G20 Delegates Visit Peaceful Kashmir Amid Open Shops and Functioning Schools
Image Source : Facebook
22-05-2023 : As the delegates arrived in Kashmir for the three-day G20 Meeting, life in the region continued unaffected, with shops and businesses open and traffic flowing normally in Srinagar. This departure from the past reflects a shift from the disruptions experienced during previous high-profile events.
While the Kashmiri separatist group All Parties Hurriyat Conference acknowledged that events like the G20 would not alter the ground reality, they refrained from calling for a shutdown. Consequently, life carried on as usual across Kashmir, with government offices operating normally and commercial establishments welcoming customers. However, as a precautionary measure due to the G20 delegates’ scheduled visits to various locations in Srinagar, some schools in the city and Budgam remained closed.
To facilitate the smooth conduct of the G20 Meeting, certain traffic restrictions were enforced. Boulevard Road in Srinagar, which leads to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC), the primary venue for the event, witnessed a complete halt in traffic movement. Additionally, specific routes used by the G20 delegates were subject to traffic limitations.
Reports confirming the observance of normalcy, with open shops, functioning schools, and regular activities, also emerged from all district headquarters in the Kashmir valley. Ensuring the peaceful progression of the first major international event in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, a substantial presence of security personnel from the J&K Police, Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Border Security Force (BSF) maintained a stringent vigilance throughout Srinagar.
