Bilal veri cni

(CNI)I am deeply concerned and compelled to respond to the recent statements made by former RAW Chief Mr. A.S. Dulat in his book and public remarks, particularly concerning the political leadership of Jammu & Kashmir, the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, and his continued soft corner for Pakistan.

As someone who held the most sensitive intelligence post during a turbulent era in Kashmir, it is baffling why Mr. Dulat has chosen to open his mouth decades later—when many of the individuals he refers to are no longer alive to defend themselves. Why were these so-called “truths” hidden when he had the authority and responsibility to act? His silence during the time of actual crisis raises serious doubts about his intent and role.

As holding the the important position in IB during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mr. Dulat would have been expected to have intelligence on the rising militancy and conspiracies in the Kashmir Valley. Given his position, it is reasonable to assume that he had access to information about the threats to Kashmiri Pandits and the Government of India. If he indeed had such knowledge, it would have been crucial for him to share this intelligence with the relevant authorities to prevent or mitigate the unfolding crisis.

By calling the majority population in Kashmir “innocent” in 1990, Mr. Dulat conveniently overlooks the brutal ethnic cleansing and genocide faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community. Thousands of innocent lives were lost, families displaced, women dishonored—yet, there was no decisive action or acknowledgment from someone who was in power.

Moreover, his repeated advocacy for dialogue with Pakistan—even in the face of continuous betrayal, cross-border terrorism, and proxy wars—makes one wonder whose interests he truly represents. Was he a mere intelligence officer, or something more questionable—perhaps a planted sympathizer?

It is unfortunate that instead of standing with the truth, justice, and the victims of terror, Mr. Dulat appears more interested in spinning a narrative that whitewashes the reality and adds salt to the wounds of the displaced community.

I urge the current establishment and informed citizens to critically analyze such statements and not let the pain of Kashmiri Pandits be rewritten or diluted by selective memory and convenient storytelling.

—
Rakesh Kumar Koul
Freelance Journalist | Social Activist | Former Sarpanch
Gandhiyan Sewak Awardee (CNI)