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Kashmir opens airport to international traffic
16 hours ago
SRINAGAR, India (AFP) Revolt-hit Indian Kashmir opened its high-security airport to international traffic Saturday in a move officials hope will lead to a tourism boom.
The upgraded airport terminal, equipped with modern features including escalators, aero-bridges, central heating systems and lifts, was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi, the chief of India's ruling Congress Party.
Minutes later the inaugural flight, from Dubai, landed at summer capital Srinagar's international airport with over two dozen passengers.
Gandhi received the passengers as they disembarked from an Air India plane.
"It is a very happy moment for all of us," said Gandhi, adding that the new airport would "boost tourism and help the locals."
Around 30 Kashmiris were to fly to Dubai later Saturday.
The project to upgrade the airport was approved by the Indian government in January 2005, a year after India and Pakistan began a peace process to resolve their disputes, including one over Kashmir.
Initially, there will be a flight between Dubai and Srinagar every Saturday, India's civil aviation minister Praful Patil said.
"We will surely extend the service to other parts of the world," he said.
Violence has declined sharply in Kashmir since the start of the peace process, prompting India to unleash a wave of economic plans to win over Kashmiri Muslims, most of whom favour an independent Kashmir.
In October, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi inaugurated the first train service in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.
It took four years to upgrade Srinagar's dilapidated airport, which is heavily guarded by police and military after being stormed by rebels.
Kashmir was a major tourist destination before an Islamic insurgency against Indian rule began in 1989. More than 47,000 insurgents have been killed till date, according to an official count.
State officials say they hope to see tourists return to the scenic Himalayan region as it enjoys a period of relative calm following the start of the peace process.
"This will surely put Kashmir on the global tourism map," said Farooq Ahmed Shah, region's tourism chief, welcoming international flights to Srinagar.
"It will help us in attracting more tourists from the Middle and Far East countries," he said.
Muslim rebels are believed to have targeted foreign tourists in the region only once, in 1995, when six were kidnapped. One escaped, another was beheaded and the fate of the other four was never known.
"It was great to be part of the inaugural flight. I wish more people would use the service," said passenger Manzoor Wangnoo, who sells rugs in Dubai.
16 hours ago
SRINAGAR, India (AFP) Revolt-hit Indian Kashmir opened its high-security airport to international traffic Saturday in a move officials hope will lead to a tourism boom.
The upgraded airport terminal, equipped with modern features including escalators, aero-bridges, central heating systems and lifts, was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi, the chief of India's ruling Congress Party.
Minutes later the inaugural flight, from Dubai, landed at summer capital Srinagar's international airport with over two dozen passengers.
Gandhi received the passengers as they disembarked from an Air India plane.
"It is a very happy moment for all of us," said Gandhi, adding that the new airport would "boost tourism and help the locals."
Around 30 Kashmiris were to fly to Dubai later Saturday.
The project to upgrade the airport was approved by the Indian government in January 2005, a year after India and Pakistan began a peace process to resolve their disputes, including one over Kashmir.
Initially, there will be a flight between Dubai and Srinagar every Saturday, India's civil aviation minister Praful Patil said.
"We will surely extend the service to other parts of the world," he said.
Violence has declined sharply in Kashmir since the start of the peace process, prompting India to unleash a wave of economic plans to win over Kashmiri Muslims, most of whom favour an independent Kashmir.
In October, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi inaugurated the first train service in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.
It took four years to upgrade Srinagar's dilapidated airport, which is heavily guarded by police and military after being stormed by rebels.
Kashmir was a major tourist destination before an Islamic insurgency against Indian rule began in 1989. More than 47,000 insurgents have been killed till date, according to an official count.
State officials say they hope to see tourists return to the scenic Himalayan region as it enjoys a period of relative calm following the start of the peace process.
"This will surely put Kashmir on the global tourism map," said Farooq Ahmed Shah, region's tourism chief, welcoming international flights to Srinagar.
"It will help us in attracting more tourists from the Middle and Far East countries," he said.
Muslim rebels are believed to have targeted foreign tourists in the region only once, in 1995, when six were kidnapped. One escaped, another was beheaded and the fate of the other four was never known.
"It was great to be part of the inaugural flight. I wish more people would use the service," said passenger Manzoor Wangnoo, who sells rugs in Dubai.
