Farooq tells Centre to strive for withdrawal of foreign travel

Opposition National Conference President Farooq Abdullah today asked the Centre to actively strive for withdrawal of adverse travel advisories against Jammu and Kashmir by foreign countries as early as possible.
"The Central government and the Ministry of External Affairs should actively strive to ensure that all adverse travel advisories against Kashmir are withdrawn at an earliest possible instance," Abdullah said during an interaction with British Deputy High Commissioner to India Dr Alexander Evans, who called on him at his residence here.
He said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has "significantly improved" over the years and "time has come for change in the mindset of the nature lovers so that the state blooms once again with tourism related activities".

Abdullah said lifting of adverse travel advisories would facilitate growth in tourism sector and subsequently create job opportunities in the state.
"There is a need to dismantle the myth of perpetual hostility and instability in Kashmir and encourage foreign tourists to visit the State," he said.
Abdullah said the number of foreign tourists visiting the state has increased significantly in recent years but a lot more needs to be done, and for this the Central government as well as the state government should approach diplomatic missions and embassies to evolve a consensus.

He also stressed on the need for educational exchanges and fairs that could help in bringing the youth of the two countries closer to a "mutual understanding of our cultures and history".

The British envoy has been a research scholar in Jammu and Kashmir in early nineties and is well versed the state politics.
The NC President discussed various social, political and economic interests with the visiting envoy and highlighted the mutual benefits of Indo-UK bilateral and trade relations, the party said in a statement.