Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

Historical Settings

• After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the defeat of Sikhs in Anglo – Sikh War the British handed over the territory of Kashmir to Gulab Singh of the Dogra Dynasty (Hindu Dynasty).
• Eve of Independence 
  • Approximately 77% Muslim population was ruled by the Hindu king Maharaja Hari Singh
  • Social Division 
    • Sunni Muslims – Dominated in the northern part of the hill region.
    • Hindus – Dominated the plains of Jammu.
    • Buddhist  – Dominated the hilly region of Ladakh.
    • Shia Muslims – Populated in the region of Gilgit and Baltistan (Now occupied by Pakistan).
    • Sikhs – Jammu as well as Kashmir region of the state
  • Accession of Jammu and Kashmir
    • Initially Jammu and Kashmir under King Hari Singh decided to remain independent without joining either Pakistan or India.
    • However, the invasion of Pathans backed by Pakistan from the northwestern region forced him to sign the accession treaty with India for military support.
    • As per the treaty, the key provisions like defence, foreign affairs, finance, and communication were handed over to India and the remaining is under Jammu and Kashmir.
    • As a result, the Pakistani troops were thrown away from the valley but occupied in PoK due to UN intervention.

Legal Background

• In 1950 the Jammu and Kashmir assembly convened and approved the accession.
• In 1951 the Government of India granted Article 370 for protection of Jammu and Kashmir but it was removed in 2019.

Proxy War

• As part of Pakistan’s Policy of Bleed India with Thousand Cut Pakistan sponsored terror outfits like JeM started terror attacks and mass killings of Hindus and Sikhs.
• The period between 1980 and 2000 marked a dark era where the terror attacks peaked.
• In the present era, the terror has shifted from guerrilla warfare to stone pelleting, drone attacks, etc.

Government Steps to Control the Issue

• Imposing os AFSPA
• Operation All Out
• Skill and employment development program for youth
• Infrastructure development projects for social integration of valley to mainlands
• Project Sadhbhavan.