Kashmir Burns In Anger, Democracy Gasps For Air...

In 1990, with the kidnapping of Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s daughter, demonstrations for ‘azadi’spill into the streets. Soon enough, the region becomes the arena of an undeclared war between the army and Pakistan-trained militants. In October 1993, a rebel siege of the famous Hazratbal shrine ends peacefully, while in May 1995, Afghan mercenary Mast Gul’s takeover of Chrar-e-Sharif ends in destruction. In 1996, Kashmir goes to the polls to restore democracy amidst allegations of coercion.