September 2025
In January 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence launched an initiative to open 77 historic battlefields to tourism, many located along the volatile borders with Pakistan and China—one of the world’s most militarized frontiers. Few months later, a terrorist attack in Kashmir killed 26 Indian tourists, sparking a deadly escalation between Delhi and Lahore. Turning conflict zones into tourist attractions is part of Prime Minister Modi’s broader strategy to leverage geopolitical tension for domestic consensus.
The Himalayan region of Ladakh exemplifies this convergence of tourism and militarization. Roads, airstrips, and barracks built for defense have made the area more accessible, driving a boom in visitors. Pastures and farmland now give way to hotels and guesthouses, while military outposts are rebranded as memorials or souvenir shops.
Amid this transformation, local communities face deep contradictions: tourism brings income and jobs, yet profits largely bypass residents, who are often relegated to precarious labor in military and construction projects.
An edited version of this reportage was published by the Italian daily "Il Manifesto" in November 2025 and it's available at the following link: https://ilmanifesto.it/armi-e-souvenir-ai-confini-dellindia
