The starting of International Flights from Kashmir is a pathetic story of an unfinished task initiated almost 33 years back! It was in 1975 that the then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah immediately after taking over the reins of power had mooted the proposal for setting up of an International Convention Centre and an International Airport at Srinagar. He was very keen to give a boost to foreign tourism and had dreamt of holding International Conferences in Kashmir. Action was initiated on both the projects through various Government channels. Mrs Indira Gandhi the then Prime Minister of India was herself very keen to see these projects through. In fact, during the tenure of Sheikh Abdullah virtually all the International dignitaries who visited New Delhi were sent to Kashmir for a day or two. These Included Nelson Rockefeller, Vice-President of USA; Doug Antony, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia; Prime Minister of Vietnam; President of Uzbekistan; Chancellor of Al Azhar University of Egypt, and a host of other International figures.

It was visualised that once direct International Flights start from Srinagar, it would become a hub of global tourism by getting connected to International air routes. One of the greatest handicaps for the development of foreign tourism in Kashmir has been the absence a direct international connection. The visit to Kashmir for all foreign travellers involves the domestic add-on fare which is a big discouragement. Had Kashmir been on international air routes, travellers could get a free stop over while flying from Europe to Far East or South East Asia and most of them would love to take it! Sheikh Abdullah died without seeing this dream fulfilled. His son Dr.Farooq Abdullah was able to persuade the Central Government to start an Air India Singapore-Srinagar Boeing-707 flight with a stopover in Delhi. This flight could have been the precursor to the start of direct International flights but the whole project got disrupted by the turmoil of nineties.

After 1996 efforts were again made to boost up the state tourism which had been reduced almost to zero level in 1991 after peaking to seven hundred twenty two thousand with sixty seven thousand foreigners in 1989. One of the main thrust areas was again the foreign tourism which had completely shied away due to adverse travel advisories from various foreign offices. The only sure way to counter these adverse advisories was to start direct International flights to Srinagar. However, the proposal remained in the files only. During this period even smaller airports of Amritsar, Jaipur, and Guwahatti in Assam got declared as International Airports. At long last, in 2004 the Union Cabinet declared Srinagar as an International Airport. A project to upgrade the existing terminals at a cost of Rs.80 crores (the cost may have as usual escalated by now?) was sanctioned. Technically there was no hitch.

The Srinagar Airport runway is already 12,000 feet long and has the strength to take Sukhoi bombers which makes it suitable for even Boeing 747 aircraft. The apron had to be expanded to provide parking for more aircraft. It was announced in 2004 that the direct International flights from Srinagar will start from July, 2006. The first destination region chosen was Middle East and the Airport selected was Dubai. Since that time many new dates have been given for inauguration of these flights. In fact, the former Chief Minister and the State Congress President gave specific dates for starting the Dubai flight. Unfortunately, Dubai still seems quite distant practically even though technically it is mere three hours flying time from Srinagar. The reasons cited every time are certain incompletion in infrastructure and also lack of sufficient load for regular flights.

The former reason is tenable because of an inefficient contractor who has been dragging his feet. In fact, during the last visit of Union Ministers and senior officials, he was threatened with blacklisting if he failed to keep the completion date. The main reason for his slackness has been the change in the governance. Untimely departure of Mr.Azad has adversely affected the progress of the project. It is usual in Kashmir for all projects to get stalled with every change in rulers. Similar has been the fate of the prestigious Museum project. Indecisiveness of the supervising management in the absence of a political will at the top has completely stalled this project also. In normal course, it should have been inaugurated by now! Regarding the second reason of insufficient load, it is totally untenable. Air India has been operating flights on sectors with worst ever record of revenue. In the north east most of the flights are on loss.

Huge subsidy is given on many sectors. In case of Kashmir, if properly planned, the flights would be most lucrative in every possible way. For last three years or so Air India has been operating direct Hajj flights from Srinagar to Jeddah with a refuelling stop over in Sharjah. They could continue the same sector on a regular basis with a stop over at Dubai. There are scores of Kashmiri Muslims wishing to perform Umra if a direct flight from Srinagar to Jeddah is available. It should not be difficult to find seventy odd passengers per week for this purpose if only once a week flight is started. Added to this would be the possibility of operating even exclusive cargo flights. There is an excellent market of some fresh products from Kashmir in the entire Gulf Region. These would, among others, include fresh cut flowers like Tulips, Gladiolas, Carnations, and Lilies; fruit like Cherries, Strawberries, and Kiwi (not many know that Kiwi fruit grows in Kashmir); Salad dressings, and the famous Trout fish. There is no limit for export of handicraft items like Carpets, Shawls, Papier Mache, and so on. Another sector which can be popular with Kashmiris is Central Asia. Tashkent and Dushanbe are only 2 hours flying time from Srinagar.

Kashmir has had important trade and cultural links with Central Asia even till recent past. The Apostle of Kashmir, Shah-I-Hamadan is buried in Coolab in Katlan province of Tajikistan. This place is just few hours from Tashkent or Dushanbe Airport. Some of my friends have already visited this Mausoleum. If a flight is provided from Srinagar to this area, almost all Kashmiris would like to pay their reverence at the Shrine of this great Islamic preacher. Apart from these tangible goals having a very positive impact on the economy of Kashmir, the start of these direct International flights would be a great psychological breakthrough. In fact, the start of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad trade, a watershed in itself, may take some time to register because of various formalities for crossing the line but the direct International flights from Srinagar are bound to register an immediate impact.

One of the major causes of concern in the recent times has been the increasing number of educated unemployed in Kashmir. According to some estimates the number may be as large as four hundred thousand! Unfortunately, due to an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, Kashmiris are reluctant to serve in different parts of the country. However, they could get ample opportunities in the Gulf and Central Asian Regions. If large numbers of youth go to these places, they will not become militants but only foreign exchange earners! The Government should not only welcome such a scenario but facilitate it. All these factors make it incumbent upon the authorities in the State as well as at the Centre to expedite the start of International flights from Srinagar. Any further lingering on this project is bound to make one feel that this is another item on the long list of unfulfilled promises and unfinished tasks in Kashmir!