Srinagar, June 1 -- When the recent attack in Pahalgam made the news, everything changed in an instant. Tourists cancelled their trips. Hotels sat empty. Streets that usually buzzed with life fell silent.

In places like Lal Chowk and Dalgate, even the usual evening crowd faded fast. It wasn't just a dip in business, it felt like a wound reopening.

This is what violence does to Kashmir. It doesn't just take lives. It takes away the everyday rhythm of living.

Tourism here isn't just a seasonal industry. It's the thread that ties together livelihoods, memories, and hope. When a visitor steps into a shikara on Dal Lake or hikes through the meadows of Gulmarg, they do more than admire the view. They help keep entire communities afloat.

Rou...