PUNE: AS Dulat, former chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency, on Sunday said Pakistan has come in Kashmir ‘on our invitation as we (India) had stopped the dialogue process.’
Dulat was speaking about ‘Kashmir and Pakistan’ at Patrakar Bhavan at a programme organised by Kakasaheb Gadgil Pratishthan.
“Kashmiris still remember former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee because of his initiatives and dialogue process. When (Narendra) Modi came to power, people had expectations that he will take forward Vajpayee’s initiatives. But nothing like that happened. We are committing a mistake. There is no dialogue. If Pakistan has come back after 2016 it is on our invitation. We have given free run to Pakistan in Kashmir. Militancy is on the rise. Radicalism is on the rise as militants take Allah’s name instead of Pakistan. We should start talking. Till when can we keep silent,” said Dulat.
He said Kashmiris have understood that without Delhi, the government in the state cannot run. “People have left Pakistan’s game. The separatists wanted to become mainstream. But we didn’t do much. Now youths in Kashmir don’t want the Azadi (freedom) which they wanted in 1990s. Now they want accommodation, honour and dignity as Azadi. They blame armed forces who come from outside without any knowledge of Kashmir politics, ground reality and beat them and humiliate them in their own homeland,” added Dulat, who was joint director with Intelligence Bureau (IB) in Kashmir in late 1980s when militancy started there.
He said Army officials including current chief General Bipin Rawat have pointed out that military action is not the only solution. “For every one dead militant, 3 to 4 youths are taking up arms especially in South Kashmir. Status quo is not good for us. It is good for Pakistan,” he added.
‘KASHMIRI PANDITS SHOULD RETURN’
“Several Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir. I was there when their killings started. Many have remained there and have cordial relations with local people which used to be earlier. The other Pandits should also return. Even separatists have welcomed them back,” Dulat said.
