‘Delhi may be talking to some people in Kashmir through various channels’
Junaid Shah
Srinagar, Aug 31: The former chief of RAW and former special director of the intelligence bureau (IB) Amarjit Singh Dulat said that ending militancy in Kashmir would not end problem but it must be redressed politically.
“Whether it is an operation all out or half out, forces are doing a great job. They have to do their job. But the problem in Kashmir will not end up with elimination of militancy but it has to be redressed politically,” Dulat told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) in a telephonic interview.
He said Delhi may be talking to ‘some people’ in Kashmir through various channels.
“But Kashmiri people are very wise. If there is any dialogue going on, it must go in open and prominently,” he said.
He said he used to say that a common Kashmir wants peace and friendship between India and Pakistan.” But now, I think, Kashmiri people want to return to normalcy.”
Dulat said assembly elections in J&K are going to be held not before 2021. “There is no political process or political activity going on in Kashmir. When the political process commences, there must be involvement of Delhi and all the political parties in it,” he said.
He said coming together of six political parties in J&K is a positive development. “These political parties met. Obviously, when some people assemble (meet) something has to come out. Therefore, they came out with the statement (Gupkar Declaration),” he said adding, “Similar declaration was made on 4 August 2019.”
Dulat had held a secret meeting with Farooq Abdullah when he was detained under Public Safety Act after abrogation of Article 370.
It is to mention here that in a joint statement six political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have reiterated that they are committed to strive for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. (KINS)
