Fight terrorism in Kashmir with tourism: Mehbooba

Asking people to cast aside the perception that Jammu and Kashmir has become a 'forbidden land' in the wake of growing terrorist attacks, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that visiting the state more often can help defeat the militancy.

"It's not a forbidden land, we need to change our mindset vis-a-vis- Kashmir. If every Indian thinks he wants to fight militancy and pay tribute to all our martyrs then they should visit Jammu and Kashmir and make it a point," Mufti said.

When asked about the recent reports that the separatists in Kashmir are asking people to boycott voting, Mufit said, "It's not new. It has been happening from past 20 years. there is nothing new about it."

With regard to India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir, Mehbooba said that their party's policy would be on the lines of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"We follow the lines of Vajpayee. that is we can change our friends, but can't change our neighbours," she said.

Mufti informed that Bollywood actor Salman Khan has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Jammu and Kashmir.