Srinagar/New Delhi: In a candid interview with The Wire, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) Chief A.S. Dulat has challenged the official narrative, asserting that Kokernag was, in fact, an ambush.
However, Dulat points to what he terms as a "judgmental error" that led them into this dangerous situation. He believes that incorrect or misleading information, potentially conveyed to the deputy superintendent of police who lost his life, played a pivotal role in luring the army into this ambush.
Speaking with The Wire, Dulat expressed concerns about the possibility of a surge in terror activities over the next six weeks, though he hopes this scenario doesn't materialize.
He also dismissed the claims made by Dilbag Singh, the director-general of police in Jammu and Kashmir, who has asserted that the state is moving towards being terror-free. According to Dulat, Singh's statements have been inconsistent.
Dulat attributed that the growing alienation among the local population to evolving into outright "hatred." This deep-seated resentment, he suggests, might explain why locals have provided erroneous information to security forces and the police, resulting in incidents like the Kokernag one.
The root cause of this hatred, as Dulat sees it, is the perception among Kashmir Valley residents that they are governed by outsiders, with no local chief minister or government.
“The presence of individuals from outside the state, particularly South India, in key positions is leading to a disconnect between the administration and the Kashmiri populace,” he told The Wire.
Furthermore, Dulat asserts that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and army are likely involved in the ongoing situation, claiming it couldn't occur without Pakistan army chief Gen. Munir's knowledge.
In agreement with former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, Dulat emphasised the need for dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the violence and terror in Kashmir. He proposes that if the government is reluctant to engage with Pakistan's caretaker government, it can engage directly with the army chief, citing the 2021 ceasefire as a precedent.
Dulat disagreed with the Northern Army commander's recent statement that militants haven't crossed the Line of Control but have infiltrated from the Punjab or Nepal border, “finding it implausible for terrorists to travel from Nepal to Kokernag.”