M. L. Kak
Tribune News ServiceJammu, April 27
Mr A. S. Dulat, OSD in the PMO, is these days in Srinagar with a specific mission. Besides trying to be a peace broker, his mission, according to highly placed informed sources, is to pave the way for a result-oriented visit of the Prime Minister to the valley.
Though no dates have been set for the Prime Minister’s visit, Mr Dulat has remained engaged in interactions with those who matter. He has had discussions with several separatist leaders, including Ghulam Mohammad
Naikoo, Fazal Qureshi and those belonging to the Democratic Freedom Party, Awami Action Committee,
Jamait-e-Islami, besides several intellectuals in Srinagar.
Sources said Mr
Dulat, former RAW chief, has emerged a key player in the PMO in mediating between the government and the separatists. No doubt senior separatists have been in touch with him whenever they visit Delhi. According to the sources, the meetings between the separatists and Mr Dulat had been organised by Mr Babar
Badr, member, legislative council, who had joined the National Conference after bidding farewell to the gun.
Since the Union Cabinet announced an economic package for Kashmir recently, many are of the opinion that the Prime Minister may delay his visit to Srinagar because of his pre-occupation with the events in Gujarat and in Parliament. Economic and political packages are expected to be announced by Mr Vajpayee during his visit to Kashmir. Mr Dulat has been trying to make the separatists agree to contest the next Assembly poll. So far no senior separatist leader has given a firm commitment because all of them are aware of the threat perception if they go against the advice of agencies across the border.
It is under this threat perception that a senior Hurriyat leader, Molvi Umar Farooq, had to amend the statement he had given to The Time magazine where he had stated that Pakistan militants were “virtual thieves”. Similarly, Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmed Shah has been wavering on the issue of his participation in the Assembly poll. Others in the Hurriyat Conference, except for Prof Abdul Gani
Bhat, are firm on boycotting the poll.
In the light of these developments nobody can say this with confidence whether the Dulat mission will succeed in buying peace and in securing some participation of separatists in the next Assembly poll.
Mr
Dulat, reports said, has taken up the challenge because he is a contender for the post of Governor and his first preference would be to become the constitutional head in Jammu and Kashmir. One thing is certain that the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, would not oppose his appointment as Governor as the two share cordial relations.
