The former head of India’s Intelligence Agency (RAW), A.S. Dulat, has placed the responsibility for the Pahalgam incident squarely on the shoulders of the Modi government.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Dulat stated that the security of Kashmir is under the control of Delhi, and thus the responsibility for the incident lies with the central government. He emphasized that the attack in Pahalgam occurred because the area lacked sufficient security.
While dismissing the likelihood of a full-scale war between India and Pakistan, Dulat expressed confidence that dialogue would eventually resume, despite the current tensions. “There is no immediate threat of war. Sooner or later, talks will happen, though it may take some time,” he said.
Dulat also suggested that India and Pakistan should consider establishing a backchannel for communication, proposing countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, or the UAE as potential intermediaries if direct talks are not feasible.
Commenting on Indo-Pak relations, Dulat recalled that former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had always expressed a willingness to engage with India. “People often say that Modi and Nawaz have a good rapport, and Nawaz has consistently stated that he wants to move forward with India,” he added.
