KL Report
SRINAGAR
Questioning their reluctance in meeting Indian leadership, A S Dulat, former head Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Sunday suggested separatist leadership to open channels of communication with New Delhi also.
Talking to a local news agency, KNS, Dulat said today’s meet between separatists and Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister can only be balanced if the separatists open the channels of communications with New Delhi also.
“We do not have any objection if separatists meet Aziz or for that matter Nawaz Sharief. I only want to ask these leaders why they are reluctant in meeting Indian leadership,” Dulat told KNS.
The former RAW chief observed, “When they are in Delhi, they should also meet people here. ( Agar Pakistaniyoun se mil sakte hou, tou Delhi aakar Delhi walun sae bhi milo).”
Dulat said that separatists should initiate the process for a meaningful dialogue with Delhi. “I wonder why they want invitation for this dialogue process; it is as if they don’t know anyone here.”
Dulat said that the separatists have earlier met Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister and others in the past and that they should restart that process. “Contrary to this they meet Pakistanis in Delhi now and the notion goes here that they receive guidelines from Pakistan.”
He further stated that if separatist leadership show seriousness in dialogue process, everyone in Delhi will be ready to have talks with them on Kashmir. “If Salah-ud-Din says that he has problems in meeting, that we can understand but separatists have no problem in meeting us.”
Terming the recent statement of Mirwaiz wherein he has said that the poll boycott strategy has nothing to do with the Kashmir issue, Dulat said that Mirwaiz’s statement on polls is a good sign. “They are thinking positively now and more good thing will be if they participate in polls.”
“If I ask them (separatists) to participate in polls, they might not accept, they want the signal from other side. They should see the signal of this side also, then it will be balanced.”
Meanwhile, Advocate Ashok Bhan while commenting on today’s meet between separatists and Aziz said that it is a high time that the separatist leadership of Kashmir rise above and talk to Delhi in the larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is good that the separatist leadership has been invited to meet the top most advisor of Pakistan’s Prime Minister and they should now initiate the communication process with New Delhi for the well being of the people of the state.”
