Kashmir, often celebrated as “Paradise on Earth,” remains one of the most controversial and emotionally charged regions in the Indian subcontinent. With snow-capped peaks, serene lakes, and picturesque valleys, the beauty of Kashmir draws millions of tourists every year. But beneath the natural charm lies a complex and dangerous reality that few dare to speak about openly.
For many observers and victims of the region’s past, there’s a chilling analogy: “A Hindu going to Kashmir is like giving a contract to a contract killer to take your life.” This statement, though provocative, reflects the harsh sentiment rooted in history, terror, and socio-economic contradictions that define modern-day Kashmir.
The Irony of Economic Support
It is estimated that over 90% of tourists visiting Kashmir are Hindus—families and pilgrims who come to witness its beauty and visit sacred sites like the Amarnath Cave or Vaishno Devi. These visitors pour crores of rupees into the local economy, keeping hotels, restaurants, transport businesses, and guides financially afloat.
However, the painful irony arises when the same money is allegedly used—directly or indirectly—to support the very forces that are hostile to them.
Multiple reports and firsthand accounts have alleged that a portion of the money earned from tourism is funneled toward harboring and funding militants. Terrorists from Pakistan are sheltered in local homes, fed, clothed, and even married into Kashmiri families under the guise of “religious duty” or “jihad.” In some shocking cases, locals have been said to offer their daughters in marriage to jihadists to show solidarity with their cause.
Jihad and the Targeting of Non-Muslims
The concept of jihad, as interpreted by radical Islamists, is not a philosophical or spiritual struggle—it’s a violent mission against non-believers. And in the context of Kashmir, the primary targets of such radicalism have historically been Hindus and other non-Muslims.
The 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus, when thousands were driven out of the Valley through threats, killings, and intimidation, stands as a testament to this violent intolerance. To this day, many Pandits remain in exile, their properties illegally occupied or destroyed, with justice still a distant hope.
Even in recent years, non-Muslim civilians, including migrant laborers and government employees, have been targeted and killed in terrorist attacks in Kashmir—reminding the nation that the threat is far from over.
The Chilling Analogy: A Contract to Kill
When a Hindu visits Kashmir today, the argument goes, they are:
- Spending money in a region where a segment of the population holds deeply radicalized beliefs.
- Supporting an economy that has, in many cases, shown silent sympathy for separatists and jihadists.
- Financing, indirectly, the same ecosystem that supports anti-India narratives and violence against non-Muslims.
Thus, to many who see this danger clearly, tourism becomes a paradoxical act of self-harm—the same as handing over money to a contract killer to end your own life.
The Harsh Reality We Must Confront
This article is not a blanket indictment of all Kashmiris. Not every resident supports terrorism or harbors radical ideologies. But ignoring the substantial portion that does—either out of belief, fear, or passive acceptance—is willful blindness.
India must address this uncomfortable truth:
- Can we continue to send our people into an environment that still harbors hostility toward their identity?
- Is the financial benefit of tourism worth the moral and physical cost if it strengthens the hands of enemies within?
- And most importantly, can healing and peace truly begin without justice and accountability for decades of violence and betrayal?
Conclusion
Kashmir needs healing, justice, and a reckoning with its past. Until then, Hindus visiting the region must weigh not just the risk to their lives, but the deeper moral consequence of empowering those who, in the name of jihad, once expelled and killed their kin.
In this context, the analogy stands painfully valid:
A Hindu going to Kashmir may well be giving a contract to a contract killer—unknowingly, but effectively.
Unmukt 
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