A sense of helplessness prevailing in Kashmir now: A.S. Dulat

A sense of helplessness prevails in Kashmir in the current political scenario and Delhi is not bothered about what was happening there, according to A.S. Dulat, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the country’s external intelligence agency.

“Kashmir is at a standstill, there is a status quo now. The Kashmiris live on hope more than anything else and there is a sense of helplessness,” he said, recalling a recent statement issued the Mirwaiz, the spiritual leader of Kashmiris.

Mr. Dulat was responding to a question from Shobhana K. Nair, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, on the evolution of the relationship between the Abdullahs, the leading political family of Kashmir, and the different BJP governments at the Centre, during a session on ‘The Kashmir Connection’ at The Hindu Lit for Life in Chennai on Sunday (January 18, 2026).

The difference between Vajpayee’s BJP and Modi’s BJP

Elaborating, he observed that there were two distinct BJPs, one under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and another under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that there was a world of difference in the way each treated Kashmir.

The then prime minister Vajpayee, he maintained, was more involved and wanted some form of resolution in Kashmir while the current government did not bother much. “So, there is a world of difference and I don’t think anybody in Delhi is bothered about anything happening in Kashmir now. It is a sad story and we should wait and see what happens,” said Mr. Dulat, the author of the book The Chief Minister and the Spy: An Unlikely Friendship based on his association with Dr. Farooq Abdullah during his stint in Kashmir as an intelligence officer.

Article 370: a hollow provision

On the abrogation of Article 370, Mr. Dulat maintained that it was inevitable as it was a hollow provision, a fig leaf. “Why would you deprive the Kashmiris of the fig leaf I don’t understand,” he wondered. But the eruption of mass protests that was expected after the abrogation didn’t happen because Kashmiris went largely silent. “This silence is scary because if people go silent, you do not know what is going to happen.”

The other Kashmiri connection in the session was the biography of Brigadier Mohammed Usman titled The Lion of Naushera authored jointly by Ziya Us Salaam and Anand Mishra. After Partition, Muslim officers in the Indian Army were not promised any promotions but Brig. Usman chose to stay back in the Indian Army. He sacrificed his life for the country of his choice [during the 1948 Indo-Pak War] and proved that patriotism transcends the confines of religion, Mr. Ziya said during the conversation.

Brigadier Usman showed patriotism transcends religion

Responding to a question on why this story wasn’t adopted to the silver screen, Mr. Ziya said, “The answer is simple: we don’t make patriotic movies, we make jingoistic movies. We make movies to divide, to sell hatred in the garb of chivalry.” The reality, he said, was that Brigadier Usman could not be sold as a patriotic hero to a large section of Indian society, which was always waiting for the next Dhurandhar.

The Hindu Lit For Life is presented by The all-new Kia Seltos. In association with: Christ University and NITTE, Associate Partners: Orchids- The International School, Hindustan Group of Institutions, State Bank of India, IndianOil, Indian Overseas Bank, New India Assurance, Akshayakalpa, United India Insurance, ICFAI Group, Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, Vajiram & Sons, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Mahindra University, Realty Partner: Casagrand, Education Partner: SSVM Institutions, State Partner: Government of Sikkim & Uttarakhand Government

Official Timekeeping Partner: Citizen, Regional Partner: DBS Bank India Ltd, Tourism Partner: Bihar Tourism, Bookstore Partner: Crossword and Water Partner: Repute Radio partner: Big FM