Senior Congress leader and member of the all-party delegation, Salman Khurshid, has alleged that recent attempts to destabilise Jammu & Kashmir are part of a calculated strategy by hostile elements across the border who are unnerved by the region’s return to peace and prosperity.

Speaking during a discussion with international think tanks in South Korea, Khurshid said that the growing normalcy and tourism boom in Kashmir had unsettled certain forces who seek to exploit the region's instability for their agendas.

“Jammu & Kashmir had come on the path of peace, prosperity and growth. This sounded unpleasant to the people across the border, who felt that they would lose fertile ground for their future activities, and this was the time to strike,” Khurshid said.

“When we were showing that everything was normal and tourists were coming in large numbers, [they chose] to hit the spot where you could show that Kashmir was not the place tourists should be going. This was a devious exercise against our successful attempts to normalise the situation and work towards growth and peace in Kashmir,” he added.

His comments come at a time of heightened concern over the resurgence of targeted attacks in the Kashmir Valley, including incidents meant to instill fear among locals and deter tourism — a key indicator of improved security.