Srinagar, July 30 -- Shah credited this change to the Centre's post-2019 policies, especially the revocation of Article 370. The abrogation remains contentious in the Valley, but the government believes it allowed for tighter administrative and security control, resulting in what it calls the "destruction of terror infrastructure." The Home Minister also praised Operation Mahadev, a recent offensive said to have wiped out lingering terror cells, and claimed that not a single terrorist in the region today is of Indian origin, a bold assertion that shows a shift in both the geography and psychology of militancy in the region.

However, this security narrative needs to be examined alongside other ground realities. The revival of tourism in J...