Changing Dynamics Of Internal Security Threats In Kashmir And Abrogation Of Art.370

On August 5, 2019, the Indian government took a bold step of abrogation of Art.370 and Art. 35A ending the special status of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and completely aligning it with India. It marked a significant turning point in the political and security context of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Many hues and cries were raised over the abrogation more internally than externally except a few nations including Pakistan. Rest of the world termed it as an internal matter of India and a bilateral issue. Much has changed since then. From forced lockdown in Kashmir after the abrogation to hosting of a G20 meeting and making Srinagar a smart city, India has come a long way. Terror attacks over security officials and minorities are still there but their number has declined significantly. The special status and the autonomy enjoyed by the State earlier had been an issue of contention for decades. Therefore it is important to explore the changing dynamics of terror in Kashmir after the abrogation of Art.370. This paper tries to explore the reasons behind the abrogation of Art.370, the internal and external reactions to its abrogation, its effects on the insurgency in Kashmir, the immediate consequences of the revocation of Article 370 on the insurgency highlighting the response of the local population, role of Pakistan after the revocation of Article 370, measures taken by the Indian government to address the insurgency in Kashmir post the abrogation. Overall, this paper tries to provide a brief view of changing dynamics of internal security threats in Kashmir following the revocation of Art.370 and its future implications including immediate ones.