Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has urged the United States Ambassador Sergio Gor to withdraw the highest-level US travel advisory against visiting Kashmir.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has urged the United States Ambassador Sergio Gor to withdraw the highest-level US travel advisory against visiting Kashmir, saying it was affecting a region where thousands of families depend on tourism.

In a post on X, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said that at least the US Ambassador can review and withdraw the highest-level travel advisory against visiting Kashmir.

“For Kashmir, where thousands of families depend on tourism, the travel advisory on Kashmir is more than a warning; it is a wall between Kashmir and the world. Lifting it would send a powerful message of confidence, help bring back international tourists and give much-needed relief to countless families whose livelihoods depend on tourism,” she said.

“The least the US Ambassador Sergio Gor @USAmbIndia can do is review and withdraw the highest level travel advisory against visiting Kashmir,” she said

She said withdrawing the advisory would “send a powerful message of confidence”, help bring international tourists back and provide relief to families whose livelihoods depend on the tourism sector.

Since the eruption of a volatile situation in Jammu and Kashmir in 1989, the US has repeated its advisories to its citizens, warning them against travelling to the Valley.In June last year, the US kept Kashmir among the “high risk areas”, advising its citizens not to travel to this area except for visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh, due to terrorism and civil unrest.

“Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible. Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. Violence also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas along the LOC,” the advisory said.

Gor is on a Kashmir visit beginning today, during which he will meet the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.