[10] In 1572, on the advice of Muhammad Bhat, Yousuf assassinated his uncle Aiba Khan, who was a contender to the throne, and then went away to Sopore in the fear of his father.
Later he visited him and requested him to attend the funeral with the rest of the royal family,[20] but this was in vain because Abdal Chak couldn't forgive Yousuf what he had done to Aiba Khan.
[19] Abdal Bhat convinced the majority of the nobles and ministers who were unsatisfied with Yousuf over negligence in the civil and administrative services while he spent time in the presence of women and alcohol with music and a company of poets.
[29] Even though his senior ministers like Naji Malik warned him to send a more experienced and observant commander, Yousuf sent a force under Muhammad Khan against the rebels in Eidgah, Srinagar.
Regardless of the theories, Yousuf retreated to Thanna leaving his Sultanate and authority in the hands of Sayyid Mubarak and Abdal Bhat.
[36] With this great initiative, he readied himself to visit Sayyid himself but Abdal Bhat, who now led the rebellious faction, was on a different page.
[47] Raising another body of 3000 men there with the help of some nobles, Yousuf turned towards Bhimber and after conquering the south-west territories set out towards Nowshera and Rajauri.
[50][51] Lohar Khan now despatched Haidar Chak, whom he stationed at Hirpora thinking that Yousuf and his army will cross the Pir Panjal route.
[57] After this descent move, Lohar detached a faction of 2000 men under Haidar Chak and ordered him to attack Yousuf through the Khuyahom Pass while he stayed back to watch the enemy's movement.
[58][59] Meanwhile, he sent a message to Yousuf through Baba Khalil that he'll be attacked from the rear and the front and will be left with no other choice but to run away, so he should immediately withdraw from his position and move back.
Yousuf entered Srinagar without much resistance and proclaimed himself Sultan after 1 year and 11 months in exile[65] and also appointed Muhammad Bhat as his Wazīr i Azam.
[78] Habib didn't stop there as he started to make trouble in Srinagar but was found and seized in the village of Sonawar near Takht i Sulaiman.
However, Mulla Hasan Aswad brought him back on the orders of Yousuf but Aiba Bhat remained with Haidar Chak.
[83][84] This made Yousuf worried and in 1582 he despatched Sher Ali Bhat and Naji Malik with a large army against Haidar Chak in Kishtwar.
[78] Even though the majority of the soldiers stepped back, Yakub continued to resist with the rest of the army and after a severe engagement, defeated and routed the rebels.
[87] Shams Chak and Aiba Bhat later started peace negotiations with Yousuf who forgave them and granted them Jagirs on the advice of the Raja of Kishtwar.
[88] Haidar, on the other hand, refused to surrender and went to Lahore, receiving the protection of Raja Man Singh, who gave him the Jagir of Bhimber.
They advised Yousuf to leave the life of ease and luxury and prepare for resistance as Akbar is anxious to annex Kashmir[92] but Yousuf paid no attention to their advice and sent precious gifts and his youngest son Haidar Khan with Mirza Tahir and Salih Aqil[93][94] but these expressions of loyalty didn't satisfy Akbar who sent back Haidar after a year along with Yaqub Sarfi,[95] who was told to represent Akbar's order in the presence Yousuf that he should proceed to the royal court at once or else an army will be sent against him to conquer his land.
[100] Instead of expressing his approval, Akbar was displeased that Yousuf has evaded his orders not once but twice and has sent his sons who were neither fit for military service nor were ethical with their words.
[99] When Akbar left for Kabul Subah for some internal matters, he sent Hakim Ali Gilani and Baha-ud-din Kambu as his ambassadors to Kashmir on 1 October 1585 with the orders to pay homage to the Emperor as he was in Punjab this time.
[120] When this news entered Srinagar, the people came to Yousuf and begged him to organise a resistance as they'll be facing harsh circumstances just how they did last time against the Kashgarians when they invaded Kashmir some decades ago.
[123] At Baramulla he organised three armies, Hasan Malik and Alam Sher Khan commanded the advanceguard, the right was left under Yakub and Abu'l Maali.
[125] Seeing this Raja Bhagwant Das sent an envoy to Yousuf which warned him that the Mughals will be supplied with heavy reinforcements and then it'll be difficult for the Kashmiris to resist anymore.
[157] Although the Baltis under Ryalfo Ali Sher Khan Anchan and Ladakhis under Gyalpo Tsewang Namgyal never established peace ties with the Kashmiris, Yousuf was eager to solve the internal disputes between both of them.
One day, when Yousuf was out on hunting that he heard Habba singing under a Chinar tree, he was so attracted to her soft and delicate voice and her beauty that he fell in love with her.
[159] Habba also could not live without Yousuf and reputedly wandered in the valley reading and writing poems for the love she felt that never vanished.
[135][164] After Akbar reached Lahore, Yousuf was placed in charge of Raja Todar Mal who imprisoned him for two and a half years.
Accepting his request, Yousuf was released and was given a mansab of 500 horses, a rank with the salary of 2,100 to 2,500 rupees monthly, and was sent with Raja Man Singh to Bihar.
[165] Along with the separation from the love of his life Yousuf couldn't tolerate his new condition[163] and fell seriously ill. After six days of illness he died in Puri, Orissa on 14 Zul Hijja 1000/22 September 1592; he was buried in Biswak, Bihar just next to his son Yakub.
[167][168] He is still proudly mentioned in Kashmiri literature for his love for the Sultanate and how he cared for his people, submitting his will and presenting his own throne to the Mughals without knowing that he would never get the opportunity to rule again.