Page 347 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

During this period legislative elections in Jammu and Kashmir were first held in 1951 and Sheikh
Abdullah’s party stood unopposed. However Sheikh Abdullah would fall in and out of favour with
the central government and would often be dismissed only to be re-appointed later on. This was a
time of political instability in Jammu and Kashmir and it went through several periods of President’s

rule by the Federal Government.

1987–2004

After Sheikh Abdullah’s death, his son Farooq Abdullah took over as Chief Minister of Jammu and
Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah eventually fell out of favour with the Central Government and the Prime
Minister of India, Indira Gandhi had him dismissed. A year later Farooq Abdullah announced an
alliance with the ruling Congress party for the elections of 1987. The elections were allegedly rigged
in favour of Farooq Abdullah.

This led to the rise of an armed insurgency movement composed, in part, of those who unfairly lost

elections. Pakistan supplied these groups with logistical support, arms, recuits and training.

2004–Present

Beginning in 2004 Pakistan began to end its support for insurgents in Kashmir. This happened because
terrorist groups linked to Kashmir twice tried to assassinate Pakistani President General Pervez
Musharraf. His successor, Asif Ali Zardari has continued the policy, calling insurgents in Kashmir
“terrorists". Although it is unclear if Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence,

thought to be the agency aiding and controlling the insurgency is following Pakistan’s commitment to
end support for the insurgency in Kashmir.

Despite the change in the nature of the insurgency from a phenomenon supported by external forces
to a primarily domestic driven movement the Indian government has continued to send large numbers
of troops to the Indian border and to crack down on civil liberties. There have been widespread
protests against Indian rule.

Once the most formidable face of Kashmir militancy, Hizbul Mujahideen is slowly fading away as
its remaining commanders and cadres are being taken out on a regular interval by security forces.

Reasons for the Insurgency

Humanitarian abuses

Some analysts have suggested that the number of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir is close to
600,000 although estimates vary and the Indian government refuses to release official figures. These
troops have engaged in widespread humanitarian abuses and have engaged in extrajudicial killings.
This has led to support for the insurgency. However in October 2010, Army Chief Gen VK Singh