Former intelligence chief AS Dulat has declared Kashmiri militancy “dead,” but he still believes discussion with Kashmir’s mainstream political parties is necessary.
Mr. Dulat, who served as the central government’s adviser on Jammu and Kashmir under former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, has also stressed the need of opening lines of communication with Pakistan.
“I think separatism is over. It’s no longer necessary. Mr. Dulat told PTI in an interview held here on Saturday that, “like Article 370, separatism is gone.”
Former Spymaster A.S. Dulat Declares, “Separatism in Kashmir Is Dead, Need to Start…”
Mr. Dulat urged India to accept Pakistan’s peace efforts.
Former spymaster AS Dulat has spoken out about Kashmiri separatism, claiming it is “dead” but insisting that discussion with the Valley’s mainstream political parties is necessary.
Mr. Dulat, who served as the central government’s adviser on Jammu and Kashmir under former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, has also stressed the need of opening lines of communication with Pakistan.
“I think separatism is over. It’s no longer necessary. Mr. Dulat told PTI in an interview held here on Saturday that, “like Article 370, separatism is gone.”
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference and now under house detention, was defended as having a “role” in the politics of Kashmir.
I believe Mirwaiz plays an important role, yet he has been imprisoned in his home. Therefore, we won’t know until he makes an appearance. Once he is released, and I believe it should be done as soon as possible, we will see which direction he goes,” the former special director of the Intelligence Bureau said.
When asked whether the repeal of Article 370 had settled the Kashmir problem, the former spy responded, “There was never a big issue and there will always be an issue.” A democratic government is a bulwark against Delhi, thus the sooner we have one, the better.
The solution may be found via conversation. Instead of talking to separatists, he suggested talking to the majority, holding elections, and restoring statehood.
Mr. Dulat claimed “radicalization” among the young was a troubling concern, but he denied that the situation in Pakistan had any influence in Kashmir.
The rise of radicalism is a source of great concern for me. Kashmir has always been an open, liberal, Sufi, Shaivite society, thus this is quite unfortunate. So that’s something to worry about,” he remarked.
According to AS Dulat, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir continues to occur on an ad hoc basis.
A handful of terrible things happened in Poonch-Rajouri. That’s important to keep in mind. Then there are the southern lads, our own boys, who sometimes get involved.
“There’s something I need to tell you…In Kashmir, people want quiet. He can’t take much more of this. Kashmir was forced to go through an experiment, and unfortunately, it was a failure. “I don’t think anyone wants this to go on,” he remarked.
It was a mistake, according to Mr. Dulat, for the Congress-led UPA to have removed PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir in 2005.
Dulat, who previously worked for the central government as an adviser on Jammu and Kashmir under the administration of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, believed that discussions with Pakistan have to get underway as well. According to Dulat, Pakistan’s efforts to enhance its ties with New Delhi need to be met with a favorable reaction from India.
