In an interview to discuss the sudden spike in terrorist attacks in the Jammu area of Jammu and Kashmir, a former head of R&AW has called it “a matter of serious concern” adding tha “terrorism has become a nasty business again”.
Amarjit Singh Dulat says this is “a harsh revival from the other side” and the fact there could be 70-80 Pakistani terrorists on our side is “a significant number” and “seriously worrisome”. He also asks: “Why have we been not able to find or round-up any of them?”
In a 25-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Amarjit Singh Dulat said that one possible intention of the ISI, whose hand he says is clearly behind these spate of terrorist attacks, is to tell the Indian government “don’t forget we’re still there”. In other words, it’s a reminder to the Indian government, specifically delivered after the third Modi government was sworn-in.
Dulat also speculates that it’s possible that the ISI and the Pakistan army do not share the warm sentiments expressed by Nawaz Sharif in his congratulatory message to Narendra Modi or the earlier statements made by his daughter, Maryam Sharif, chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, in a speech to Sikh pilgrims.
Dulat says that “terrorism is not going to go away easily” and recommends, although this may not appear to be the best time, that the government must take three steps to win back the support of the Kashmiri people and to create a better and more congenial atmosphere in the state.
First, the restoration of statehood, second, the holding of state elections in September or October as repeatedly talked about and, third, the holding of talks with Pakistan. Dulat believes this is “a good time to talk to Pakistan” because the Bhuttos and the Sharifs are together on the same side.
I have only given you the big broad points made by Dulat. There’s a lot more in the interview that I will leave you to see and hear for yourself. In the last five days, there have been four terrorist attacks in the Jammu area, three or four more earlier this year and a handful last year. The Hindu reports that there have been at least 26 terror attacks in the Jammu area since mid-2021. No one understands Kashmir better than Dulat and no one has a better appreciation of the roots and problems of terror than Dulat. He is widely acknowledged as one of our foremost experts on Kashmir.
