Kashmir expert for compassion in valley
A S Dulat, a Kashmir expert as a former chief of external intelligence agency RAW, says India should not be alarmed from the Pakistani flags in the Kashmir valley, pointing out that they come out in the valley "out of frustration, not for any love for Pakistan."
In an analysis of the situation, he says Kashmir is angry with both India and Pakistan and only empathy and compassion can set the clock back to peace. "Kashmir deserves accommodation, self-respect and justice. Balochistan is all very well, but what we need to discuss with Pakistan is Kashmir," he stressed.
Dismissing a perception that the Kashmiris are not prepared to sort out the current tension through talks, he said: "When we stop talking to Kashmiris, believing that they are under the influence of Pakistan, it demonstrates a lack of confidence. Their links with Pakistan are dependent on our links with them. Every Kashmiri leader knows Kashmir is going nowhere - it is with India and will always remain."
He said there is an erroneous belief that Kashmiris may not be prepared to talk, asserting that Kashmiris are always ready and willing to talk. He referred to an offer made on August by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda to talk with everyone, including the separatists, to bring peace in the valley and the first to respond positively and immediately was Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz, going to the extent of saying that the Kashmiris were prepared to talk to even the Army if it could find a solution.
"If there was no Hurriyat, we might need to invent one since it represents a thought that was willing to be mainstreamed by engagement," Dulat said. He could say so since he is privy to how the Indian intelligence agencies were engaged in secrecy in building up the Hurriyat Conference and hosting its leaders in Delhi to build up a strong movement in the valley.
His worry is that the situation is developing back to one in January 1990 when then Governor Jagmohan dissolved the state assembly and J&K remained under the Governor's rule till 1996. "Elected representatives are once again facing threats to quit, or face the consequences. The winter of 1989-90, eerie as it was, is finding echoes in the summer of 2016. Militancy almost dead is again back with a vengeance. It is a frightening scenario." Dulat warned not to wait for the protests that are going nowhere become wearisome and pass as he said "the hangover could create more terrorists since discontent has long tentacles." Pointing out that Burhan Wani, whose killing by the security forces on July 8 plunged the Kashmir valley into unending violence of over six weeks, is said to be a product of the 2010 uprising, he said now his father Muzzafar, a headmaster, is demonstrating pretensions of a leader.
Stressing that a vast majority of Kashmiris want peace more than anything else and they must be provided an opportunity, the former RAW chief said whenever anything goes wrong in Kashmir; Delhi is first to get the blame, followed by its Kashmiri "stooge," Mehbooba in this case. If Delhi finds it difficult to understand Kashmiri leaders, Kashmiri leaders find it more difficult to fathom Delhi and hence Mehbooba finds herself alone in the wilderness.
"We have little other option but to give her total support, and sometimes, listen to the voice that she ''feels,'' rather than what she is required to say," Dulat added.