"The Muscular Policy Worked"

As Kashmir navigates its first election post-abrogation of Article 370, a sense of hope and anticipation emerges amid a complex history of conflict and efforts to restore peace.

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With significant voter turnout and a diverse candidate pool, this election marks a critical juncture in the region’s political evolution.

In an interview with Tarique Anwar, Amarjit Singh Dulat (AS Dulat), former special director of the Intelligence Bureau, ex-secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and a well-known expert on Kashmir, shares his perspective on the region’s intricate geopolitical landscape.

What is Kashmir, according to you?

Kashmir is a difficult geopolitical region, which is complex and difficult to understand. It can be won with love and warmth. It is witnessing a momentous election. It is a welcome development that it is recording such a high percentage of voters turnout.

This is the first election after the abrogation of Article 370. Your views?

There have been some positive developments —which the government points out—like stone pelting and hartals (strikes) have stopped. It has stopped because of the initial muscular policy we have adopted. Following the abrogation of Article 370, a huge revolt was anticipated but that did not happen. Kashmiris decided not to come out and unnecessarily get killed. So, the muscular policy worked.

I differentiate between militancy and terrorism like this – in militancy, our own boys, the Kashmiri youth, are involved. It first started in South Kashmir, which was the most vulnerable. But the most difficult part of Kashmir actually is the North because that’s where infiltration takes place. Worst terror attacks have been carried out in the North. It gradually came to Srinagar. Now, these are largely over. But we still have to deal with terror sponsored by Pakistan.