Jammu and Kashmir opens to tourists as government lifts security advisory on travel 

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn security advisory on tourists, as a result, Jammu and Kashmir is now open to tourists after nearly two months. 

The government, in August, had issued a security advisory asking tourists to curtail their stay in Jammu and Kashmir. 

The statement issued by the J&K government, dated October 9, states all "tourists desirous of undertaking visiting the state shall be provided with all necessary assistance and logistical support". 

A high-level situation-cum-security review meeting, headed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, was held on Monday during which it was decided that the advisory will be lifted from October 10. 

The Central government had on August 5 scrapped the provision of Article 370, which took away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The UTs will come into being on October 31.

After remaining closed since the abrogation of Article 370, schools, colleges and universities reopened on Wednesday following the government's directive issued earlier.

Last month, the government had directed schools to open but the move remained unsuccessful given the communication shutdown and uncertainty regarding the situation.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah this week said that Jammu and Kashmir would not remain a Union territory for forever and it will get back its statehood status once there is a favourable situation for that.

"Jammu and Kashmir would not remain a Union Territory forever and that the statehood would be returned once the situation is normalised," Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in an official statement quoting Shah.