Spike in Soldier Deaths Acknowledged Amid Boost in Counter-Terrorism: Minister Rai

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, addressed the recent soldier deaths in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized the progress in counter-terrorism and restored peace, which has boosted tourism. Rai reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and highlighted significant declines in terror-related deaths and increased tourist visits.

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, has acknowledged the recent surge in the deaths of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, while also highlighting significant progress in counter-terrorism operations. He noted, "In the last few days, 28 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir. It's saddening that some of our brave soldiers have also been killed, although their number remains significantly lower than that of the neutralized terrorists."

Rai pointed out that peace has been restored in the region, leading to a notable increase in tourism. "In 2023 alone, 2 crore 11 thousand tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. The rise in tourist numbers is a testament to the restored peace," he added.

Reaffirming the government's strong stance on terrorism, Rai stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi strictly adheres to a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, aiming to eradicate it completely. From 2004 to 2014, 2819 people were killed in Jammu and Kashmir; in the past decade, that number has dropped by 66 percent to 941." Rai's remarks come in response to a series of terror attacks, including an attack on an army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur.

Rai emphasized the significant reduction in casualties compared to during Congress rule, noting, "80 percent fewer deaths have been reported now. Since the abrogation of Article 370, at least 200 terrorists have been neutralized by the Indian Army."

Highlighting the booming tourism sector, Rai shared that, from January to June 2024, 1,08,41,009 tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, following a record-breaking 2,11,24,674 tourists in 2023. The government reported a consistent annual tourism growth rate of 15.13 percent over the last three years.

The state government attributes this growth to several initiatives, including the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Policy 2020 and incentives under the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy-2021, which granted the tourism sector industry status.