1967-1968: In April 1967, Jammu Autonomy Forum is formed with the objective of regional autonomy; In November 1968, Gajendragadkar Commission recommends statutory regional development boards.
1971: An Indian Airlines plane, 'Ganga', en route from Srinagar to New Delhi, is hijacked in January and diverted to Lahore and later blown up after allowing passengers to leave; Maqbool Butt claims responsibility.
India backs East Pakistan's rebel outfit Mukti Bahini and later sends troops to East Pakistan to defend its secessionist
movement against repressive Pakistani army; Pakistan launches an attack from the West including Kashmir; India defeats Pakistan. East Pakistan
becomes independent Bangladesh. The cease-fire line in Kashmir becomes the
'Line of Control'(LOC). Pakistanis hold India responsible for the dismemberment of their country.
Alastair Lamb, Kashmir A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990, Roxford 1991, p.295
1972: India and Pakistan sign the Simla Agreement in July, which has a clause
that the final settlement of Kashmir will be decided bilaterally in
the future and that both the sides shall respect the LOC.
1974: In November, Kashmir Accord is signed by G.Parthasarathy for Indira Gandhi and Mirza Afzal Beg for Sheikh Abdullah,
who is out of power at that time. The Accord retains Kashmir's special status,
but the state is termed as a 'constituent unit of the Union of India'. Opposition
parties and Pakistan condemn the Accord. Abdullah is installed back in power.
Later in 1977, he would speak in favour of protecting the autonomy and special
status of Kashmir.
Victoria Schofield, Kashmir in Conflict, New York 2000, p.125.
1976: Maqbool Butt is arrested on his return to the Valley; Amanullah Khan moves to England and NLF becomes Jammu and Kashmir liberation Front(JKLF).
1979: The USSR invades Afghanistan. The US and Pakistan
are involved in training, recruiting, arming, and unleashing the Mujahedin on
Afghanistan. The mujahedin so recruited would take on their own agenda of
establishing Islamic rule in Kashmir from the late 1980's.
The Sikri Commission is appointed to inquire into regional grievances in J&K.
1984: Indian and Pakistani armies engage in clashes in Siachen Glacier, a no-man's land at an altitude of 20,000 ft with extreme weather conditions, where the cease-fire line had been left undefined by 1972 Simla Agreement; Siachen is perceived to be of strategic importance for access to the Northern Areas and the spasmodic clashes would continue through later years, costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars.
Alastair Lamb, Kashmir A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990, Roxford 1991, p.326
