KASHMIR INSURGENCY DECONSTRUCTING STATE RESPONSE REVISITING 1989-1990

KASHMIR INSURGENCY DECONSTRUCTING STATE RESPONSE REVISITING 1989-1990

It is a meticulously written and deeply researched book, having four chapters, with each chapter further subdivided into thoughtfully arranged and suitably named sections. The book starts with a preface and an introduction. In it, the writer states that the eruption of the insurgency, the subsequent collapse of the governing system and resulting exodus of the Pandit community, was the motivation for writing this book. The first chapter, titled “Looking the other way,” runs into five sections with appropriate headings like “Paki- stan’s revenge act,” “Finally, the insurgency rolls out”, “Abduction that brought the Indian state to its knees” and “Kashmir after Rubaiya’s release etc”. It is a thought-provoking chapter which discusses the anatomy of the administrative lapses, intelligence failure and the near-collapse of governance that allowed the crisis to metastasize. It is an eye-opening narrative, which poses many damning questions regarding the open calls for the youth to cross over the border for arms training with free transport brazenly offered in Srinagar city, happening in the full gaze of the administration. Shockingly enough, it was blatantly ignored and overlooked by those in the power. The chapter also revisits the strategic catastrophe of Rubaiya Sayeed’s kidnapping and the fatal capitulation by the central government that allowed the unconditional release of the five dreaded terrorists. It eventually opened the floodgates to a new era of abductions, innocent killings and heightened level of violence in the valley. The second chapter, rightfully titled “Subversion within” encapsulates five sections with the headings like “Kashmir - A realm of paradoxes”, “Pakistan’s covert wars in Kashmir” and “Subversion institutionalized” It, besides delving deep into the political rot, also scrutinizes the statecraft’s indifference to foresee the rise of radical extremism in Kashmir. In the associated section labelled “Kashmir - A realm of paradoxes,” the author lays bare the complete breakdown of the state’s intelligence and surveillance apparatus. It also examines how the dynastic politics-led governments fostered a culture of centralized power in Kashmir. It also highlights the cynical use of rhetorics like “self-determination,” “autonomy,” “greater autonomy,” “special status,” and “self-rule” etc as pressure tactics to arouse and fuel the sub-nationalism in the larger ambit of nationalism. Crucially enough, the narrative also chronicles the systematic dispossession of the Pandit community through discriminatory policies that curtailed their job opportunities, access to the professional education and livelihoods by promulgation of the agrarian reforms. The third chapter grapples with the stunning institutional unpreparedness to tackle the insurgency, in the enumerated sections like “Army pushed into crucible”, “Indian state shuts its eyes” “Confusion compounds” and “Army stabilizes the hapless situation.” The author apprises us about the Indian state getting caught off-guard and napping regarding the armed infiltration in the state. It also details the failure of the government to stop the heavy influx of sophisticated weaponry from across the border. It also highlights a disturbing laxity in taking necessary security measures, despite Pakistan’s known hostility towards India. The account also unfolds the utter confusion which prevailed in the then V.P. Singh government and the mainstream political parties which were partners in the central government. It also reveals an absence of any clear-cut policy from the centre, which led to un-coordinated efforts among the security forces operating in the troubled valley. However, the chapter also conveys a comforting exposition about the stabilization of the desperate situation, once the army was deployed and asked to move into the affected areas of the Kashmir valley. The final and the most poignant chapter, “Kashmiri Pandits” focuses on the ethnic cleansing, targeted killings, their forced exodus, and the destruction of the community’s heritage in the form of their antiquated shrines and dwellings. It also opens up about the planned massacres of Kashmiri Pandits at Sangrampora, Wandhama and Nandimarg villages by the ideology-driven terrorists, a savage brutality rarely seen in the present-day civilized world. It also exposes the then government’s failure to stop the hateful and intimidating campaign waged via mosque loudspeakers and Urdu newspapers like “Aftab” and “Al-Safa” which threatened them to leave the valley or face the consequences. The author also recalls the 1986 Anantnag riots, which according to the author was a chilling precursor to the subsequent mayhem of 1990. It was a bitter warning that the state unfortunately failed to heed and take note of. A palpable sense of dismay also permeates in the said section, which is directed at the failure of the successive governments to either recognize the tragedy as a genocide or to bring the perpetrators to justice so far. Ultimately, Kashmir Insurgency is more than a historical chronicle, rather it is an indictment. In a plain speak it is a captivating and insightful book with each chapter giving new revelations and layers of betrayal. Written by a former army officer-turned-writer, drawing on his counter-insurgency experience, the said book forces a reader to confront haunting questions as to who failed the nation in the year 1989-90? Lastly, the eye-catching colored book jacket enhances its visual appeal, which grabs the reader’s attention. Unflinchingly direct, the book is a compelling and essential read for scholars, policymakers, military practitioners, and any citizen seeking to understand one of modern India’s most profound tragedies

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Courtesy: UPENDER AMBARDAR  and Spade A Spade,2025