Why this matters now
Kashmir Insurgency is tested for: Article 370 origins (Sheikh Abdullah-Nehru 1947); Article 35A (Presidential Order 1954); JKLF founded 1977 by Amanullah Khan + Maqbool Bhat (hanged 1984); 8 Dec 1989 Rubaiya Sayeed kidnap → 5 militants released; 19 January 1990 Kashmiri Pandit exodus after night of “Azadi” mosque sloganeering; Governor Jagmohan Malhotra; Pakistan’s Hizbul Mujahideen (1989) + Lashkar-e-Taiba (1990) + Jaish-e-Mohammed (2000); Kandahar IC-814 hijack Dec 1999 (Masood Azhar released); 2008 Mumbai attacks 26/11; 2016 Pampore + Uri attacks; 2019 Pulwama 14 Feb + Balakot 26 Feb air strike; Article 370 abrogation 5 August 2019; 2025 Pahalgam attack 22 April + Operation Sindoor 7-10 May 2025.
Background (1947-89)
- 1947: Hari Singh signed Instrument of Accession 26 Oct 1947 after Pak tribal invasion. Article 370 grafted special status.
- 1948-49 First Indo-Pak War: UN ceasefire 1 Jan 1949; Karachi Agreement 27 July 1949 ceasefire line.
- Sheikh Abdullah: National Conference founder + 1st PM J&K 1948-53. Arrested 8 Aug 1953 by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. Indira-Sheikh Accord 1975.
- 1965 + 1971 Wars; Simla Agreement 1972; Line of Control replaces 1949 ceasefire line.
- 1977 J&K election: Sheikh Abdullah CM until death July 1982; son Farooq Abdullah succeeded.
- 1987 J&K election: widespread allegations of rigging in favour of NC-Congress alliance. Muslim United Front (MUF) candidate Mohammed Yusuf Shah (later Syed Salahuddin, Hizbul chief) defeated Ghulam Mohuiddin Shah. Yasin Malik (later JKLF chief) was MUF polling agent. Triggered radicalisation.
- 1977-89: JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) founded UK 1977 by Amanullah Khan + Maqbool Bhat. Bhat hanged 11 Feb 1984 in retaliation for British diplomat Ravinder Mhatre kidnap.
8 Dec 1989 - 19 Jan 1990
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 Dec 1989 | RUBAIYA SAYEED KIDNAPPED at Srinagar by JKLF militants (Yasin Malik). Daughter of Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Demanded release of 5 militants. |
| 13 Dec 1989 | V.P. Singh Govt agreed to release 5 militants (Hamid Sheikh, Sher Khan, Noor Mohammad, Ghulam Mohammad, Altaf Ahmad Bhat). Rubaiya released. Jubilation in Srinagar. |
| Dec 1989 - Jan 1990 | Wave of militant recruitment; calls for “Azadi”; killings of Hindu officials began. |
| 4 Jan 1990 | Urdu newspaper Aftab published Hizbul Mujahideen press release ordering all Pandits to leave Valley. |
| 19 Jan 1990 | NIGHT OF MASS EXODUS — mosques across Srinagar broadcast “Azadi” slogans + threats; Kashmiri Pandit families fled. ~3,50,000 Kashmiri Pandits left Valley between Jan-March 1990 (estimates vary 1.5 lakh - 7 lakh). |
| 19 Jan 1990 | Governor Jagmohan Malhotra reappointed. |
| 21 Jan 1990 | Gawkadal Massacre — CRPF fired on protesters at Srinagar bridge; ~50+ killed. |
Major Pak-backed attacks
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 BC | Pak-backed Hizbul Mujahideen formed (1989) + Lashkar-e-Taiba (1990 by Hafiz Saeed) + Jaish-e-Mohammed (2000 by Masood Azhar). |
| 13 Dec 2001 | Parliament attack (LeT+JeM, 14 killed). Op Parakram. |
| 14 May 2002 | Kaluchak Massacre (Jammu, 30+ army families killed). |
| 5 July 2005 | Ayodhya attack. |
| 11 July 2006 | Mumbai train blasts (LeT-SIMI, 209 killed). |
| 26-29 Nov 2008 | Mumbai 26/11 attacks (LeT, 166 killed). Ajmal Kasab caught + hanged 2012. |
| 18 Sept 2016 | Uri attack (19 Army killed). India responded with Surgical Strikes 28-29 Sept 2016 across LoC. |
| 14 Feb 2019 | PULWAMA ATTACK — CRPF convoy bombed Jaish suicide attack 40 jawans killed. |
| 26 Feb 2019 | BALAKOT AIR STRIKE — IAF Mirage 2000s struck JeM camp Balakot Pakistan. Wing Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman shot down 27 Feb; returned 1 March. |
| 5 Aug 2019 | ARTICLE 370 ABROGATION by Presidential Order C.O. 272; J&K Reorganisation Bill passed 6 Aug; in force 31 Oct 2019 — J&K + Ladakh UTs. |
| 22 April 2025 | Pahalgam massacre — 26 tourists killed by The Resistance Front (LeT proxy). |
| 7-10 May 2025 | Operation Sindoor — Indian tri-service strikes on terrorist HQs Bahawalpur+Muridke+9 sites in PoK + Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated; India intercepted barrage with S-400. Ceasefire 10 May. |
Article 370 Abrogation 5 August 2019
5 August 2019: President Ram Nath Kovind issued Presidential Order C.O. 272 superseding 1954 C.O. and applying entire Indian Constitution to J&K. Home Minister Amit Shah moved Statutory Resolution + Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha 5 Aug + Lok Sabha 6 Aug.
Effect: Article 370(3) effectively abrogated; Article 35A automatic removal (depended on 370); J&K split into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir (with elected Assembly) + Ladakh (without Assembly). UT status from 31 October 2019.
In re Article 370 of the Constitution v. Union of India (Dec 2023): 5-judge SC bench (CJI Chandrachud, J. Khanna, J. Gavai, J. Kaul, J. SK Kaul) unanimously upheld the abrogation. Held: Article 370 was a temporary provision; President could abrogate it via 370(3); J&K is integral part of India; restored statehood at earliest is desirable. Bharat-Pakistan border + Tibet route stay quiet sectors post-abrogation.
UPSC angle
Know KASHMIR INSURGENCY (1989-present) — ARTICLE 370 grafted special status post-Hari Singh Instrument of Accession 26 Oct 1947; Sheikh Abdullah NC founder + 1st PM J&K 1948-53 arrested 8 Aug 1953 Bakshi GM; Karachi Agreement 27 July 1949 ceasefire line → SIMLA 1972 LoC; 1977 JKLF founded UK by Amanullah Khan + Maqbool Bhat; BHAT HANGED 11 FEB 1984 (Ravinder Mhatre UK diplomat kidnap retaliation); 1987 J&K election allegations of rigging vs MUF candidate Mohammed Yusuf Shah (later SYED SALAHUDDIN Hizbul chief), YASIN MALIK MUF polling agent radicalised; RUBAIYA SAYEED KIDNAPPED 8 DEC 1989 by JKLF Yasin Malik (Home Min Mufti daughter); V.P. Singh Govt released 5 militants (Hamid Sheikh, Sher Khan, Noor Mohd, Ghulam Mohd, Altaf Bhat) 13 Dec 1989 jubilation; Aftab 4 Jan 1990 Hizbul ultimatum Pandits leave; KASHMIRI PANDIT EXODUS 19 JAN 1990 night mosques azadi sloganeering threats ~3,50,000 fled Jan-March 1990; Gawkadal Massacre CRPF 21 Jan 1990 ~50+ killed; Pak-backed: Hizbul Mujahideen 1989 + LASHKAR-E-TAIBA 1990 Hafiz Saeed + JAISH-E-MOHAMMED 2000 Masood Azhar; PARLIAMENT ATTACK 13 Dec 2001 → Op Parakram; Kaluchak 14 May 2002 30+ army families; 2005 Ayodhya; Mumbai TRAIN BLASTS 11 JULY 2006 209 killed; MUMBAI 26/11 2008 LeT 166 killed AJMAL KASAB hanged 2012; URI ATTACK 18 Sept 2016 19 army killed → SURGICAL STRIKES 28-29 Sept 2016 across LoC; PULWAMA ATTACK 14 FEB 2019 CRPF JeM 40 jawans → BALAKOT AIR STRIKE 26 FEB 2019 IAF Mirage 2000 struck JeM camp Pak, Wing Cdr ABHINANDAN VARTHAMAN shot 27 Feb returned 1 March; ARTICLE 370 ABROGATION 5 AUGUST 2019 Presidential Order C.O. 272 (HM Amit Shah moved J&K Reorganisation Bill RS 5 Aug + LS 6 Aug, in force 31 Oct 2019 = J&K UT + LADAKH UT); In re Art 370 v UoI Dec 2023 5-judge SC bench unanimous (CJI Chandrachud+Khanna+Gavai+Kaul+SK Kaul) upheld abrogation as Art 370 temporary, J&K integral; PAHALGAM MASSACRE 22 APRIL 2025 26 tourists killed The Resistance Front (LeT proxy); OPERATION SINDOOR 7-10 MAY 2025 Indian tri-service strikes Bahawalpur+Muridke+9 sites PoK+Pak, Pak retaliated India intercepted S-400, ceasefire 10 May.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Kashmir Insurgency begin?
8 December 1989 with the kidnap of Rubaiya Sayeed (Home Minister Mufti’s daughter) by JKLF militants. V.P. Singh Govt’s release of 5 militants on 13 December triggered militant recruitment and the cycle of violence.
What was the Kashmiri Pandit exodus?
From 19 January 1990, after mosques across Srinagar broadcast “Azadi” slogans and threats overnight, ~350,000 Kashmiri Pandits fled the Valley over the following weeks.
When was Article 370 abrogated?
5 August 2019 by Presidential Order C.O. 272 + the J&K Reorganisation Bill 2019. In force 31 October 2019. J&K split into two UTs — J&K (with Assembly) + Ladakh (without). SC upheld it Dec 2023.
What was Operation Sindoor?
India’s tri-service strikes 7-10 May 2025 on terrorist HQs at Bahawalpur, Muridke + 9 PoK/Pakistan sites in retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre of 22 April 2025 (26 tourists killed by The Resistance Front, LeT proxy). Ceasefire 10 May.