Srinagar: Former spymaster AS Dulat said that separatism in Kashmir was "dead". "Separatism I believe is dead now. It has become redundant. Like Article 370, separatism also is gone."
Dulat was an advisor on Jammu and Kashmir to the central government during the tenure of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. He also advocated the need for starting communication with Pakistan back in the day.
Speaking to PTI on Saturday, he said that now the Indian government needs to start a dialogue with mainstream political parties in the Valley. "Dialogue, talking, is the way out. If not to the separatists, talk to the mainstream, have elections, and restore statehood."
The former special director of the Intelligence Bureau said Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has a major role in Kashmir politics. "There is a leader who I feel has a role and that is Mirwaiz, but he has been kept in his house. So, we will only know when he comes out. He has been mainstream and whenever he is allowed to come out, and I think it should be done as quickly as possible, then we will see which way he goes."
Farooq has been under house arrest since August 4, 2019.
When asked about the issues related to the abrogation of Article 370, Dulat said: "There was never a big issue and there will always be an issue. The sooner we have an elected government, the better because it provides a buffer for Delhi."
When asked about Pakistan's influence in Kashmir, the former spy said the worrying factor was radicalisation among the youth. "I don't think there is any impact here. Pakistan is in such a mess that even those who were once pro-Pakistan are now saying what is there in Pakistan? I don't think Pakistan is a factor. What worries me is that radicalism seems to be growing. That's not a good thing because Kashmir has always been open, liberal, Sufi, Shaivite. So that should be a matter of concern."
However, he said terrorism is still an issue in Kashmir.
"There were a couple of bad incidents in Poonch-Rajouri. We need to take note of that. Then there are always boys in the south, our own boys, they get involved from time to time. I want to tell you something...A Kashmiri craves peace. He has had enough of this. It was an experiment that Kashmir had to go through, and it is an experiment that has failed. I think nobody wants this to continue," said Dulat.
He highlighted that the Congress-led UPA in 2005 should have allowed PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to continue as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and removing him was a "blunder". "In 2002, Mufti sahib became the CM. I think his three years were very good. I used to think that the Congress committed a blunder by removing Mufti Sahib. So, these things happen, this is politics. It is for the party in power to decide."
When asked about whether New Delhi should talk to Pakistan about terrorism, he said: "Pakistan's involvement is in terrorism. Yesterday, I was reading that five foreign terrorists were killed somewhere near Kupwara. I have always believed the worst and most serious attacks always come in from the north because that's where the foreign terrorists are. That's been an old route, that's where they come from and that's where they operate. That's a scary thing and that's one of the reasons that we should talk to Pakistan."
He also insisted that Afghanistan's Taliban government will not get involved in the situation. "I think the Taliban will not involve itself in Kashmir as it wants recognition by India. I don't buy this at all. There is no threat from the Taliban. The threat comes from Pakistan."