Kashmir peaks to open

India announced that 104 mountain peaks in the Ladakh region will be opened this summer to foreign climbers and trekkers for the first time. Mostly in the Eastern Karakoram range, they measure 3,000 to 7,800 meters in height.

Violence between rebels and Indian troops was common in the Ladakh region, a heavily militarized area that includes Kashmir, which has been in contention between India and Pakistan for years. However, since 2004 when peace talks began between the two nations, safety has much improved, so officials are encouraging tourism.