The South Kashmir administration has imposed a two-month ban on trekking, hiking, camping and similar outdoor activities in several high-altitude mountain passes of the Pir Panjal range, citing public safety and security concerns. The prohibition applies to Margan Top, Chuharnag and Sinthan Top, all of which are popular trekking destinations in the region.
The decision comes shortly after a similar restriction was enforced in North Kashmir, where trekking was banned in the Danwass forests of Tangmarg near the Gulmarg tourist resort. While official orders mention general security concerns, sources said the South Kashmir ban is linked to a large-scale anti-militancy operation currently underway in the Pir Panjal mountains.
According to security officials, the Army has launched coordinated operations on both sides of the Pir Panjal range, which connects the Kashmir Valley with Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region on one side, and Kishtwar and Doda on the other. Highly trained militants are believed to have been using the dense, high-altitude forests in this region as hideouts over the past few years.
An order issued by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kokernag, Prince Kumar, stated that trekking, camping, hiking and all related outdoor activities are prohibited with immediate effect in the identified areas. The order noted that inputs from police and security agencies had highlighted serious security risks in certain forested and mountainous zones.
Margan Top, located at an altitude of over 12,000 feet, connects South Kashmir to the Warwan Valley of Kishtwar and has a history of militant presence dating back to the 1990s. Sinthan Top, also at around 12,000 feet, links Anantnag district with the Chatroo area of Kishtwar, where multiple encounters between militants and security forces have taken place over the past two years. Chuharnag, a cluster of four high-altitude lakes situated between 14,000 and 15,000 feet, is a frequent destination for trekkers during the summer months.
Sources said the timing of the operation is strategic, as winter conditions have closed many traditional exit routes used by militants to cross the border. Security forces are carrying out intensive searches across forest belts to track down any militants hiding in the area.
Senior police officials also said the trekking ban is intended to prevent civilian casualties caused by possible cases of mistaken identity and to maintain operational secrecy during the ongoing counter-insurgency exercise. Similar concerns were cited earlier when trekking was prohibited in the Danwass forest area, which connects multiple regions including Poonch, Rajouri, Budgam and areas near Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The administration has directed strict enforcement of the ban, which will remain in place for two months. Officials said intelligence inputs indicated possible militant movement in these areas, making the restrictions necessary in the interest of public safety.