Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not been able to capitalise on the positive vibe in Kashmir, created by Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was head of the government from 2001-04. Former chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) A.S. Dulat, who served as special advisor on Kashmir affairs to Mr. Vajpayee, believes that Pakistan, which was on the back foot some years ago, is back in the valley in a big way.
Mr. Dulat, who is the co-author of Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years , was speaking in the city on Friday. Mr. Dulat said the State has never looked so bleak and depressing. “In June, the valley saw a record number of tourists, with 21 daily flights to Srinagar, and hotels full, but even then, you could sense that things were not alright.”
The neighbouring State, which had been active in Kashmir for decades, was slipping in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Hurriyat leaders had stopped looking to Pakistan for support. They had told Mr. Dulat in a conversation: “Pakistan cannot manage itself; how will they manage us?” Pakistan remains the fall-back option for the Kashmiri when he is disillusioned. That’s how there has been so much talk of ‘azhadi’ and bringing ‘Shariat’ in the last four months.
Mr. Dulat said Kashmir was not raised even once in the Pakistani election of 2013. This detachment owed greatly to the leadership of Mr. Vajpayee, who was absolutely clear about ending the conflict in Kashmir and the confrontation with Pakistan. In this context, Mr. Dulat mentioned a public meeting in April 2003 in Srinagar where Mr. Vajpayee had said, ‘‘I’ve held out a hand of friendship to Pakistan, but it has let me down twice — the Kargil and Parliament attacks. But I have not given up.”
Unfortunately, Dr. Singh had got Kashmir on a platter, but he could not see it through. Claiming that Mr. Vajpayee’s successor did not know how to manage Kashmir, Mr. Dulat said Dr. Singh spent most of his time talking to Pakistan.
When the BJP rode the Narendra Modi wave to power, Kashmir was looking forward to his rule. “But I think he is squandering the opportunity in Kashmir.” The Kashmiri, he said, wants to be accommodated. “His ultimate fear is that he might be reduced to a minority in his own land. We’ve to tell him India is big and great enough to include a Muslim-majority State.”
Emphasising that Kashmir is not a military problem and Article 370 is not really an issue any more, Mr. Dulat said the only way forward on Kashmir is the Vajpayee way: ‘talk, talk and never stop talking’.
The writer is a freelance journalist
