Narendra Modi has lost a great opportunity

“Modiji has the qualities but he has wasted precious time in dealing with Kashmir. He had received the Kashmir deal almost on a platter. However, he wasted the crucial 18 months that could have made all the difference,” says former RAW chief AS Dulat during the launch of his book, ‘Kashmir - The Vajpayee Years,’ in Hyderabad

Former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Chief of RAW and Advisor on Kashmir in the PMO, A S Dulat served in Kashmir during the most troublesome period, between 1988 and 1990. Currently, he is a member of the National Security Advisory Board.

In conversation with author and writer Sriram Karri, organised by Hyd Park at Taj Krishna in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Dulat threw light on Kashmir and on several events and issues that have had an impact on the socio-political lives of Kashmiris. “The Kashmiris, today, have come to believe that when everything seems to be going good, something wrong happens,” he says.

Speaking about the separatist movement, he says that the Kashmiris have realised long ago that neither Kashmir is going anywhere nor India is going to give it away. Also Pakistan is in no position to snatch it away by force. “When 9/11 happened, I asked one of the top separatist leaders about Pakistan, and he said ‘Woh apne aap kop nahi bacha sake, hame kya bachayega.’ By the mid-90s they realised that all they brought upon themselves was death and destruction and achieved nothing. They too understand that the issue can only be resolved over the table.”

“The issue of Pakistan is over in Kashmir, but by sticking to status quo, we are allowing space for Pakistan and we get excited when we see a Pakistan flag or an ISIS flag in the State. That does not mean Pakistan has come to Kashmir, it means that there is more frustration now. When will the guys in Delhi understand that they need to be very patient and honest?” he asks.

Referring to the recent statement made by Farooq Abdullah on how even the whole Indian Army pushed into Kashmir cannot solve the Kashmir issue, he states that insurgencies can never have military solutions. “The current political scenario is quite bleak with the two elderly leaders Dr Farooq and Mufti saab and younger generation who right now have a lot to learn of Kashmir and politics. And Farooq Abdullah is by far the tallest leader, underestimated and underutilised.

He deserved much better. I am privy to the assurance given to make him Vice-President, but typical of him, he is not bitter about the unfulfilled promise. He was one of the first persons to have said that Vajpayee deserved Bharat Ratna. He has always had a consistent line that the only way to solve J&K problem is to accept LoC as the international border.

And it is in this context that he spoke of how military cannot solve the issue. With age, people become more understanding and it appears that he realises that India and Pakistan must talk. As a politician in power, he had once said that we should bomb Pakistan and destroy the camps there.” “Even Dr Manmohan Singh and General Musharaff were working towards this solution. That is the only workable settlement for the present,” he adds.

Dulat, who has been a witness to major decisions taken with regard to Kashmir in the last few decades, agrees that politics on both sides (India and Pakistan) come into play and thwart a lot of forward movement. “It requires a leader like Vajpayee. Modiji has the qualities but he has wasted precious time in dealing with Kashmir.

He had received the Kashmir deal almost on a platter. However, he wasted the crucial 18 months that could have made all the difference. The Kashmiri leadership, the separatist leaders, chairman of Hurriyat etc, was all there welcoming the BJP government. BJP-PDP is a great coalition, and there was a huge chance of bringing Jammu and Kashmir, that are so polarised, together. But that didn’t happen.”

Dulat refuses to divulge much on the Afzal Guru’s issue, but does dispense benefit of doubt as he wonders aloud why he was chosen to be executed, when they could have waited for his turn. And, he says that just like the rest of India, Kashmir, too, is not immune to the threat from the ISIS.

While expressing his empathy for the displaced Kashmiri Pundits, he reminds, “Kashmiri ethos which is Kashmiriyat is syncretic culture of Kashmir where Hindus and Muslims live together. The Islam in Kashmir is different and is a very liberal Sufi Islam. Kashmiris are all descendents of Pundits – the Saraswat Brahmins. Even now where there are Kashmiri Muslims with the surname – Pundit. It is very sad that during the mayhem of the 1989-90 many pundits had to leave their home state.”

“One way of starting in the right direction is to accommodate the Kashmiri. Give him confidence, self-respect dignity and make him feel he is entitled to the same justice as the rest of the country. Delhi should realise that to understand Kashmir it needs imagination, perseverance and above all honesty.” Dulat emphatically states.

By Rajeshwari Kalyanam