Pune, Dec 28 (UNI)- Despite abrogation of Article 370, the sword of terrorism continues to hang in Jammu and Kashmir, opined A S Dulat, former director of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), while expressing that terrorism will not stop unless talks with Pakistan continue.
Speaking at the Chotekhani programme organised by Sarhad Sanstha here on Wednesday, he said that it cannot be said that situation in Kashmir is very good.
Though ‘bandhs’, strikes and stone-pelting have stopped, it cannot be said that terrorist activities have ended, he noted.
If talks with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue continued, only then will peace can established in Kashmir and development will be promoted, he asserted.
During the times of late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh the bilateral talks between India and Pakistan continued, therefore, terrorist activities were abated at that time.
Referring to former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah’s warning that ‘Kashmir can become Gaza’, the former chief of external intelligence agency said that it should not be ignored.
He suggested that a political process should be started for establishing peace in Kashmir.
By only removing Article 370 and making Kashmir a Union Territory will not solve the problem, he reiterated and pointed out that by making the Line of Control as the international border between the neighbouring countries, the Kashmir issue can be resolved.
Dulat suggested that the citizens of both the countries should be allowed to travel in either country.
Commenting that the leadership of both the countries should have courage for that, he hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also visit Pakistan like Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
On Pakistan’s behaviour, the former RAW chief observed that the western neighbour resorts to encouraging acts of terrorism only when that nation is bankrupt.
Asked about his participation in ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, he said, “I participated in Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi on invitation of Rahul Gandhi. I went as he called.”
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