Srinagar, May 22 : Approximately 60 foreign delegates landed in Srinagar on Monday for the third tourism working group meeting of G20 countries, marking the first international gathering held in Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the region into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, in August 2019.
Amidst tight security, officials confirmed that delegates from various G20 nations arrived at Srinagar International Airport via a chartered flight in the morning. They were then escorted to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), the designated venue for the meeting, with a substantial presence of security personnel along the route. To welcome the delegates, the area has been adorned with G20 logos on walls and hoardings.
Stringent security measures have been implemented to ensure the smooth conclusion of the event. The Boulevard Road around SKICC has been declared a restricted zone for the duration of the meeting, while heightened security forces have been deployed along the delegates’ route, as well as the Airport Road to Dalgate stretch. Elite units like the National Security Guard (NSG) and Marine Commandos, in collaboration with the police and paramilitary forces, have bolstered security arrangements at the event venues. Precautionary sanitization and area domination operations have been conducted within and around the venues, along with the installation of scanners and deployment of sniffer dogs to detect any potential explosives or improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Random vehicle checks are being carried out to prevent the entry of subversive elements into the city.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have enlisted the assistance of the Army to secure the elevated areas of the Zabarwan Range overlooking the meeting venue and guest accommodations. Additionally, thirty units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), previously deployed elsewhere for election duties, have been recalled to augment security in the valley. The NSG’s counter-drone unit has also been activated to prevent any unauthorized aerial intrusion.
Officials have emphasized that there are no restrictions on public movement or transportation in the city or elsewhere, and shops and businesses are operating as usual. Srinagar city has been given a makeover for the three-day tourism working group meeting, with priority given to several projects under the Srinagar Smart City initiative, resulting in an enhanced aesthetic appeal for the international event.
