Former RAW chief AS Dulat warned that the happiness of Kashmiris after the elections in 2024 won’t last long. They are waiting for the promise of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) to be fulfilled. Dulat pointed out that both Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the central government are under pressure. He mentioned that Omar Abdullah wants a good relationship with the center and is simply seeking the return of statehood.
What do Kashmiris want? They still think about Article 370, which gave them special rights, even though it’s gone now. Omar understands that it won’t come back, but he wants his people to feel respected, which means restoring statehood. Dulat believes both Delhi and Srinagar should act quickly to restore this statehood for credibility’s sake; otherwise, Omar and the central government will lose trust.
Dulat stressed that the happiness seen on Kashmiris’ faces is just a short-term reaction. If there’s no progress in the next six months regarding statehood, people will once again feel cheated and criticize both their leaders and the central government. Currently, they feel joy because they have a government they chose—the National Conference led by the Abdullah family, which holds a special place in Kashmiri society. However, this joy may fade if their expectations are not met.
He described the current situation in J-K as a “diarchy,” meaning two governments are operating: one led by Omar Abdullah and the other by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Dulat, who learned everything he knows about intelligence from Kashmir, emphasized its complexity, stating that it is not a simple matter of right or wrong. Instead, it requires finding a balanced solution.
He concluded that the future needs a middle path for peace and understanding. The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), where Dulat spoke, features over 500 speakers from 15 countries, celebrating literature with a large crowd of book lovers. Notable figures include Nobel laureates, award-winning authors, and popular actors. Over six lakh visitors are expected at this exciting four-day event, which ends on Sunday.
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