures and comprehensive preparedness.

The 40-day yatra will begin on July 3 from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

Srinagar, Jun 18: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday flagged off 45 mountain rescue teams for deployment along the twin routes for Amarnath Yatra.

The 45 teams — comprising Jammu and Kashmir Police, State and National Disaster Response Forces, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Border Security Force — will be deployed at 21 locations along the two routes to the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas.

“Like every year, our teams will be stationed there to assist pilgrims this year too. They will provide every kind of facility (to the devotees). And God forbid, if any disaster occurs, they will actively respond to it and tackle it,” SDRF Director Imtiyaz Hussain Mir told reporters here.

Mir said the annual Amarnath Yatra is a very sacred pilgrimage in the country.

“The overall role of Jammu and Kashmir Police in this is very important, along with other security forces. These mountain rescue teams are specially trained. Most of them have been deployed before as well. They provide all kinds of assistance, especially in emergencies, to pilgrims who come here from every corner of the country,” he added.

Mir said extra effort was put in and equipment augmented for this year’s deployment.

“We are trying to provide better facilities for the mountain rescue team so that they can offer better services to the pilgrims. We hope the yatra will be very successful. We will fulfil this duty and responsibility completely,” he added.

Meanwhile, mock drills were conducted in several districts in the Valley as security forces intensified measures to ensure a smooth pilgrimage this year, officials said.

This year, the Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28.

“To assess and strengthen the security preparedness, emergency response mechanisms, and inter-agency coordination for the smooth and safe conduct of the annual pilgrimage, authorities are conducting comprehensive mock drills across the Valley,” the officials said.

On Thursday, mock drills were conducted in the Pulwama and Kulgam districts in South Kashmir.

Sonmarg, June 18: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the Amarnath Yatra is an opportunity for the people of Kashmir to connect with people from across India and counter prejudice and mistrust through hospitality, kindness and compassion.

She said that every devotee visiting Kashmir should leave with a deeper understanding of the Valley’s values, faith and people.

“This is our chance to show the true spirit of Islam and Kashmir,” Mehbooba said.

Srinagar, June 18: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday visited the Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal district to assess the arrangements for the upcoming annual mela at the shrine.

Hundreds of devotees, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, are expected to visit the temple of Ragnya Devi, popularly known as Mata Kheer Bhawani, at Tulmulla in the central Kashmir district, to celebrate the annual Mela on Monday.

The chief minister inspected various facilities put in place for the devotees and reviewed the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the mela.

Abdullah also paid obeisance at the temple.

“It is a sacred day. People come here from various parts of the country and world to pay obeisance and get blessings of the mata. I have come here in the capacity of the chief minister of J-K, and more so as the MLA Ganderbal, to assess the arrangements and review the preparations,” Abdullah told reporters after the visit.

The chief minister said he spoke to the priests and others at the temple who raised some issues about the arrangements and assured them that attempts will be made to address them before the mela on June 22.

To a question about the upcoming annual Amaranth yatra, Abdullah said the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board oversees the arrangements for the pilgrimage which begins this year on July 3.

“The board oversees the yatra and the biggest responsibility about the smooth yatra lies with the board. However, whatever support we have to give from the government side, we are doing that,” he added.

The CM appealed to the pilgrims to pray for peace and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We hope that whether Mata Kheer Bhawani or Amamrnath yatra, the pilgrims pay obeisance and pray smoothly. We hope that when they pray, they also pray for peace and brotherhood in J-K,” Abdullah said.

Asked about farmers facing irrigation issues in the constituency, the CM said the government is doing everything to mitigate the crisis.

“There are such reports from a few places, not the whole Ganderbal. Whatever can be done through canals, etc, is being done so that there is no lack of irrigation water. We thank God that it rained over the last few days and so, the water scarcity was mitigated a bit. But, I will send the Minister Javed Rana and officials to the spot wherever is needed so that whatever remains to be done, will be done,” he added.

When asked about the reports that Kashmiri Pandit colonies are being built in Shopian and Pulwama, the CM said those were transit accommodations and are being built everywhere.

“It is being built for PM package employees so that they get a good living space and work smoothly. The work started in PM Manmohan Singh’s time and is going on,” Abdullah said.