Given the developments this month in India with regard to Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh and some other regional and international dynamics, the idea of visiting Kashmir as a tourist is an extremely bad idea -- the worst it could be in at least 18 years. Jammu and Ladakh are also each at heightened and heightening risk in their own ways. Indian Kashmir is anticipated to become a very major playing ground for the Af-Pak Taliban, more so when the US-Taliban deal gets finalized with a more radical US/NATO troop draw-down in Afghanistan.

Government travel advisories (from foreign countries) to avoid all non-essential travel to Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh exist but they have somewhat downplayed the risks heightened this month even for eastern Ladakh and Leh (these parts being considered historically safer than Kashmir and even Jammu).