South Asia

Modi marks the opening of a strategic tunnel in disputed Kashmir

Published: 16:10, 13 January 2025

Z-Morh tunnel in Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated a newly constructed tunnel in northeastern Kashmir. The tunnel will ensure year-round connectivity to the town of Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination.

The 932 million US dollar infrastructure project includes a second tunnel and several bridges, as well as mountain roads designed to connect Kashmir with Ladakh, a high-altitude desert region situated between India, Pakistan, and China. Ladakh has long been a focal point of territorial disputes.
Under tight security, Modi visited Sonamarg to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel, which spans 6.5 kilometers (4 miles). The town, located at the edge of the Kashmir Valley’s lush pine forests, typically becomes inaccessible during winter due to the harsh conditions of the Zojila mountain pass. The new tunnel will now provide year-round accessibility for the first time.
The second tunnel, a 14-kilometer (9-mile) structure bypassing the challenging Zojila pass, is expected to be completed by 2026. Once operational, it will link Sonamarg to Ladakh, easing travel and transportation across the region.
Sonamarg and Ladakh have traditionally faced severe snowfall, leaving the mountain passes closed for nearly half the year. Experts highlight the significance of the tunnel project not only for civilians, who will benefit from improved connectivity, but also for the Indian military, which will gain enhanced operational capabilities in Ladakh.
The project comes in the context of significant political changes in the region. In 2019, New Delhi revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status, stripping it of its special constitution and protections for land and jobs. The federal government subsequently reorganized the region, dividing it into two union territories—Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh—marking the first instance in India’s history where a state was downgraded to a federally administered territory.
Kashmir remains a contentious region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, although each controls parts of it. Armed insurgency against Indian rule in the region has persisted since 1989, further complicating the ongoing dispute.