Opinion | The Walking Archive Of J&K: Why The Attack On Farooq Abdullah Is An Attack On History

Jammu and Kashmir is in a period of political transition, but figures like Farooq Abdullah are rare – those who've not just taken part in history but lived through its every phase

A few months ago, while flying from Delhi to Jammu, I found myself in a situation most journalists in this region would envy.

To my pleasant surprise, the seat next to me was occupied by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference chief Dr Farooq Abdullah.

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I greeted him and introduced myself. Though he remembered me, it had been many “full moons" since we last had the chance to sit beside each other and talk at length.

As I sat beside him, I couldn’t help but study his face. At 88, the wrinkles carried more than just the passage of time – they seemed to hold the story of Jammu and Kashmir itself. The ups and downs, the betrayals and triumphs, the years of turmoil and hope – all seemed etched into those lines.

Those lines have seen J&K when it was a state with its own Constitution and flag. They have also witnessed its transformation into a Union territory.

They have seen Farooq Abdullah serve as chief minister several times, as a Union minister, and as an MP. They tell the story of a political figure groomed by his father, the Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, and of a father who later spent years grooming his own son to lead the region.

The lines on his face also narrate stories of betrayal – of governments collapsing due to defections and political intrigue. They have seen a father, who once served as the prime minister of J&K, the son who became CM multiple times, and now a father watching his own son hold the same office.

In many ways, as I sat there at 30,000 feet, it felt as though I was sitting next to a living archive of J&K’s political history. I also remembered the time when he underwent a kidney transplant in London a few years ago. When he returned to India after the surgery, he famously declared: “The tiger is back."

Even today, that tiger remains important to the politics of J&K – if only because he carries with him the institutional memory of decades of political upheaval.

A CONVERSATION IN THE CLOUDS

During the flight we spoke about several issues. As is his nature, Farooq Abdullah did not hold anything back. His candour remains as sharp as ever.

When we landed in Jammu, we went our separate ways but soon found ourselves again in the bus ferrying passengers from the aircraft to the terminal. The aerobridges were already occupied by other flights.

As we parted once again, I asked him when we could sit down for a formal interview. He mentioned he was heading to Delhi soon for some work but assured me that we would meet very soon. Since we had been exchanging messages for some time, he said he would call.

Last year, when my cousin passed away, he was among the first politicians to call and express his condolences. He told me that since he was out of town he could not personally visit, but he wanted to convey his sympathies.

This is the man a 63-year-old attacker tried to take from us at a wedding in Jammu on Wednesday night.

A BRIDGE ACROSS REGIONS AND FAITHS

For decades, Farooq Abdullah has also tried to act as a bridge between Hindu-majority Jammu and Muslim-majority Kashmir.

It is not uncommon to see him singing Ram bhajans while addressing gatherings in Jammu and offering namaz in Kashmir. He has visited gurdwaras in Punjab and has also paid obeisance at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra.

Critics and political opponents often accuse him of striking different tones in different places – one in Delhi, another in Srinagar, and yet another in Jammu. Over the years, his political positions too have ranged widely: from advocating strong military action against Pakistan to, at other times, calling for dialogue with Islamabad.

But such contradictions perhaps reflect the complexity of the region he represents – a place where politics, identity, and history are deeply intertwined.

THE BULLET AND THE BREACH

The CCTV footage from Royal Park in Jammu’s Greater Kailash is chilling. A man armed with his licensed revolver stood inches away from a leader who is, in many ways, a walking archive of J&K’s political journey.

That the bullet missed can only be described as divine intervention. But the fact that the attacker, Kamal Singh Jamwal, was able to get that close raises serious questions about the Z+ NSG security apparatus meant to protect him.

The seriousness of the incident prompted Union home minister Amit Shah to personally call Farooq Abdullah to inquire about his well-being, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha convened urgent security reviews.

Yet, as a reporter, I find the procedural lapses just as disturbing as the security breach itself. Videos of the accused being questioned inside a police station went viral even before an official police statement was issued.

How does such sensitive footage leak within hours? It suggests a worrying lack of discipline within the system – something we simply cannot afford in a sensitive border region like Jammu and Kashmir.

This was not the first attempt on Farooq Abdullah’s life. From the early 1990s through the peak years of militancy, he has survived numerous threats and plots.

His son, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, perhaps summed it up best on X when he wrote: “Allah is kind… It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot… There are more questions than answers at the moment."

Speaking to the media later, Farooq Abdullah himself struck a pragmatic tone: “No matter how much security you increase, the killer always has an advantage."

He pointed to the absence of local police at a venue hosting multiple VVIPs, including deputy CM Surinder Choudhary.

PROTECTING LIVING HISTORY

Jammu and Kashmir remains in a period of political transition. Governments change, borders shift in meaning, and political narratives evolve.

But figures like Farooq Abdullah remain rare – leaders who have not just participated in history but have lived through nearly every phase of it.

From the days when his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah led the politics of the region, to his own years as CM and Union minister, and now watching his son lead again, he embodies a continuity that very few political figures can claim. That is why the incident at Royal Park cannot simply be dismissed as another security lapse.

When a man who carries so much of J&K’s political memory comes within inches of a bullet, the questions that follow are larger than politics. We cannot rely on miracles every time. The administration must answer difficult questions about the security gaps at Royal Park and the disturbing leaks from the interrogation room.

Farooq Abdullah walked away this time. But the system must be fixed before the next shadow gets too close. Because protecting him today is not just about protecting a political leader – it is about protecting a living archive of Jammu and Kashmir’s history.

© News18