Amid the watchfulness, there are signs of return. Tourists ride through forest trails and pause in Betaab Valley, another picturesque valley, capturing fleeting moments of beauty. But many opt for shorter visits, wary of staying too long. One year on, Pahalgam exists in a delicate in-between, where grief lingers; livelihoods rebuild slowly, and hope returns, cautiously, with every visitor.
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 Mushtaq Ahmad, 26, from Pahalgam, earns a living by offering his rabbit to tourists for photographs. Previously employed in the hospitality industry, he was laid off last year following the closure of his hotel due to attacks in the region. | Photo: Yasir Iqbal
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