A sudden shift

Ladakh has always been in the news not for violence, but for its growing market, tourism, and religious pilgrimages. What has happened in Ladakh is new and shocking. Those behind these recent incidents are provocative elements who do not see Ladakh growing, but burning. Whatever elements are involved have failed to mobilize wider support. The recent outbreak of violence in Leh has brought the Union Territory of Ladakh into sharp focus. What began as peaceful demonstrations over constitutional safeguards and local rights spiralled into confrontations that left at least four people dead and many others injured. Property damage, curfews, and detentions have further shaken public confidence. Understanding this episode requires looking beyond the immediate events to the deeper consequences of violence, the varied public responses, and the practical pathways to restoring peace and stability.

Ladakh is strategically important, and harmony among its Buddhist, Muslim, and tribal groups is a prized asset. The recent provocation is an attempt to endanger the ongoing peace and prosperity in Ladakh. Such fractured provocations can prove deeply destabilizing to peace and harmony in the region. The clashes coincided with Ladakh’s late tourist season, a key pillar of its economy. Curfews, travel advisories, and a perception of insecurity discouraged visitors. Shops and businesses were shut, leading to income loss. The long-term damage to Ladakh’s image as a safe, serene tourist destination could outlast the immediate crisis. The violence seeks to break down the perception that Ladakh is peaceful for foreign tourists, which is very dangerous and requires an immediate counter.

I don’t want to indulge in political debate. For me, it is provocation. Anything that goes against the interest of the people is provocative and must be stopped. There are reasons for grievances, but violence is no way to fight, and through violence nothing can be sorted out. The people of Ladakh should learn a lesson from Kashmir, which suffered due to violence. We must understand that external forces are always playing their part to provoke people into such outbreaks. Ladakh has a history of peace and harmony which must be maintained, and for this, the people of Ladakh need to be conscious and should never let any internal or external interference disrupt peace.

That is why we should trust leaders who believe in unity and integrity, and who make efforts in the interest of the nation, not for their personal gains. This is called political mileage and polarization, which always ends with disruption and violence. I believe every problem has a solution, and every problem can create further problems if mishandled. What I personally feel in Ladakh is that it has become a personal problem for someone. For personal gains, you ruin people, and at the cost of their lives, you secure your chair—these are power-hungry people. Let us see leaders guide people beyond politics and personal interest, because only national interest can be served. What we saw during three decades in Jammu and Kashmir, when Ladakh was a part of it, is that provocation ruined the Kashmiri people in every way, while Ladakh remained peaceful and progressive in all ways.