“Most tourists have left and returned to their cities because there is a risk of war,” said hotel owner Rafaqat Hussain.
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) — The scenic Neelum Valley in northern Pakistan, usually hosting over 300,000 tourists each summer, now sits nearly deserted amid rising tensions with India.
Following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, India, that left 26 dead, New Delhi blamed Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies. The proximity of Neelum Valley to the Line of Control has raised fears of conflict. “Most tourists have left and returned to their cities because there is a risk of war,” said hotel owner Rafaqat Hussain.
Local resident Bashir Mughal urged peace but added, “I would fight alongside the army.” Saiqa Naseer recalled past shelling. “Now, as a mother, I find myself facing the same fears,” she said. “We won’t run away.”
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