Farooq Abdullah vs Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai

After his father Sheikh Abdullah's death, Farooq Abdullah became the president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference. He inherited the party's leadership and the complex political legacy of his father, including the demand for autonomy.

Farooq Abdullah became Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after his father's death. He formed a government with the National Conference. His tenure was marked by tensions with the central government and the rise of militancy.

Farooq Abdullah's government was dismissed by Governor Jagmohan under Article 356, with allegations of corruption and separatist sympathies. His dismissal sparked protests and deepened the alienation of Kashmiris. It was widely seen as a political move by the central government.

Farooq Abdullah signed an accord with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, leading to his return as Chief Minister after the 1986 election. The accord was criticized as a compromise of autonomy. His second term saw the rise of armed insurgency in Kashmir.

Farooq Abdullah's National Conference formed a coalition government with the Congress after the 2002 election, with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as Chief Minister. Abdullah served as a Union Minister in the UPA government. This period saw a reduction in militancy.

Stanikzai was a senior member of the Taliban negotiating team in Doha, Qatar, that signed the US-Taliban agreement in February 2020. The agreement set a timeline for US troop withdrawal and initiated intra-Afghan talks.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister in the Taliban government formed after the fall of Kabul. He became a key figure in the regime's diplomatic outreach to other nations.