Pakistan, Oct. 12 -- Weeks after the September 24 protests and the killing of four civilians by Indian forces, the main market and tourist areas in the Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir remain eerily deserted exposing a stark contrast to official claims of normalcy.

According to Kashmir Media Service, hotels and guesthouses that once bustled with tourists now stand empty. Room rates, which typically ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, have been slashed to as low as Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 yet even these deep discounts have failed to draw visitors, reports the English-language digital news portal of Jagran Prakashan Limited, a major Indian publishing house. Taxi stands are also deserted and Leh town seems to host more...