Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 Changes

[TOPIC CLASSIFICATION]

• Topic type: Constitutional Change + Security Evolution
• PYQ frequency: Very High
• Exam stage: Prelims + Mains
• Primary GS paper: GS3 (Internal Security) + GS2 (Polity) + GS1 (Post-Independence)

[EXAMINER REASONING]

1. Trap: Conflating Article 370 (temporary provision) with Article 35A (presidential order) - distinct legal bases
2. Most confused: J&K Reorganisation Act - UT vs State, LG powers vs elected government, delimitation commission role
3. Key anchor: August 5, 2019 - Presidential Order (CO 272) + Parliamentary Resolution + Reorganisation Act
4. Current affairs hook: Terrorist incidents down 70% (2019-24); targeted killings of minorities/migrants (2021-24); DDC elections 2020; statehood restoration demand
5. Mains hinge: Article 370 abrogation - constitutional validity (SC 2023 verdict), federalism debate, security-development nexus, Pakistan's proxy war adaptation

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Core Concept

Jammu & Kashmir's trajectory from 1989 insurgency onset to post-Article 370 abrogation (2019) represents India's most complex internal security challenge - combining cross-border terrorism, separatist politics, constitutional exceptionalism, and demographic anxieties.

Pre-2019 Architecture

Article 370 (1950): "Temporary provision" - Parliament needed state concurrence for all subjects except Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communications, Finance. Article 35A (1954, Presidential Order): Empowered J&K legislature to define "permanent residents" and confer special rights (property, employment, scholarships). Constitutional Position: J&K had own Constitution (1957), flag, penal code (RPC), separate citizenship concept.

Insurgency Phases:

• 1989-2002: Pakistan-sponsored jihad - JKLF, HM, LeT, JeM; peak violence 1990s (4,000+ annual deaths); Kargil 1999; Parliament attack 2001
• 2003-2018: Ceasefire 2003; fencing LoC; Vajpayee-Musharraf talks; declining violence but persistent infiltration; Burhan Wani (2016) → social media radicalisation, stone-pelting, civilian protests
• 2019-Present: Article 370 abrogation → UT bifurcation; security grid restructuring; targeted killings shift; Pakistan's "hybrid warfare" adaptation

Article 370 Abrogation (August 5, 2019)

Constitutional Mechanism:

1. CO 272 (Presidential Order): Superseded 1954 Order; made all Constitution provisions applicable to J&K "with modifications" - effectively reading down Article 370(1)(d)
2. Parliamentary Resolution (Art 370(3)): Recommended President declare Article 370 inoperative - passed Rajya Sabha 125:61, Lok Sabha 351:72
3. Bifurcated State into two UTs - and ; effective October 31, 2019