Kozhikode, Jan 26: Former RAW chief AS Dulat has issued a stark warning, describing the current “happiness” of Kashmiris as fleeting as they await the long-promised restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), Dulat said the credibility of both Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Union government hinges on the timely fulfillment of this commitment.
“Omar is not asking for much. He knows Article 370 is gone, but what he’s seeking is self-respect for Kashmiris through the restoration of statehood. This is essential not just for him but for Delhi’s credibility as well,” said Dulat, who helmed the external intelligence agency from 1999 to 2000.
Dulat noted that the restoration, which should have followed immediately after the elections, now feels like a distant promise. He criticized the Modi government’s stance, which he said conveys, “‘Yes, we are committed to it, but at a time of our choosing.’” This delay, Dulat warned, risks eroding the trust of the Kashmiri people and may reignite resentment.
The former RAW chief pointed out that while the National Conference-led government under Omar Abdullah has provided a sense of victory for Kashmiris, this sentiment will not endure unless concrete steps are taken soon. “Right now, people feel they’ve won because they have a regional government. But if the promise of statehood isn’t honored within six months, Kashmiris will once again accuse Delhi of deception and criticize Omar for not delivering,” he explained.
Reflecting on the ground reality, Dulat described the governance in J-K as a “diarchy,” with Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha operating parallelly. He emphasized that Kashmir is a region of complexities and nuances, requiring careful handling and a middle-path approach.
“Kashmir is not black-and-white. It taught me everything I know about intelligence. It’s about compromise, understanding, and treading carefully,” said the 85-year-old author of A Life in the Shadows: A Memoir.
The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which stripped J-K of its special status and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories, remains a deeply sensitive issue. Despite promises of restoring statehood, progress has been slow, with the Union government retaining tight control over the region.
The Kerala Literature Festival, where Dulat made these remarks, has drawn over six lakh attendees to Kozhikode beach. Featuring Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, and celebrated actors and filmmakers, the four-day event, billed as Asia’s largest literary festival, concludes on Sunday.
Speakers include Nobel laureates Venki Ramakrishnan and Esther Duflo, Booker-winning author Paul Lynch, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, and filmmaker Mani Ratnam, among others.
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