Militancy, the Pandit Exodus and Kargil (1989 to 1999)

Rise of militancy

• From 1989, armed groups, first the JKLF and later Pakistan-backed organisations such as Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba, began a violent movement. There were killings, kidnappings (the Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping, December 1989) and strikes.

The Kashmiri Pandit exodus (1990)

• In late 1989 and early 1990, targeted killings and threats led hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits to leave the Valley. The night of 19 to 20 January 1990 is often called the peak of the flight. Their return has remained an unfulfilled demand.

Governor's and President's rule

• Farooq Abdullah resigned (18 January 1990). Jagmohan returned as Governor (19 January 1990). Governor's rule began on 19 January 1990, President's rule was imposed in July 1990, and it ended in October 1996.
• Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act applied to the State (1990).

Return to elections (1996)

• September 1996 Assembly elections: National Conference won, and Farooq Abdullah became CM (October 1996).

The Kargil War (1999)

• In May 1999, Pakistani soldiers and militants occupied heights in Kargil and Dras. India's Operation Vijay (the Army) and Operation Safed Sagar (the Air Force) cleared them by 26 July 1999, now Kargil Vijay Diwas.
• Famous names: Tololing, Tiger Hill, Captain Vikram Batra, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar (all Param Vir Chakra).