Kashmir the Vajpayee Years by a.S.dulat and Aditya Sinha

ForMymotherRaj,andmyfather

Shamsher,anavidreaderwhowould

haveenjoyedmyKashmirstory

Thisaboveall:tothineownselfbetrue,Anditmustfollow,asnighttheday,Thoucan’stnotthenbefalsetoanyman.—Shakespeare(Hamlet)

CONTENTS

COVER TITLEPAGE DEDICATION EPIGRAPH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

kindle:embed:0002?mime=image/jpg

INTRODUCTION 1. CUTTINGTHE

GORDIANKNOT2. KARGILANDTHE

COUP3. TWOHOSTAGE

CRISES4. KASHMIR’SMANDELA

ORDELHI’SAGENT:SHABIRSHAH

5. PROXYWARRIOR

6. TINKER,TAILOR,HIJACKER,SPY

7. THEDEFECTORWHOSHOOKPAKISTAN

8. ‘THISMOVEMENTISANEXPERIMENTANDITWILLPASS’:A.G.LONE

9. SPYVs.SPY10. FROMCOLDWARTO

HIGHPOLITICS11. VAJPAYEECHOOSES

OMAR

12. VAJPAYEE’S‘BETRAYAL’OFFAROOQABDULLAH

13. WARANDPEACE14. VAJPAYEE’SLAST

CHOICE—MUFTI15. THEHARDLINERAND

THEHURRIYAT16. MANMOHANSINGH’S

LOSTDECADE17. THELEAGUEOF

EXTRAORDINARYGENTLEMEN

18. MAINSTREAMINGTHEFUTURE

TALKTOUS ABOUTTHEAUTHOR COPYRIGHT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SincethisbookisaboutKashmir,KashmirandKashmirismustremaincentrestage.Kashmirhasbeenahugeeducation.Ihavelearntmoreinthelasttenyears

sinceIleftthegovernmentthanwhenIwasinthegovernmentandthoughtIkneweverything.Iamindebtedforthiseducation,whichtransformeditselfintoastory,toinnumerablefriendswithwhomIspentendlesshourstalking,discussingandlearningaboutKashmir.Itisnotpossibletonamethemall,andmanymayprefertoremainanonymous.Buttothosewhohavebeen

moreindulgentIoweahugedebt:myfriend,philosopherandguidewhohelpedkeeptheflockintactduringmosttryingtimes,Prof.AbdulGhaniBhat;managerGhulamHassanMir,whowasastorehouseofknowledgebutalsosimplifiedmyunderstandingofKashmir;thekind,gentleandunderestimatedFirdousSyed;themoremercurialSajad,notonlyTVanchorBarkha

Dutt’sfavouritebutminealso;themachoHashimeverreadytotakeonbothadversariesinKashmirandeventhoseacross;Altaf,abusinessmantohispoliticalfingers;Zafar,whoeveryonealwaysthoughtwasonthewrongside;Nadir,myreadyreckoner;Prof.RiyazPunjabi,whogavememyfirstlessononKashmir.

AghaSahib—AshrafAli—wasthemostremarkable

humanbeingIhaveevercomeacross.MyeducationofKashmirwouldhaveremainedincompletewithouthiswordsofwisdom.ThathewasalwaysindulgenttowardsmewasmygreatfortuneandIcanneverthankhimenough.

HowcanoneforgetDillu(DilshadShaikh),notonlythemostbeautifulwoman,butwarm,hospitableandwiththebesttableinSrinagar.As

Aaroojioncesaid,‘Youhaven’tseenthetruebeautyofKashmirunlessyouhavebeentoGulmargandmetDilshadShaikh.’Thanks,Dillu,foryouraffectionandgreatfood.

Myfamilyhasbeenapillarofstrength.Aswitheverythinginmylife,thiswouldnothavehappenedbutfortheinspirationofmywife,Paran.She,mostofall,mademebelievethatIhadastory

thatneededtobetold.Duringthelastyearandmore,shehasbeenmyconfidante,privatesecretaryandtypist,apartfromhelpingwiththecomputerandinternet,aboutusingwhichIamstillclueless.ButaboveallshehasbeenbymysideattimesofdoubtwhenIhavethoughtofchuckingitallupinexchangeforthemessImadeofthehousewithpapersstrewnineveryroom.She

alsohelpedmegatherphotographsandrecollectimportanteventsaswewentdownmemorylane.

TheIntelligenceBureau(IB)andthegreatinstitutionoftheFridayMeetingmademenoutofboys.NotjustthedozenchiefsIhadtheprivilegetoserveunder,butsomanyseniorsfromwhomonelearntsomuch.Inparticular,M.K.NarayanannotonlysentmetoKashmir

butalsotoleratedmeasaroommateduringmyfirsttwoyearsintheBureau,whichgavemeanopportunitytoseethemasteratworkfromclosequartersandgetmyfirstwhiffofintelligence.IamequallygratefultomycolleaguesintheK-group,eachoneathoroughprofessional,whichmadeforanexcellentteamthatmadeanimpactinKashmir.

Aspecialthankstomy

colleaguesC.D.SahayandK.M.Singh,withwhomIhadthegoodfortuneofworkingclosely.C.D.andK.M.notonlyhelpedputeventsandpersonalitiesinKashmirinproperperspectivebuthelpedwiththeeditingaswell.MythankstotheResearchandAnalysisWingforcontinuingitssupporttomeduringmyterminthePMO.

FinallyImustthankKrishanChopraof

HarperCollinsforbelievingthatIhadastorytotell.KrishancouldqualifyasoneofSmiley’sPeopleforthewayheledmeupanddownthealleysandstaircasesofKhanMarketforourmeetings.ThanksalsotoRajinderGanju,whoprovidedvaluablebackupintakingthebookthroughtopressinashorttime,andalsotookaninterestinandappreciatedthestoryinthese

pages.Lastbutnottheleast,I

mustsayabigthankyouto‘boss’,withoutwhomtherewouldhavebeennobook.Adityahasbeenanoldfriendsincethe1990sbutwhenwebegantogether(somewouldsayhewastheghostwriterbutthatsomehowsoundsspooky)ascollaborators(notIkhwanisintheMirzaWaheedsense!)hemadeitwellknownwhothebosswas

andthat’stheonlywayitwouldhaveworked.Thanks,friend.

INTRODUCTION

Aadaab.BaatNiklegiTohPhirDoorTalakJayegi

—KafeelAzzer

OnedayduringmytenureinthePrimeMinister’sOffice

(PMO)—whereIunexpectedlylandedaftermytimeheadingtheResearch&AnalysisWing(R&AW)wasup—IwasasusualdiscussingKashmirwithBrajeshMishra,theprincipalsecretarytoPrimeMinisterAtalBihariVajpayee(whoalsoservedasIndia’sfirstnationalsecurityadvisor).‘Doyouknow,Dulat,theonlythingstraightinKashmirarethepoplars?’hesaid.

KashmirhasbeenapartofmylifesinceIfirstvisitedin1987,inpreparationformypostingthereasdeputydirectorintheIntelligenceBureau.TheKashmirValleyisbeautifulallyearroundandit’sdifficulttosaywhichseasonismostbeautiful.Spring,however,isspecial,withfruitblossoms,tulips,daffodilsandnarcissi.Soevenafterretirement,comethe‘Darbar’move,Paran,my

wife,andIstillmakeourannualconstitutionalvisittoSrinagartosavourthecrispnessoftheairandaroundortwoofgolfbutmostofalltocatchupwitholdfriends.

ParanthinksI’mnuts,interactingwithKashmirisonanalmostdailybasiseventenyearsafterIleftthegovernment.SheherselfisacquaintedwithmanyKashmirivoices,literally:

whenIwasdeeplyinvolvedwithKashmirinthe1990s,ourdayinNewDelhinormallybeganwithatelephonecall,whichParanwouldreceivewithan‘Aadaab’.Thiswasbeforemobilephones.Induecoursesherecognisedregularcallerstowhomsheassignednicknames:‘TweedledeeandTweedledum’,‘Beehive’,‘Sidekick’,‘Gingersnaps’,‘Drone’,‘Sleepyhead’,‘Aap

kaBhai’,etc.Godknowshowshecameupwiththesenamesbutwewouldlaughourgutsout;itwasthelightersideofwhatwasastressfulperiod.Paran’sfavouritewas‘Gingersnaps’,whowaspolitenesspersonified.

In2012IwasinSrinagarwithParanandsixofherfriends,andaregularvisitortoourhutattheCentaurHotelwasFirdousSyed,aformermilitantcommander-

in-chiefwhowentbythenameofBabarBadr.Theladieswereexcitedatmeetingamilitantandoneofthem,SoniaPandhi,sacrificedatriptoGulmargtospendthemorninglisteningtoFirdous’sstory.‘Howcouldsuchadecentpersoneverhavebeenaterrorist?’sheaskedmeafterwards.IexplainedthatFirdouswasnotaterroristinthewaysheimaginedonetobe,butone

ofmanydisillusionedKashmiriswhotooktothegun.Moresignificantly,Firdousunderstoodthefutilityofviolenceasearlyas1994whenhewroteofhis‘shattereddream’,quotingFaizAhmedFaiz:‘Shishonkakoimessiahnahin,kyonaaslagayebaitheho.’

ReportsofboyslikeFirdouscomingandgoingtoPakistanbegantotrickleinassoonasIwaspostedto

SrinagarinMay1988.TherewasnohintofthiswhenIhadcomeformyfamiliarisationvisitsixmonthsearlier;atthattimeitallseemedlikeaholidaywithagrandfarewellpartyatChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullah’sresidenceformypredecessorK.P.Singh,whowasonhiswaytotheNationalDefenceCollege,andwehadvodkaandkebabsbythefiresideatHighlandParkwithPraveen

Mahendru,acolleague,whileitsnowedoutsideduringmyfirstvisittoGulmarg.Itallseemedlikeapicnic.Kashmirwasatitsgloriousbest.SoonIwouldalsoseeitatitsworst.

ThefirstreportofseriousconcernIgotcameamonthintomytenurefromanunlikelysource.PraneetSahniwasayoung,suave,good-lookingPunjabibusinessmanwhosefather

RajownedaflourmillandusedtobecalledSheikhAbdullah’s‘fourthson’.PraneethadalotofKashmirifriends,alotofcontacts,andhisfamilywasknowntous.‘Pleasefindout,whateverishappeningthereisnotgood,’hesaid.

‘Whatareyouimplying?’Iasked.

‘BoysfromdowntownSrinagarareturningtoPakistan,’hesaid.‘Youneed

tobeonyourguard.’Therewasalotofgoing-

to-and-coming-fromPakistan,andforsomeonenewintheValleylikeme,whowastaskedbasicallytokeepFarooqAbdullahingoodhumour,itwasbewildering.

IwasgratefultoPraneet,whosadlymetatragicendwhenmilitancytookcentrestageinKashmirin1990.Asmentioned,hisfatherRajwaspartofSrinagar’sPunjabi

businesscommunity;hewasapost-PartitionDilliwalawhowenttoSrinagarandstartedabusiness.IntimeRajSahnibuiltthemostbeautifulhouseintown,standingonGupkarRoadinthesamelineasFarooq’splaceandFarooq’ssister’shouse;hishousehadcentralheatingandwewouldheadthereofteninthewinterbecauseitwaswarmandhelaidagoodtable.Raj,incidentally,wasraidedby

theincometaxauthoritiesinthelate1970s,whichbecameapoliticalcontroversyatthetime.

RajSahnihadthreechildren,twodaughtersandason,Praneet,whowasverysmartandwastakingcontrolofthefamilybusiness.PraneetgotmarriedinJanuaryof1990andtherewasareceptionforhiminJammuon1March1990,whichIattended.Iaskedhim

howhismumanddadwere.‘DadisinSrinagar,so

I’mgoingtoSrinagar,’Praneetsaid.

‘Youhavejustgotmarried.WhydoyouwanttogotoSrinagar,inthismess?’Isaid.Itwastrue;therewerealotoftargetedkillingsanditwasnear-anarchyinSrinagar.

‘No,Dadisallalone,’hesaid.‘Heneedsmethere.’

Praneettoldhis19-year-oldbrideUpmathathewould

bebackintwodays,afterwhichtheywouldhavetheconcludingdayofthemonth-longmarriageceremonyandthenembarkontheirhoneymoon.ButwhenhereachedSrinagar,hewasshotdeadonhismillpremises.RajandhiswifeleftSrinagar.PraneetwascrematedinDelhi,attheLodhiRoadcrematorium,andIdidn’thavethenervetoaskthemwhathappened.Theynever

wentback;theywantednothingtodowithKashmiragain.Evenlater,Ineveraskedwhathappenedtotheirproperty.Theywerejustnotinterested.

Therewasastory,though,thatPraneetwasinvolvedwithaMuslimgirlfromaprominentfamily.Andthatthiswasnotsomuchamilitancykillingasarevengekillingorhonourkilling.ThatPraneethadtransgressedinto

theoneareathatanon-Kashmiridarenotenter.Itwas,inanycase,ahugetragedy,andoneofthestoriesoftheexodusofKashmiriPanditsandPunjabisfromKashmir:thatsomeoneasbigasRajSahnihadtoleaveinthiskindofacircumstance.

Yettherewerealsopeoplewhorefusedtoleave.Onewasaremarkablelady,Aarooji,whosehusbandPrakashSoniranaphoto

studioinSrinagar.Inbettertimes—ormaybeitwasthelullbeforethestorm—IrememberAaroojiregalingtheeliteofSrinagarwithherenchantingvoiceatasongrecitalonebeautifullate-Septembereveningin1989.TheoccasionwasacelebrationatseniorbureaucratO.P.Bhutani’sresidenceofhisson’swedding.Soseductivewasherrenderingof‘Aajjaaneki

zidnakaro’thattheguests,includingChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullahandChiefJusticeA.S.Anand,whowereinhighspirits,stayedtilltheweehoursofthemorning.

Aaroojiandherhusbandrefusedtobudgeandstuckitoutintheworstdaysofterrorism.WhenthingsgotreallybadtheysometimesdidnotventureoutoftheirhomeinRajbaghfordaysonend,excepttobuygroceries.But

theystayedon.Evenafterherhusbandpassedawayafewyearsago,Aaroorefusedtoleave.Ionceaskedherifshewasnotafraidoflivingaloneandshesaid:‘Thisismyhomeandnomilitantdaretouchme.’

AnyonewhohasbeentoKashmirfrequentlyenoughrealiseswhatAaroojimeant.Itisadifferentexperiencefromanyotherpartofthecountry.Indeed,Kashmiris

unique.Overtimeitbecomesapassion,andthenanobsession.

SoIwasfortunatethatonceIwastransferredoutofSrinagarbacktotheIBHQ(thetimewassohellishthatIwasrelievedtobeoutofKashmirandbacktodoingcounter-intelligence)inMarch1990,IwaseventuallyputintheIB’sKashmirGroup.Wheneversomeonementionsdialoguewiththe

Kashmirileadership,peoplemostlyrememberthetalksbetweentheseparatistAllPartiesHurriyatConferenceandthethendeputyprimeminister,L.K.Advani,in2004.ButweinthegovernmenthadbeentalkingtoKashmirissince1990.Itwasnoteasytobeginwith.PeoplelikeShabirShahandYasinMalikweredismissive.Sowetalkedabouttalking.Andthatopenedthe

floodgates.Ihavetalkedandtalked

andtalked,toKashmirisinSrinagarandinDelhi,andalsotoKashmirisabroad.In2013ImetaKashmirinamedShabirChoudhuryinLondonandthefirstquestionthatheaskedmewaswhethertherewasaKashmirileaderthatIhadnotyetmet.‘SyedAliShahGeelani,’Isaid.ButwhathereallywantedtoknowwaswhomIhadmetor

wasmeetinginLondon.Kashmirisarehappiesttalkingtoyouoneonone,withoutanyoneelseknowingaboutit.Kashmirisgenerallydon’ttrustoneanother.

Afterleavingthegovernment,ourresidenceinsouthDelhihasremainedopentoKashmiris,andattimes,totheirdeepembarrassment,separatistleadershavebumpedintooneanotherthere.Ithasbeen

discussedeveninHurriyatmeetings.Afterthe2002JammuandKashmir(J&K)assemblyelection,FarooqAbdullahmetGhulamHassanMir,aseniorleaderoftherivalPeople’sDemocraticParty(PDP),atourresidence.Inthenextelection,in2008,whilecampaigningagainstMirinthelatter’sconstituencyofTangmarg,FarooqpubliclydeclaredthathehadmetMirattheR&AW

chief’sresidence,therebyhopingtodiscredithimasnoonetruststheintelligenceagencies.

TheKashmiriisamostcomplexcharacter,andnoteasytofathomorengagewith.Heisthenicest,gentlest,kindest,mostsensitiveofhumanbeings.Yethecanalsobedeviousandpronetoexaggeration.Askanymilitanthislifestoryandhewillinevitablybegin

withthegrievancesofKashmirandKashmiris,sighingeverynowandthentoexpresshispredicamentandcursehisluck.

TheKashmirirarelyspeaksthetruthtoyoubecausehefeelsthatyouarelyingtohim.BrajeshMishrawasrightwhenhebluntlysaidtheonlythingstraightinKashmirwasthepoplartree.Butitiswewhohavemadehimthatway.Theproblem

withDelhihasbeenthatitseeseverythinginblackandwhite,whereasKashmir’sfavouritecolourisgrey.

Perhapstofindawayaroundthis,theKashmirioftenresortstosymbolism,moresowhenheisunderpressure.Whathecannotsayhewillfindsomewayofdemonstrating.SheikhSahebwassaidtohavespokenindifferentvoicesinSrinagar,JammuandDelhi.Afterhis

arrestin1953,thefoundermembersofhisNationalConference(NC)formedthePlebisciteFrontandresortedtodoublespeak,themostfamousexamplebeingSheikh’sclosestlieutenantMirzaAfzalBeg,whowentaroundholdingPakistani‘noon’(rocksalt)todemonstrateKashmir’saffinitywithPakistan.PartyflagsinKashmirallcontaingreen,excepttheNational

Conference(red)andthePeople’sConference(blue),tosymboliseIslam.WhentheMuslimUnitedFront(MUF)wasformedin1987itchosegreenasitsflag’scolour.PDPpresidentMehboobaMufti’sfavouritecolourisgreen,whichsheuseswhilecampaigning.Allmilitantorganisationsmakefreeuseofgreen.

WhilePakistanhasbeenourmainconcern,itdoesnot

givetwohootsaboutKashmir,andisoftenfilledwithcontemptforKashmiris.Inthe1980s,PakistanidictatorZia-ul-Haq,whohaddevisedhis‘thousandcuts’strategyagainstIndia,wastryingtoropeintheKashmirisbutwasunsuccessful;hecalledthem‘Brahminkeaulaad’(KashmirisareoriginallyNagasdescendedfromSaraswatBrahmins).The

term‘haatho’(coolie)originatesfromPakistaniPunjab,andinKashmirbecameafamiliarformofaddress,somewhatlike‘oye’.AndthenthereisthejokestarringthefamouswrestlerfromGujranwala,GamaPahalwan:aKashmirihadGamapinneddown,butwasweeping.Whenhewasaskedwhyhewasweeping,hereplied:‘WhenIgetoffhim,hewillthrashme.’Thisis

whatPakistanisthinkofKashmiris.

ThelateBalrajPuri,anotedKashmirischolar,oncetoldme:‘APunjabiHinducanneverunderstandKashmir;hecarriestoomuchbaggageofPartition.’Assomeoneusedtocallingaspadeaspade,Ifounditevenmoredifficult.YouneedmorethanalifetimetounderstandKashmirandKashmiris:therearelayers

withinlayersandyoustillmaynotgettothetruth.

KashmirhasbeenatroublespotsincePartitionbecausePakistanhasneveracceptedthefinalityofitsaccessiontoIndia;itstillremainsinsomeperversemindsitsunfinishedagenda,despitethreewars.

PakistancontinuestofishinthetroubledwatersofKashmir,raisingthebogeyofpersecutionofMuslimswhen

allelsefails.LittlewonderKashmirremainsanissueandiseventalkedaboutasapossiblenuclearflashpoint.AndthepoorKashmirifindshimselfsqueezedbetweenPakistan’s‘jugularvein’andour‘atootang’withhisbestbetbeingnotthe‘azaadi’hesometimesdreamsofbutnormal,cordialrelationsbetweenIndiaandPakistan.AsSheikhMohammedAbdullahsaysinhis

autobiography,Aatish-e-Chinar,‘UnlessIndiaandPakistancomeclosetheKashmirproblemwillremain.Itisimperativethattheseneighbourlycountrieslearntotrustoneanother.ThatistheonlywaytosafeguardtheirinterestsaswellastheinterestsofKashmir.’

KashmiraccededtoIndialikealltheotherprincelystatesexceptinextraordinary

circumstancesbecauseoftheinvasionbyPakistaninOctober1947,asaresultofwhich(andthefactthatitistheonlyMuslim-majoritystateintheUnion)itenjoysaspecialstatus.ThattheaccessionwasendorsedbythepeopleofKashmirowesagreatdealtothecommonvisionandspecialrelationshipbetweenPanditJawaharlalNehru,India’sfirstprimeminister,and

SheikhAbdullah,thetallestandmostundisputedleaderofKashmir.AsSheikhsaidinalettertoNehruinJuly1951:‘IhavestatedagainandoveragainthatwehaveaccededtoIndiabecauseofthetwoluminousstarsofourhopethere—Gandhijiandyourself.Thatiswhy,despiteseveralaffinitiesbetweenusandPakistan,wedidnotjoinit,becausewethoughtourprogrammeswerenotin

conformitywiththeirthoughts.’Theirinexplicablefallingapart(whichliesburiedintheNehru–Sheikhcorrespondence)isoneofthemanytragediesofKashmir.BytakingKashmirtotheUnitedNationsweonlyconfoundedanalreadycomplexmatterbytheinterventionofinternationalplayerswiththeirwheelswithinwheels.TheWestsidedwithPakistantill9/11

shooktheUnitedStateslikenoothereventsincetheattackonPearlHarbour.Russiahasgenerallysidedwithus,andChinahassofarremainedneutral,butforhowlong,withourrecenttilttowardstheUS,itisdifficulttosay.

AKashmirifriendwhohasrepeatedlystressedthatweshouldneverunderestimatePakistantoldmeofanintriguingdreamhe

claimshehadrecentlythatPakistanwasflourishing,stableandsecurebutwhenhefocussedmoreintentlyhefoundthesoldiersguardingthefrontierswereChinese!

PanditNehruapart,theonlyotherprimeministerwhomodelledhimselfonNehruandhadthevision,timeandinclinationtodevotehimselftoKashmirwasAtalBihariVajpayee.Asfarbackasearly1995,whenhewas

leaderoftheopposition,Vajpayeetoldtheseparatistleader,ShabirAhmedShah,whomethiminDelhi,thatwe(IndiansandKashmiris)neededtosittogethertoresolvetheKashmirissue.ItmadeabigimpactontheNelsonMandelaofKashmironhisfirstvisittoDelhi.Asprimeminister,VajpayeewasofthefirmbeliefthatweneededtoendourpermanentconfrontationwithPakistan

andmoveforwardinKashmir.ThatiswhyAtaljiisstillreveredintheValleylongafterNehruhasbeenforgotten.

AsanIB/R&AWofficerIknewIcouldneverbetotallytrustedbyKashmiris.Once,though,ataweddinginSrinagar,SajadLoneandIcameouttogetherandhesaidthatbeinginvitedtoaweddingwastheepitomeofsocialacceptabilityin

Kashmir.Ipassedthattestonmorethanoneoccasion.

IstillcontinuetoreceivecallsfromKashmir.Inthewinterof2013,whenoursonsufferedastroke,manyKashmirifriendscalledtoenquireabouthiswelfare.OneofthemoretouchingwasacallfromRashidBaba,whowasFarooqAbdullah’smanFridayformanyyears—hewasasecurityofficerwhocarriedadiaryratherthana

gunandthusgraduatedtocompanion,caretaker,householdmanager,privatesecretaryandconsciencekeepertothechiefminister.HewasthefirsttoinformFarooqofarevoltbrewinginhispartywhenDelhiplannedhisdismissalin1984.

Therecomesatimeinone’slifewhenonefeelsitshouldallbeputdownbeforememoryfades,withoutembarrassinganyone.There

areendlessmemoriesandIhavecarriedastorywithmeforalongtime.IfsomethinghadbeenwrittensoonafterIleftthegovernmentin2004itwouldhavearousedgreaterinterest,buttherewereevents,someofwhichinvolvedme,whichweretoocontemporarytobemadepublic.Justaswell,forIthinkIhavelearntmoreofKashmirinthetenyearsthatIhavebeenretiredthanwhen

Iwasinservice.SoIhavetriedtogiveawitness’saccountofeventssinceterrorismbeganintheKashmirValleyin1988,andPrimeMinisterVajpayee’swayofdealingwiththem.

WhenIfirstseriouslythoughtaboutwritingthisbookin2012,IbeganbyresearchingKashmirthroughreadingasmuchasIcould.Thiswastiresome.Booksatbestprovideinformation,not

answers.Thosecomefromconversations.Kashmirisfartoocomplextobeunderstoodfrombooks.SoImadeitamissiontotalktoKashmirisofeveryhuewheneverandwhereverIcould,enquiringabouteventsandrecheckingfactswhich,thankstoKashmirifriends,hasyieldedawealthofinformation.Ihavereliednotjustonspokenwordsbutalsoonshrugs,glancesandwhispers,which

areasignificantpartoftheKashmiripsyche.

AsveteranKashmirijournalistZafarMehrajoncesaidtome,whetherfactsaretrueornot,rumoursaregenerallytrueinKashmir.OrasProf.AbdulGhaniBhatputit,Kashmirisquiteoftenanarrativeofchanceencountersandremarks.MyoneregretisthatIcouldnotgettothestorehouseofknowledgethatisFarooq

Abdullah.Thoughhewasoneofthefirsttoencouragemetowrite,hewasinindifferenthealthwhenIbegan.Somuchfortakingthegreatmanforgranted.

Thisbookwaswritteningoodfaith,withdiligencetothetruth,andasamatterofpublicservice.SomeofwhatIwritemaybecontested.ButthewholepurposeofthebookistoarouseinterestinKashmirandlearnfrompast

mistakes.Inanycase,minecan’tbethelastwordonKashmir,butIhopeitwillbethenearesttothetruth.

AtadinnersomeyearsbackIwastellingthehosthowM.K.Narayanan,formerdirectoroftheIntelligenceBureauandsubsequentlynationalsecurityadvisorinthefirsttermoftheUnitedProgressiveAlliance(UPA)government,hadgotmestuckinKashmirwhenhepassed

by.Heturnedandsaid:‘Areyoucomplaining?DoyourealisethatyoubecamewhateveryoudidonlybecauseofKashmir?’True.

ButalsobecauseofVajpayeeandBrajeshMishra,whofiguredthatiftheyneededsomeoneonKashmirinthePMO,itmightaswellbesomeonewhohadspenttheprevioustenyearstalkingtoKashmirisandwhohadarelationshipwiththe

Abdullahfamily.FranklyIwassurprisedbeingdraftedintothePMOassoonasIwasfinishedwiththeR&AW.ButBrajeshMishramorethananyoneelseunderstoodtheimportanceofengagingwithKashmiris,andVajpayeewasclearthatweneededtomoveforwardandendourpermanentconfrontationwithPakistan.

Whowouldhaveimaginedthatayoung

assistantsuperintendentofpolice,overawedatenteringNorthBlocktojointheIBinMarch1969,wouldendupinthePMO?WhocouldthinkthataformerR&AWchiefwouldvisitPakistanfourtimesinthepastfiveyears?IthasallbeenmuchmorethanIcouldeverhavedreamt.

December2014

1CUTTINGTHEGORDIANKNOT

On29November2014,formerchiefministerofJammuandKashmirandsupremoofthePDPMufti

MohammadSayeedtoldtheIndianExpress’sMuzamilJaleelthattherewasonlyonewayforPrimeMinisterNarendraModitomoveforwardonKashmirandtoendhostilitieswithPakistan:‘theVajpayeeway’.AccordingtoMufti,thismeantonlyonething—dialogue.‘Therestisawasteoftime,’hesaid.

Theoccasionforthisobservationwastheelection

campaignfortheJ&Kassemblyelection.IthadbeenjustoversixmonthsofModi’stenure,enoughfordisappointmentwiththeprimeministertosetinamongKashmiriswho,unlikeIndianMuslimsinotherpartsofIndia,hadnotbeenapprehensiveofModitakingcontrolofthecentralgovernment.Afterall,ModiwastheGujaratchiefministerwhenwidespreadriotsin

2002claimedoverathousandlives;hewasunapologeticaboutit.ButfortheMuslimsofKashmir,ModiwasthecandidateoftheBharatiyaJanataParty(BJP),andthisgavehopethathecouldbeliketheonlyBJPprimeministerIndiahadsofarseen:AtalBihariVajpayee.

NowonderthenthatseparatistleaderslikethechiefpriestofKashmir,MirwaizUmarFarooq,who

alsoheadedthemoderatefactionoftheAllPartiesHurriyat(freedom)Conference,toldjournalistsinApril,justasthegeneralelectionsweregettingunderway,thathefeltthatModiwasthe‘bestbet’tosortouttheKashmirdispute.‘TherewasforwardmovementonKashmirduringVajpayee’stenureasPM,’theMirwaizsaid.

TheMirwaizwashopeful

becausethetenyearsthattheUPAwasinpower(2004–14)hadturnedouttobetheKashmiris’‘lostdecade’.Henotonlycalledthesetenyears‘mostdepressinganddiscouraging’inpressinterviews,hewentsofarastoaccusetheUPAofundoingtheworkoftheNationalDemocraticAlliance(NDA).CertainlyCongressPresidentSoniaGandhiandPrimeMinisterManmohanSingh

couldn’tclinchanythingtheyhadstartedoneitherthePakistanfrontorvis-à-visKashmirduringthattime.

Anddespiteapromisingstartwiththeswearing-inofModi,towhichPakistan’sprimeminister,NawazSharif,wasinvited,thingswentintodeepfreeze.TheMirwaizandotherstriedhardtogetthingsbackontrack:‘PrimeMinisterModimustpickupthethreadsofformerPM

Vajpayee’speaceprocesswherehespokeofinsaniyat,’theMirwaiztoldtheHinduinJuly.ButnotonlydidvoicesinthegovernmentspeakaboutendingKashmir’sspecialstatus—byabrogatingtheConstitution’sArticle370,along-standingright-wingdemand—butModicalledoffthetalksbetweenIndia’sandPakistan’sforeignsecretarieswhenthePakistanihighcommissionermet

KashmiriseparatistsinAugust—apracticethathadnotperturbedIndiangovernmentsforalmosttwodecades.

ModiduringhisfirstsixmonthsbeliedthehopeoftheMirwaizandotherKashmiris.Modi’scampaignpromisetocontinueVajpayee’sgoodworkturnedouttobejustthat:acampaignpromise,forgottenoncethecampaignwasover.Modiwasno

Vajpayee,theyfelt.WhatwasVajpayee

tryingtodothathadsoenamouredtheKashmiris?Asheonceputittothoseofusinhisnationalsecurityteam,‘Issgutthikosuljhanahai’:hewasdeterminedtocuttheGordianknotthatwasthecountry’slingeringproblemsinceIndependence,namelyIndia–Pakistan–Kashmir.Ihadjoinedhisnationalsecurityteamastheheadof

India’sexternalintelligenceagency,theR&AW.IcontinuedonVajpayee’steamaftermytenureatR&AWended,whenheinductedmeintothePMOtoworkwithhisprincipalsecretary,BrajeshMishra,whoalsofunctionedasIndia’sfirstnationalsecurityadvisor.ItwasfromthisvantagepointthatIwatchedPrimeMinisterVajpayee,oneofIndia’smostexperienced

andrespectedpoliticians,evolveagrandplanwithanenlightenedstrategyoncuttingthatGordianknot.

Thestrategywassimple:dialogue.Butevenasimplethinglikedialoguerequiresalotofpreparation.Myroleintheteamwastodothepreparation,andthatgroundworkwasatime-consumingprocessoftalking.IhadspentthetenyearsbeforeIjoinedtheVajpayee

teamtalkingtoKashmiris:toseparatists,mainstreampoliticians,intellectuals,businessmen,students,and,ofcourse,terrorists.FromDecember1989,whenInegotiatedthereleaseofDrRubaiyaSayeed,thedaughterofthecountry’snewlyappointedhomeminister,MuftiMohammadSayeed,tillJuly1999,whenItookoverastheheadofR&AW,Italkedandtalkedandtalked.I

wasn’tanegotiator:inpopularperception,that’stheguywhobargainsurgentlywithterroristsorkidnappers.Iwas,behindthescenes,buildingrelationshipswithpeoplewhohadlostfaithinIndia;anditwasalong,slowprocessthatrequiredalotofpatience.Evenattheworstoftimes,youjusthavetokeeptalking.

Youhadtotalkifyouwantedtheseparatistsinthe

Hurriyattoenterformaltalkswiththegovernment.AndifyouwantedpeaceinKashmir,ifyouwantedpeacewithPakistan,youhadtohavesomekindofaccordwiththeHurriyat.Vajpayeegraspedthis,whichiswhyIcallhisstrategyenlightened.It’sastrategythatremainedrelevanteventenyearsafterhesteppeddownfromtheprimeministership.

HowIendedupin

Vajpayee’steamwasitselfsomethingthatnotevenmywifewouldhavepredicted.First,becausenotlongafterIjoinedtheIndianPoliceService(IPS)in1965,asaRajasthancadreofficer,IwasdeputedtotheIntelligenceBureau(IB),reputedtobetheworld’soldestintelligenceagency,whereIspentthirtyyears;andsecond,Iwassupposedtoretirein1998attheageoffifty-eightasthe

second-in-commandattheIB,buttomygoodfortunethegovernmentthatveryyeardecidedtoraisetheageofretirementtosixty,andsoIgotanothertwoyearsinservice.

TheIB,whichwassetupbytheBritishRajin1887,gathersintelligenceinsidethecountryandalongtheborders,andisalsoresponsibleforcounter-intelligenceandcounter-

terrorism.BeforeIndependenceitkeptatabonIndianrevolutionaries(amongotherthings);afterIndependenceithasbeenattheforefrontoftacklinginsurgencies,alongwithothermatters.IjoinedtheIBinMarch1969,justsixmonthsafterthenprimeministerIndiraGandhicreatedanewagencybyhivingofftheexternalintelligencedivisionfromtheIB,reportedly

followingthefailuresofthe1962India-Chinawarandthe1965India-Pakistanwar.ItwasnamedtheResearchandAnalysisWingoftheCabinetSecretariat;asawingofthesecretariat,itlegallylayoutsidethepurviewofparliamentaryoversightandaudit.

IwenttotheIBbecauseofaselectionprocessputinplacebythelegendaryB.N.Mullik,whowasthedirector

oftheIB(DIB)from1950tilltheendofthetenureofIndia’sfirstprimeminister,JawaharlalNehru,in1964.MullikthoughtthebestwaytogetofficerswastoselectfiveorsixfairlygreenIPSofficersfromthetoptenofeachnewbatchinthehopethattheymakeacareerintheIB.MullikfiguredtheseofficerswoulddosixyearsintheIB,returntotheirparentcadre,doadistrict,andthen

comebacktotheIB.Thisdidn’thappen.Thosewhojoinedstuckonfortherestoftheircareers;someofthosewhoreturnedtotheircadrenevercamebacktotheIB.Rarelydidanyonecomeandgoandcomebackagain.YoujoinedtheBureau,itbecameacareer,youstuckon.

WhenIjoined,Iwasprettyexcited;Iwaspromotedfromassistantsuperintendentofpoliceto

jointassistantdirector,andIsharedaroomwiththeseniormostassistantdirector,amannamedM.K.Narayanan,alreadyahotshotintheIBwhoeveryonebelievedwouldonedaybeDIB—thedirector,thatis.WealsoreceivedaspecialpayofRs200to300inadditiontooursalary,whichinthosedayswasabigdeal.TheotherbitofexcitementwhenIjoinedwasthefact

thatsomeofthestaffwerecarryingdesksandchairsout,andheadingovertotherecentlycreatedR&AW.

MycareerintheIBcanbedividedintotwoparts:pre-1988andtheperiodtillIjoinedR&AW.Duringalmostthefirsttwentyyears,likeanyotherofficer,Ididamixofcounter-intelligenceandstatepostings.Counter-intelligence,asthenamesuggests,isanactivityagainst

foreignespionage,sabotage,subversionandassassination.Thestatepostingsmeantanofficerwasdeployedineachstatecapitaltoserveasalinkbetweenthecentralgovernmentandthestategovernment;theIBadministrativelycameunderthehomeministrythoughtheDIBreporteddirectlytotheprimeminister.MystatepostingsduringthistimeincludedChandigarh,whereI

metthechiefministerandfuturepresident,GianiZailSingh,andBhopal,wherethechiefministerwasthewilyArjunSingh,whowouldgoonin1985toserveasgovernorofPunjabatacrucialtime.Thoughhistenureasgovernorwasonlyofeightmonths,itwasduringthistimethatPrimeMinisterRajivGandhisignedanaccordwiththeAkaliDalchief,HarcharanSingh

Longowal,inanattempttoendtheKhalistanmovement.BothGianijiandArjunSinghwereveteranpractitionersoftheartofpolitics,andIlearnedsufficientlyfromthem.

MyfirstmeetingwithGianiji,inlate1975,wasbychancebecausethebossoftheChandigarhstationwasoutoftownandthechiefministerdidnotwanttowaittomeetsomebodyfromthe

IB,soIhadtogo.IwentatlunchtimetotheChandigarhguesthouse,whereIwaiteduntilthechiefministerarrivedwithhistiffin-carrierlunch.WehadsomerathernicechickencurryandheaskedmetotellhimaboutPunjabpolitics.AtthetimetherewasdissidencebrewinginthePunjabCongress.ImadearemarkthatapparentlystuckinGianiji’shead,aboutaCongressMP

whowassupposedtobeclosetoGianijibutwasgoingtoDelhiandbitchingabouthim.WhenItoldGianijihedidn’tlikeit.

Soin1980whenhebecamehomeminister(andIhadreturnedfromastintinKathmandu)hebroughthissecretary,InderjeetBindra,toDelhitobehisjointsecretary.BindraandIwerefriendsfrommyChandigarhdays,whenhewasdeputy

commissionerinPatiala,andIwenttosayhellotohim.‘Gianijihasastrangeimpressionaboutyou,’Bindrasaid.‘Hetoldmeoneday,“YehAkalihai.”’IthoughtifIeverbumpedintoGianiji,I’dclarify.

Inmid-July1982IwaspostedtoLucknowandIwastotakeoverimmediately,henceon31JulyIsignedoutofcounter-intelligencethinkingthenextdayIwould

signinatLucknow.ButthenIgotamessagethatmyfatherwasnotwell.Iheadedhomeandfoundthathehadpassedaway.Ineededtosortthingsoutathomeandwasunavailableforacoupleofweeks.InthemeantimesomeoneelsewassentofftoLucknow.WhenIreturnedtoworkIwaswithoutajob,andhadtowaitforaposting.

GianijihadbecomePresidentofIndiaandin

SeptemberhehadtotraveltoHouston,USA,foranopenheartsurgerytobeconductedbyworld-famouscardiologistDentonCooley.WheneitherthepresidentorprimeministertravelabroadtheyareaccompaniedbyanIBofficialwhoiscalledthesecurityofficer.TheDIB,T.V.Rajeswar,waslookingforaPunjabitogowiththepresidentandsinceIwasatalooseend,hepickedme.

WhenIheard,IwassittingwithmyfriendandcolleagueRatanSehgal,andwewerewithaseniorofficer,DrK.V.H.Padmanabhan,whowasknownforhispuns.Hesaid:‘HewassupposedtogotoLucknow,andlookathislucknow.’

ItwasasmallgroupofuswhowenttoHouston:besidesme,themilitarysecretary,hissecretary,hisjointsecretaryBindra,thetwoADCs,and

membersofGianiji’sfamily.Myjobwastolookaftersecurityandliaisewiththelocalauthoritiesforthat.Wespentthreeweeks,whichweregoodfun,andonthewaybackstoppedforanightinNewYork,whereGianijigottoknowmealittlebetter.Hewouldtelltheotherstobecarefulofwhattheysaidinfrontofme:‘Arrebhai,yehIB-walehain,inkesaamnedhyansebaatkarna.’

Whenwereturned,Gianiji’sofficialvisitsbegan.Innormalcourse,thejobofsecurityofficerisrotatedamongofficialspostedattheIBheadquartersinDelhiandveryrarelyamongthosepostedinstatecapitals.SomehowGianijitookalikingtomeandhealwaysinsistedthattheIBdeputeme.‘YourdepartmentwastryingtosendsomebodyelsebutImadeitbeknownto

themthatIwantyou,’thepresidenttoldme.Ithankedhim.‘No,no,securityofficerscan’tbechangedlikethat,youmustremainwithme,’hesaid.

ObviouslyGianijifeltcomfortablewithme.Itwasembarrassingatfirst,andespeciallywhenIwaspostedtoBhopalinMay1984.ButthankstohimIsawtheworldfrom1982to’87,duringhisfiveyearsaspresident.

Onandoffwewouldchat.Hepretendedtobesimplerthanhewas;actuallyhewasverycanny.VajpayeemayhavebeenastatesmanbutGianijiwasasmartpoliticianwhohadmadequiteajourneyfromhishumblebeginningstobecomePresidentofIndia.LikePanditJawaharlalNehruheinsistedonwearingaroseinhisachkan.Icametoappreciatehisearthycommon

sense.IwouldliketothinkthatlaterinmycareerwhenItalkedtoseparatists,militantsandpoliticians,IhadimbibedmanylessonsfromGianiji.

Hehadastandardlinewhereverwewentabroad:wehavecometoyourbeautifulcountry,wewanttoextendourhandoffriendship,andmydelegationhascometowinyouoverevenifyoudon’tlikeus.ThoughheonlyspokeinPunjabihewasa

goodspeaker.Herequiredaninterpreterandifnooneinthedelegationknewthelocallanguagethensomebodyfromthelocalcommunitywoulddothehonours.

Once,inAthens,therewasagirlattheuniversitywhoknewGreekandshewasropedinandgivenacopyofherspeech,whichshetranslated.Shestoodinfrontofhimandwasreadingitout.Gianijinoticedshehada

preparedtext,andhewouldalwaysdeviatefromwhateverhewasgiven.Afteracoupleofsentenceshegotannoyedandsnatchedthepaperfromher,tellingher,‘Miss,yehaisenahinchalega.’

OnavisittoWarsaw,Poland(thenacommunistnation),wewerewalkingthecobbledstreetsinthecentralmarketarea.AtallyoungsterfromtheMinistryofExternalAffairswaswithus;he

walkedononesideofthepresidentandIontheother.Gianijisawachurchinthedistance,andpeoplecomingoutofit.TherewasaPolewithus,soGianijisaidtohim:‘Whyinyourcountrydotheysaytheydon’tbelieveinGodwhenIseeachurchandpeoplecomingout?’

TheMEAfellowwasnervyandheblurtedout:‘Presidentsir,zaradekhke.’

‘Shutup!’Gianiji

snappedathim.‘IknowwhatI’mtalking.’

Hecontinued:‘HowcanyounotbelieveinGod?ThereisGod.EverybodyknowsthereisGod.EverybodybelievesinGod.YetyousaythereisnoGod.Andthere’sachurchhere.’

ThepoorPoledidnotknowwhattosay.‘Wehavebelieversandnon-believers,’hemuttered.

Gianijicouldbelikethat.

OnceonareturnfromLosAngeleswemadeastopoveratHongKong,wherewespentthenight.SinceitwasHongKong,everyone,includingtheaccompanyingminister,N.K.P.Salve,veteranCongressmanandfatherofHarishSalve,whowouldgoontobecomeIndia’ssolicitorgeneral,wentshopping.IwastoldthepresidentwouldliketogoforadrivearoundHong

Kong,soIwenttohisroom.Hewasallbyhimself.‘Iwasthinkingwhatthecityislike,’hesaid.

‘It’saprettyplace,’Isaid.‘Wouldyouliketodrivearound?’

‘Whatareyoudoinghere?Everyonehasgoneshopping,’Gianijisaid.‘Evenmyfamilyhasleftmeallaloneandgoneshopping.’

‘Sir,IthoughtI’llgoforadrivewithyou,’Isaid,and

wesetout.Ibelieveheappreciatedmytakinghimoutonthatoccasion.

WhenOperationBluestarhappenedinJune1984,inwhichthearmystormedtheGoldenTempletoflushoutPunjabmilitants,Gianijiwasverycutupbecausehefeltthathehadnotbeensuitablyinformed.HevisitedSikhism’sholiestsitefourdayslater,andcameunderheavypressurefromother

importantSikhstoresignhispostinprotest.Hewasinasulkandhisrelationshipwiththefamilywentdownhillfromthere,whichwasquiteachangefromwhenhebecamepresidentandsaidsomethingtotheeffectthathewouldsweeptheflooriftheprimeministeraskedhimto.

MrsGandhiwasassassinatedfourmonthslaterandwhenhersonandsuccessorRajivtookover,his

coterieputtwoofMrsGandhi’sloyalistsunderthecloudofsuspicion:herpersonalsecretaryR.K.Dhawan,whowassacked,andGianiji.Thingsneverimprovedandtherewasacrisisinthegovernmentin1987whenGianijivetoedtheIndianPostOffice(amendment)Bill,whichsoughttoempowerthecentralandstategovernmentstointerceptordetainpostal

articlesoncertaingrounds,widelyseenasaformofindirectpresscensorship.Delhiwashitbyacycloneofrumours.UltimatelyGianijileftofficeaftercompletinghisterm.

AfterGianijiretiredImethimoccasionally.HehadagoodequationwithP.V.NarasimhaRao,whobecameprimeministerin1991andwhowouldconsultGianijionPunjab.‘I’mtoldyou’rewell

upwiththings,’Isaidtohimoneday.

‘It’sokay,’hesaid.‘Butthisprimeministerisverycrafty.’

MyfirstyearinBhopalwaseventful:agasleakattheUnionCarbideplantonthenightof2-3December1984ledto3,787deathsand558,125injuries.(Thesearestategovernmentfigures.)Amonthbeforethat,however,adifferenttragedyoccurred:

theNovemberriotsinDelhithatfollowedIndiraGandhi’sassassinationbyherbodyguards.From31Octoberto3November,around8,000SikhswerekilledaroundIndia,3,000inDelhialone.BeingaSikhitwasnotonlydistressfulbutalsoscarybecauseIhadaveryclosecall,savedbythefactthatIdon’twearaturban.Myfather,thelateJusticeShamsherSinghDulatofthe

IndianCivilService,wenttoKing’sCollege,Cambridge,asallpre-independencecivilservantsweresupposedto,andratherthankeepwashinghishairinthecoldEnglishweatherhedecidedtocutit;therestofusinhisfamilyhavecontinuedtodoso—andthatmayhavebeenwhatsavedme.

WhenMrsGandhiwasassassinated,GianijiandIwereinSanaa,Yemen.On31

OctoberwereturnedtoIndia,andthenextday,theIBheadquartersaskedmetostaybackinDelhisinceawholelotofVIPswouldbearrivingforMrsGandhi’sfuneral.Withinafewhours,however,thekillingofSikhsbegan.SomekillingswerereportedfromMadhyaPradesh—theattitude,I’msadtosay,wasthatifDelhiwasallowingsuchathingthenitwasallrightifafewSikhswere

murderedthere;theremightevenbebrowniepointsinit—somybossestoldmethatIhadbetterleaveforBhopal.

Idon’tknowwhatstruckmebutinsteadoftakinga5p.m.flightIhoppedontotheTamilNaduExpress,whichleftDelhiattwointheafternoonandwentviaBhopal.Itwouldgetmethereintimefordinnerby8:30–9:00p.m.OnthetrainIfoundmyselfallaloneinthefirst

classACcompartment.Themomentthetrainleft

thestationitwaspeltedbystones.Thishappenedeachtimewepassedastation,wherehoodlumsandyoungstersgathered.AtDholpurthetrainwasheldup,andontheplatformtherewasacrowdof100to150withlathis.Theybargedintothetrainandstartedwreakinghavoc.Forthreehourstheywentfrombogietobogie,

asking,‘Sardarhain?SaaleSikhonkodhundo.’Iquietlygotoffthetrainandstoodontheplatform,thinkingbettertobeaspectatorthanwaitonthetrain.

Itwasharrowing.IdidnotwitnessthisbuttheticketcollectorlatercameandtoldmethattheyfoundthreeSikhsatthebacksomewhere;theypouredkeroseneonthemandburntthemalive.‘Aaptohtheekhainna?’theticket

collectorasked.‘Yes,’Ireplied,‘Iamokay,butwillthetrainmove.’‘Itwill,’hereplied.

Whatnext,Iwondered,sinceitwasadistancefromDholpurtoBhopal.

Whenthetraindidfinallyleave,itwasheldupagaininthreeotherplacesandwereachedBhopalattwointhemorning.Iwaspetrified.Ihadseenmadnessfromclosequarters.

Whatsavedmewasthattheweatheratthattimeofyearwassuchthatyoucouldwearabushshirtorafull-sleeveone.Fortunatelymysleeveswerefull,andcoveredmykara.Perhapswithahalf-sleevemykarawouldhavebeenconspicuous,andsomethingmighthavehappened.

WhenIwenttoDelhithenexttime,aftertheriotswereover,IfoundthatSikhswere

subduedalloverthoughtheywereveryangryinside.PeopleIknewhadgoneintohidingforaweek,tendays.Nooneinthegovernmentwaswillingtospeakupandsaythatwhathadhappenedwasnotacceptable.SoIwenttotheDIB,H.A.Barari,whohadtakenoveraftertheassassinationfromR.K.Kapoor,andtoldhimthattherewasextremeangeramongtheSikhs.In1987,

whenNarayanantookoverasDIBItoldhimaswell:I’maSikhandIcantellyouthere’shugeanger.

IhadoverstayedmytenureinBhopalandwasexpectingapostingbacktotheheadquarters,butshortlyafterGianiZailSinghretiredaspresident,thingsmovedforward.IgotacallfrommyfriendandformercolleagueM.K.Rathindran,whowasattheIBHQ.Outofthebluehe

asked:‘HowwouldyoureacttoapostinginSrinagar?’Itsoundedgreat.ItwouldbeachallengingassignmentandperhapsanotherthreeyearsawayfromHQ.WhilemostcolleaguespreferredbeinginDelhi,Ienjoyedwhateverlittleautonomyanoutstationoffered.BeinginthefieldwasfarmoreenjoyablethanbeingacoginthevastmachinethatwasIBHQ.

Iwentfora

familiarisationvisittotheKashmirValleyinNovember1987,andonedayIwaswithK.P.Singh,mypredecessorandthethenKashmirexpertandafutureDIB.WesatonthebalconyofhisresidenceonGupkarRoad,havingacoupleofpinkgins,whenhetoldmethatonly‘handpicked’officerswerepostedtoSrinagar.Ihadnoillusionsaboutmyself,butifthiswasso,thenIguessmy

fiveyearsofcloseassociationwiththeoutgoingPresidentofIndiahadbeenagreateducation.ItisfunnyhowsuchaccidentsofcircumstanceledtoapostingthatwoulddefinemycareerandpreparemeforthechallengeswefacedinVajpayee’snationalsecurityteamseveralyearslater.

IformallytookoverinKashmir’ssummercapitalSrinagaronlyinMay1988,

andtwomonthslater,separatistmilitantviolencebeganinKashmir.Ihadahectictwoyears,whichgrewparticularlyroughaftertheRubaiyaSayeedkidnapping.InMarch1990IwassentbacktoDelhiattherequestofGovernorJagmohan.

InthenormalcourseofthingsthatwouldhavebeentheendofmyKashmirexperience,butin1990,theValleyseemedlikeitwasin

anarchy.Iwasbackincounter-intelligenceforafewmonths,butseeingtheneedtoreachouttoKashmirisandrebuildnetworks,IwasreassignedandputinchargeoftheIB’sKashmirgroup,knowninternallyastheK-group.Fromthenon,ItalkedtoKashmiris,asImentionedearlier.TheK-groupbecamethemostactivegroupintheIB,drawinginthebesttalent,advisingprimeministers

throughoutthe1990soninitiativesinJ&K,andgettingIndiathroughoneofitsmostdifficultperiodsintheborderstate.

MycareerwouldhaveendedasnumbertwointheIBandIwasquitehappywiththatendtomycareersincemybatchmateandfriendShyamalDatta,whowasonepositionabovemeintheIPS,hadbecomeDIBinearly1998.Infact,whenShyamal

becameDIB,thehomesecretary,BalmikiPrasadSingh,calledmeinandtoldmethatmybatchmatewasbecomingtheboss,anddidIhaveaproblemwiththat.Heofferedmeapara-militaryorganisationtohead,butIhadspentthirtyyearsintheIBandwashappyhere.WhywouldIwanttoleave?

OnedayinOctober1998ShyamalcaughtmeandaskedmeifI’dliketogoto

R&AW.Ilaughed.‘Youwanttogetridof

me?’Iasked.‘No,no,I’masking

seriously.’R&AW?Whatposition?’‘Astheboss,naturally.’‘Tobeboss,why

wouldn’tIliketogo?’Isaid.‘Togofromoneagencytotheother,I’dcertainlylikethat.’

Shyamalsaidhewouldsee,andthenneitherofus

broughtituptill1January1999,whenIwenttohisroomtogreethimfortheNewYear.Onthatdayeveryyearnotmuchworkisdoneingovernmentoffices,atleastduringthefirsthalfoftheday.WhenIreachedtheDIB’sroom,ShyamalsaidhewantedtotakemetothePMO,wherehewasgoingtomeettheprincipalsecretary.‘It’stimeIintroducedyou,’hesaid.

TwelvedaysafterImetBrajeshMishraforthefirsttime,IgotmyorderstojoinR&AW.Iwastobeanunderstudyforthreemonthstothesecretary(R),ArvindDave,andthentakeoverfromhim.Ofcourse,consideringtheresentmentinR&AWatanoutsiderjoiningaschief-designate,itdidnotgosmoothly,andIhadtositaroundfornearlysixmonthsbeforeItookoverasthe

chief.Buttherewouldhavebeenareasonforthegovernmenttoappointanoutsidertoheadtheorganisation;thingshadnotbeengoingwellatR&AWandtherewasavoidatthetop.Andhavingbeenanintelligenceprofessionalforthirtyyears,Iknewatrickortwo,eventhoughmyonlyforeignexperiencehadbeenanIBpostingfrom1976to1980intheIndianembassyat

Kathmandu,Nepal,where,incidentally,ImetVajpayeeforthefirsttime.

ItwasthetimeoftheJanatagovernment(1977–80);MorarjiDesaiwastheprimeministerandVajpayeetheministerforexternalaffairs.DesaivisitedKathmandufrom9to11December1977,andVajpayee,naturally,accompaniedhim.Theywereputupatthepalace’sguest

houseandasthelocalembassy’ssecurityofficer,Iusedtohangaround.Whentheyhadanengagement,thetwowouldcomeoutoftheirrespectiveroomsforthelifttotakethemdowntothegroundfloor.Morarjiwouldalwaysarrivetwominutesbeforehewasscheduledtoarriveatthelift(primeministerialschedulesabroadareplanneddowntotheminute),andVajpayeewould,

withoutfail,arrivetwominuteslaterthanhewasscheduledto.Atonepoint,Morarjicouldnotrestrainhimself.

‘Atalji,aaptohhameshalateaateinhain,’Morarjisaid.

‘Pradhanmantriji,aaptimesepehleaateinhain,’Vajpayeereplied.Theybothbrokeintolaughter.

ThepointofthisstoryisthatVajpayeewasanutterlyconfidentpoliticianandhad

thegumptiontocrackajokewithhisprimeminister.AnditwasVajpayee’sconfidencewhich,duringhisforeignministrystintintheJanatagovernment,ledhimtore-establishrelationswithChinain1979forthefirsttimesinceIndia’shumiliatingdefeatinthe1962war;anditledhimtobreaktheicewithavisitin1979toPakistan,withwhichrelationswerefrozensincethe1971war.

Thesecameasasurpriseatthetime,consideringthattheJanSangh,aprecursortotheBharatiyaJanataParty,whichwasparticipatingintheJanatagovernmentandofwhichVajpayeewasamember,wasconsideredhardlineinmattersofsecurity,defenceandforeignaffairs.PerhapsthatwaswhatgaveVajpayeetheconfidencetotaketheseinitiativesatthetime—therewasnobodyto

hispoliticalrighttotaunthim.

Thusitwasnosurprisewhentwentyyearslater,asprimeminister,heundertookanotherpeaceinitiativeandon20February1999gotonthefirstbusbetweenDelhiandLahore.Again,itwasavisitthatbrokealengthydryspell,foritwasthefirstvisittoPakistanbyaprimeministersinceRajivGandhiwentin1989.Hoppingona

bustoPakistanwasmoreimaginativethananyprimeministercouldeverdaretobe,anditkindledalotofhope—atleastforafewmonths.

TheideaoftheDelhi–Lahorebus,accordingtothememoirbythenforeignministerJaswantSingh,cameupwhentheprimeministersofIndiaandPakistan,VajpayeeandNawazSharif(whomwereferredtoas

MianSaheb),metforlunchonthesidelinesoftheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyinNewYorkon23September1998.Thiswasafewmonthsafterbothcountriestestednuclearweaponsindefianceofworldopinion;thetestshadgivenVajpayee,atleast,elbowroomforaninitiativevis-à-visPakistan.Ashishomeminister,andlaterdeputyprimeminister,LalKrishanAdvani,putitinhis

memoir:‘AfterdemonstratingthathewasaworshipperofShakti(power),hesetouttoprovethathewas,equally,avotaryofShanti(peace).’

Theideaofabushadbeendiscussedinvariousbackchannelsandtracktwoforaforsometime.IndiaandPakistanhavehaduneasyrelationsfromthebeginning,whichthePakistanissayisbecausetheyoughttohavegottenKashmirwhenthe

Britishpartitionedthecountryandleft;IndiacountersthatbypointingtothelegitimateInstrumentofAccessiontoIndiasignedbytherulerofthepre-independenceprincelystate,MaharajaHariSingh.ThelastviceroyandfirstGovernor-GeneralofIndia,LouisMountbatten,madetheaccessionconditionalonaplebiscite,butthatwasnotpossibleduetotheoutbreakofwarin

October1947,whenPakistaniirregularsjoinedarebellioninPoonchandmarchedontoSrinagar.AceasefireineffectpartitionedJ&K,andthepassageoftimemadeaplebisciteincreasinglyimpracticalinIndia’seyes.

IndiaandPakistanhadfoughtthreewars:1947–48,in1965andin1971;andinthe1990stherehadbeenaproxywarviaKashmirimilitantswhoweretrained,

armedandinfiltratedacrossbythePakistanarmy’sInter-ServicesIntelligenceDirectorate(ISI).Therewasalotofmistrust,andaconstantstumblingblocktopeacewasthefactthatthemilitarycontrolledthecountryevenwhentherewasanelectedgovernmentinplace.

Itworriedtherestoftheworld,particularlytheWest,whichencouragedpeople-to-peoplecontactandunofficial

discussions,knownundertheeuphemismoftracktwomeetings,andsincetheseareunofficial,peopleareencouragedtospeaktheirmindsevenifitisn’ttheofficialpositionoftheirrespectivegovernments;keepingitofftherecorddoeshelpcandour.Manyideashaveemergedinsuchmeetings,includingthebus,andwhenMianSahebatthatlunchwithVajpayee

mentionedhowhehaddriveninhisowncartoDelhiin1982towatchtheAsianGames,thebusideacameup,anditwasdecidedtostartaDelhi–Lahoreservice.

ObviouslyMianSahebwastickledbytheideabecauseon4February1998,inaninterviewtoShekharGuptaoftheIndianExpress,heinvitedVajpayeetoridethefirstbusintoLahore.Vajpayeeacceptedthatvery

afternoon.Andon20February,accompaniedbytwenty-twootherIndiansincludingPunjabchiefministerParkashSinghBadal,ageingfilmstarDevAnandandcricketerKapilDev,Vajpayee(whohadjoinedthebusinAmritsar,notatitsorigininDelhi)rodeovertheWagahborderandtoLahoreandanemotionalreceptionbyMianSaheb.

ShaukatJavedwas

Lahore’spolicechiefduringVajpayee’svisit.OriginallyanarmymanwhohadbeeninIndiaasaprisonerofwarduringthe1971war,hewouldretireasPunjab’sinspectorgeneralofpolice,thestate’stopcop(andPakistan’sequivalenttoourdirectorgeneralofpolice).VajpayeewasinLahorefor26hours,andformostofthattime,Javedwaspartofthevisitingprimeminister’s

group.YearslaterImetJavedatatracktwoconferenceinIstanbul,andhetoldmeabouttheexcitementinhiscityaboutVajpayee’svisit.

JavedsaidthatPrimeMinisterNawazSharifhimselftookalotofinterestinthearrangements.Forinstance,fortheeveningbanquetheldattheLahoreFort’sDiwan-e-Khas,oneofthemostbeautifularchitecturalstructuresin

Pakistan,MianSahebentrustedthetasktoSalimaHashmiandherhusbandShoaib:shewasFaizAhmedFaiz’selderdaughterandtheprincipaloftheNationalCollegeofArts.MianSahebsupervisedtheminutestdetailsandwaskeenthateverythingbedoneinLahoristyle.

AsVajpayee’scavalcadeapproachedthefortforthebanquetitencountereda

demonstrationbytheJamaat-e-Islami,whosememberspeltedstonesanddamagedsomeofthediplomats’cars.ThenextmorningVajpayeeaskedtoseeJavedattheGovernor’sHouse.‘YourPMcalledmeandeverythingwentwell,’Vajpayeetoldthepolicechief.‘Thesedemonstrationshappeninourcountryallthetime,pleasedon’tworryaboutit.’

Vajpayeethenvisitedthe

Minar-e-Pakistan,whichwasamonumenttotheMuslimLeagueresolutionof23March1940callingforthecreationofacountryforMuslimsintheIndiansubcontinent.Javedsaidhisgovernmentwas,infact,notkeenthatVajpayeego;itworriedthathemightsaysomethingaboutPakistan’screationorexistencethatwouldstrikeasournote.ButVajpayeewasdeterminedto

go.ItwentoffsowellthatthoughaLahoreDeclarationwassignedduringthetrip,Vajpayee’svisittotheMinarwasundoubtedlythehighlight.Vajpayeesignedthevisitor’sbookatthemonument,andwrote:‘Astable,secureandprosperousPakistanisinIndia’sinterest.LetnooneinPakistanbeindoubt.IndiasincerelywishesPakistanwell.’

Thathisstatementdid

muchtoallayexistentialfearsinsectionsofPakistanwasevidentatacivicreceptionforhimattheGovernor’sHousethatafternoon,hostedbyLahoremayorKhwajaAhmadHassan.Vajpayeetoldthegatheringthathisoriginalplanforthetripwastomerelycrosstheborder,greetMianSaheb,andthenreturnhome.MianSahebhadconvincedhimtovisitLahorebysaying,‘Dartakaayeho,

gharnahinaaoge?’(You’vecometothedoor,won’tyoucomeinside?)

VajpayeehadbeentoLahoretwicebefore—asastudentandasforeignminister.‘AvisittoLahoreisincompleteunlessyougotoAnarkaliBazaar,’hesaid.‘ButMianSahebhascreatedAnarkalihere,itnikaliyanchatakrahihain.’

Therewerepeoplewhodidnotapproveofhiscoming

toLahore—anditwasthesameinIndia;whenhereturned,someweresuretoaskwhyhewenttotheMinar.‘“KyaaapPakistanparmoharlaganegayethe?”theywillask,’hesaid.‘ButPakistandoesnotneedanyone’sendorsement.’Forthis,hereceivedafullfive-minutestandingovation,evenfromthoseinthebackwhohadnotrisenfromtheirseatswhenheandMianSaheb

enteredthevenuetogether.Vajpayeelatermentioned

thatheandMianSahebhaddecidedthattheywouldnotletwarhappen(thoughinafewmonths,thingswouldturnoutdifferently).‘Pakistanwasunfortunatebutthewoundhashealedandonlythescarremains,’hesaid.‘Onecanchooseone’sfriends,butneighboursarepermanent.’Hishostswereoverwhelmed.

Vajpayeereturnedandtherewasgreatexcitement,notjustinthecapitalsofIndiaandPakistan,butalsoinKashmir.ThoughIwasstillanunderstudyatR&AWwithlittleworktodobesidesgetmyselfacquaintedwiththeorganisationandmynewcolleagues,IcontinuedwhatIhadbeendoingthepasttenyears:IkepttalkingtoKashmiris.AndoneKashmiriwhometmecamealltheway

fromAmericawherehehadafurniturebusinessthatwasahouseholdnamethere;thisKashmiriwasFarooqKathwari,whoheadedEthanAllenInteriors.

KathwarihadheadedEthanAllenin1985beforebuyingitoutafewyearslater,anditturnedhimintoamulti-millionaire.HebecameaninfluentialpersonintheUS,sellingfurnituretoeventheWhiteHouse,andsetting

uptheKashmirStudyGroup(KSG),whichcomprisedlegislatorsandacademics.AccordingtotheKSGwebsite,currentmembersincludeTeresitaSchafferandherhusbandHoward,botholdSouthAsiahands;RobertWirsig;RepresentativeGaryAckerman;andDrAinslieEmbree.Kathwarihadlongtakenthepro-independencelineonKashmir.Alongthewayhehadalsobeensobered

bythefactthattwoofhissonsdiedasjihadisinAfghanistan.

On1December1998,justafewmonthsbeforeVajpayeeboardedtheLahorebus,theKSGpresentedapaperwhichgeneratedcuriosityinKashmirandinpolicycirclesinNewDelhi,IslamabadandWashington,DC.Init,itspokeofaformulaforresolvingthedisputeoverKashmir.KSG’s

proposalwas‘thataportionoftheformerprincelystateofJammuandKashmirbereconstitutedasasovereignentity—butwithoutaninternationalpersonality—enjoyingaccesstoandfrombothIndiaandPakistan’.ItwentontospeakofautonomyforeachofthefiveregionsofJ&K:Jammu,Kashmir,Ladakh,thePakistan-controlledregionsofJammuandofKashmir,andthe

NorthernAreas(GilgitandBaltistan).Acouncilwoulddecidethingsfortheregionstogether;andIndiaandPakistanwouldruntheregionsontheirrespectivesidesoftheborder.

ThisKSGproposalwouldfindimportantechoesintheyearstocome,asweshallseelaterinthenarrative.

Kathwariwasobviouslyfeelingoptimistic,particularlywithVajpayee’s

peaceinitiativeandbusridetoPakistan.AndinKashmir,wheneverthereisaglimmerofhope,therealsoistremendousexcitement.Inthathopefultime,KathwaricametoIndia,andonsomeone’ssuggestion—I’mnotsurewhose,butcontinuoustalkingtoKashmirisbothinsideandoutsideIndiahadgotmeawholelotofwell-wishers—inearlyMay1999,hecalledme

up.AsImentioned,at

R&AWIwaswaitingformyturntocomesoIdidn’tmindcontinuingmymeetingswithKashmiris,particularlyonewhosenovelproposalhadcomejustafewmonthsearlier.

‘I’mgoingtoSrinagarandIwantyourassessmentofKashmir,’Kathwarisaid.‘I’mtoldyou’reanexpert.’

‘There’snodearthof

experts,’Isaid.‘Butnowthatyou’vecome,wecantalk.’

Imethimforaboutanhour,andhelistenedtome;andthenhewenttotheValley.ItwouldturnouttobethefirstofthreemeetingsIeverhadwithhim.Thesecondwaswhenhereturned.

‘Yourassessmentwasmoreorlesscorrect,’hesaid.

‘Then,KathwariSaheb,youoweittotheKashmiristosaywhatyou’retelling

me,’Isaid.‘Tellingmeisofnouse.Whydon’tyouwriteaboutit?Whydon’tyousayit?

‘Whatareyouimplying?’Kathwariasked.

‘Wetalkedaboutautonomy,’Isaid.

‘Butautonomyisabadwordnow.’

‘Sogiveitanothername.’AndKathwaribegan

usingtheterm‘self-rule’.ItwasthefirsttimeI

heardofself-rule,butitwouldnotbethelast.ItdidgivemeanewimpetusfortalkingtoKashmiris,alotofwhichwouldhappenasthevariouspeaceinitiativesbyVajpayeegainedmomentum.ThatmomentumwouldinfactbringIndiaascloseaspossibletosettlingtheKashmirissuewithPakistan;withaformulaforself-rule,asproposedbyPakistanpresidentPervezMusharraf.

Butthatwasinthefuture.ForrightafterImet

Kathwari,IndiawouldlearnasoberinglessonwhenGen.PervezMusharraflaunchedanoperationinKargilthatturnedintoafourthwar,albeitalimitedone,betweenIndiaandPakistan.

2

KARGILANDTHECOUP

GeorgeTenet,theAmericanspymasteranddirectoroftheCentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA)from1996to2004,

paidasecretvisittoPakistaninJune2000;fromtherehevisitedIndia.IthadbeentwoyearssincetheCIA’sbigembarrassment,thefailuretodetecttheMay1998nuclearteststhatIndiaconducted.ThatintelligencefailurewouldbeovershadowedandforgottenfifteenmonthsafterhisJune2000visit,whenal-Qaedaterroristshijackedandcrashedfourcommercialairlinersintotargetsofhigh

symbolicvalueon11September2001.Ironically,oneofthereasonsforTenet’svisitwastoaskthePakistanistocheckfundsbeingdivertedthroughcertainIslamiccharitiestoal-Qaeda,whichwaswantedbyAmericaforitsattacksontwoembassiesinEastAfrica.Heostensiblyalsovisitedtogetafirst-handlookatPakistan’sarmychief,whohadseizedpowereightmonthsearlier,inOctober

1999,bydeposingNawazSharifinamilitarycoup.(TenetalsowouldhavemetwiththeheadoftheISI.)

AsTenet’scounterpartIinvitedtheDCI,ashe’sknowninhisgovernment,toameetingattheR&AWheadquartersinNewDelhi.Amongothermatters,IaskedhimforhisassessmentofGen.PervezMusharraf,whohadsuspendedPakistan’sconstitutionanddeclared

himselfthenation’schiefexecutive.TenetsaidthatasfarastheAmericanswereconcerned,Musharrafwastheretostay.HefurtheraddedthattheAmericansfelttheycoulddobusinesswiththeGeneral.ImplicitinthatremarkwasthesuggestionthatotherscouldalsodobusinesswithMusharraf.

ItriedtoprobeTenetsomemoreonMusharraf,buthedeclinedtoaddanything

substantial.Instead,hesaid:‘Youguysshouldcheckhimoutyourselves.’

Thisadviceisonewhichhasstuckinmymindsince.Aswewillsee,someofIndia’smisstepscanbeattributedtothefactthatwedidn’t‘checkthingsout’,beitinKargilwhentherewererumoursofinfiltrationbyforeigners,orinthecaseofhandlingShabirShah,whowasoncethedaddyof

Kashmiriseparatistsandwithwhomwemissedanopportunityofdoingbusiness.

InMusharraf’scase,wedidnottakeTenet’sadvicetillitwastoolate;astheyearspassed,theGeneralrespondedtoVajpayee’srepeatedpeaceoverturesbycallingfor‘out-of-the-box’solutionstothemainproblemintheIndia–Pakistanrelationship,whichis

Kashmir.AsManmohanSinghsaidinhislastpressconferenceinJanuary2014(andasformerPakistaniforeignministerKhurshidMahmudKasurirevealedin2011),thetwocountriescameclosetoclinchingasolutionduringtheperiodfromOctober2006toMarch2007butcouldnotclosethedeal;andbythefollowingyear,Musharrafnotonlylostauthoritybutalsolostpower.

ThetruthisalsothatMusharrafhadmadethingsdifficultforhimselfwithIndia;itwashisideatolaunchamilitaryoperationinKargilinearly1999,whichledtoaresponsebyIndiathatMay,andamilitaryconflictthatendedinJuly.ThoughMusharrafwhilelaterrespondingtopeaceovertureswouldaskIndiatolookpastKargil,thefactwasthatweweretakenabackbythe

gumptionofthePakistanarmyanditschieftoplansuchanoperationevenwhilethetwocountrieswerebaskinginthewarmthofVajpayee’sbustriptoLahore.Andbythetimewegotoverthisbetrayal,wemissedanopportunitytosealpeacewithPakistan.

BetweentheLahorebustripandtheKargilwar,Iwasn’tdoingmucheventhoughIwassupposedtobe

anunderstudytotheincumbentR&AWchief,ArvindDave.Therewasn’tmuchunderstudyinggoingon,though;theatmosphereatR&AWwasfrostyaseveryonetherewassuspiciousofan‘outsider’takingover.Davehimselfwassurprisedthatwithregardtotheraiseinretirementage,hewasonthewrongsideofthecut-offdate,andhewonderedwhyheshouldonly

beinservicetillhewas58,whileotherswouldbetheretilltheywere60.

Dave,whowastoretireon30April,attendedagovernmentfunctionatHyderabadHouseandforoncemypresencewasalsorequired,soIaccompaniedhim.ItwasjustbeforetheKargilintrusionwasdiscovered.TherewemetBrajeshMishra,whotoldDave,‘Tumhareorderho

jayenge,’andDavewasgivenathree-monthextension.SoIaskedBrajesh,‘Sir,whataboutmyorders?’andhesaidminewouldbedonetoo.MytakingchargewasthuspushedbacktoAugustandIhadanotherthreemonthsof‘understudying’.

Davewassupposedtobriefmeextensively,particularlysinceIwasfromoutsidetheorganisation,buthisbriefingsweren’tusefulas

hewasratherharshinhisjudgmentofhisowncolleagues.PlushethoughtIwastheretoeasehimout.SoIhadtolearnonmyown,lookingaroundandmeetingpeople.Ittookthemtimetoacceptme.UltimatelyIlearntonthejobaswell.Ittookmeawhiletogettoknowtheropes,butfortunatelythirtyyearsintheIBisalongeducationandyoulearnatrickorthree.Itdidnotgoto

wasteinR&AW.GettingtoknowthecontentofworkwasnotaproblemsincethetraditioninboththeIBandR&AWisofaweeklymeetingwiththedeskofficers,whichwecalltheweeklynamaaz.

EventuallyDavewasappointedgovernorofArunachalPradeshafterheretiredandleftR&AW.Asitturnedout,itwasduringhistenureasR&AWchiefthat

theKargilintrusionandsubsequentwartookplace.

TheKargilReviewCommittee—whichwassetupinJuly1999,afterthewarwasover,toreviewtheeventsleadinguptothePakistaniintrusionandrecommendmeasurestopreventitinfuture—initsreportsaidthattheKargiloperationwaslikelyformulatedbythePakistanarmyasrevengeforour

takingcontroloftheSiachenglacierin1984.Siachenistheworld’ssecondlongestnon-polarglacier,anditisjustnorthofwheretheLineofControl(LoC)betweenIndiaandPakistanendsinJ&K.Thecommittee’sreportsaidthattheKargiloperationhadlongbeenbrewinginPakistaniGHQandhadbeentwicepresentedtoPrimeMinisterBenazirBhutto,whorejectedtheproposal.

Kargilcomprisesabunchofridgesspanningabout170kmandoverlookingtheSrinagar–Lehhighwayfromheightsrangingfrom16,000feetto18,000feet.ItislocatedtothewestoftheSiachenglacieranditstandsfacingtheGilgit–BaltistanregionoftheoldJ&K,nowoccupiedandadministeredbyPakistanastheNorthernAreas,ontheothersideoftheLoC.

ThereviewcommitteesiftedthroughPakistaniwritingonthesubjectanddeducedthatthepoliticalandstrategicmotivesoftheKargiloperationwere:

TointernationaliseKashmirasanuclearflashpointrequiringurgentthird-partyintervention;ToaltertheLoCanddisruptitssanctityby

capturingunheldareasinKargil;Toachieveabetterbargainingpositionforapossibletrade-offagainstpositionsheldbyIndiainSiachen.

MusharrafissaidtohavecommittedhimselftotheproposalwhenhebecamechiefofarmystaffinOctober1998;heevenvisitedtheForceCommanderNorthern

Area(FCNA)inlateOctoberinpursuanceoftheplan.

ThecaptureddiaryofPakistanicaptainHussainAhmadofthe12NorthernLightInfantry(NLI),quotedinthereviewcommittee’sreport,givesanindicationoftheperiodwhentheintrusionbegan:‘Elementsofthe12NLIcrossedtheLoCinFebruary1999,losing11menandthenanothersepoyintwoavalanchesthatstruckthese

campsonFebruary25andMarch25.’Intotal,thereportestimatedthat1,500to2,400troops,bothregularandirregular,weredeployedbyPakistanforintrusionintoKargil.

ThePakistanarmyhadapparentlygambledonacoupleoffactors:

‘Theycalculatedonanormalwinter;aweakandvacillatingIndianreaction;astrong

elementofsurprisethatwouldenablethemtoconsolidatetheirgainsalongthe“heightsofKargil”;theirowncapacitytoobfuscateandawillingnessonthepartoftraditionalpatronstoplayalong;earlyinternationalisationofthesituation,compellingforeigninterventionfromfearofapossiblenuclearescalation.’

Theintrusionsweredetectedby‘shepherds’(asin1965,whenPakistantriedtowhip

upwarinKashmirbutfoundnosupportfromthelocalpopulation)on3May1999,intheBataliksectorofKargil;theyinformedthearmy,whichsentapatrolandconfirmedtheintrusionon7May.Thearmythencheckedanddetected,on12May,intrusionintheDrassector(southwestofKargiltown),andon14May,intheMashkohsector(northeastofKargil).Battalionswere

mobilised,severalofwhichhadjustbeende-inductedfromSiachen,topushtheintrudersout.

ThePakistanarmyfigureditwouldhangontoKargiltillOctober1999,whenthenextwintersetin,andwhenitwoulddiginforhardpoliticalbargaining.Inanycasethe1998–99winterwasmild,sothepassesopenedearlierandallowedaproperIndianmilitary

response.ThisincludedtheuseoftheIndianAirForcetopatroltheLoCandbombintrudersonourside;whilethiswasasignalofhowstronglyIndiaintendedtoreplyshouldthingsescalate(farfromweakandvacillating),itwasalsoriskysincetheflightcorridorwasnarrowandpilotscouldeasilystrayintoPakistaniairspace.(OneofourMiG-21swasdownedbytheothersideand

thepilot,SqnLdrAjayAhuja,wascaptured,torturedandkilled.)

ThemilitaryresponsewasafinemomentforIndiaasthearmyheroicallyandmethodicallybeganrecapturingthepeaksthattheintrudershadtaken,startingwithTololinginmid-June,andthenothersrightuntilthefamousTigerHillbattleinearlyJuly,justbeforeNawazSharifflewtoWashingtonon

asummonsfromUSpresidentBillClinton.ItwasalsoIndia’sfirsttelevisedwar,somanyofthepeaksrecapturedandheroesmartyredbecamehouseholdnames.

Duringtheconflict,thetwocountries’foreignministersmet.Justbeforetheirmeeting,ourforeignminister,JaswantSingh,heldapressconferenceon11June1999,inwhichheplayed

conversationsheldonMay26andMay29betweenMusharraf,whowasvisitingBeijing,andhischiefofthegeneralstaff,Lt.Gen.MohammadAzizKhan.TheseconversationswereinterceptedandtapedbyR&AW,andadecisionwastakenbytheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity(CCS)topubliclyreleasethesetapes.

Asmentionedearlier,

though,inR&AWIwasstillinnoman’slandanddidnotaccompanyDavetotheCCSmeetings.Whenhecamebackfromthemeetingwherethedecisiontoreleasethetapeswastaken,heletmeknow.Asanintelligenceperson,thefirstquestionthatstruckmewaswhyshouldthisbemadepublic?Itwouldbecounterproductive,foronceyoulettheworldknowofacertaintechnical

capabilitythatyoumighthave,theenemyknows,andyourcapabilityislikelytobeneutralised.

‘Sir,didn’tyouprotestagainstreleasingthis?’IaskedDave.

‘Nahinbhai,wehavetodoit,’hesaid.‘It’sbeendecided.’

‘You’llneverhearMusharrafagain,’Ipointedout.

Weleftitatthat.

JaswantSinghreleasedthetapes—hewastheministerwhowastimeandagaincalleduponbyVajpayeetoannouncethingstotheworld—andIndiaderivedhugemileageoutofit.Musharraf’squestionstoAzizKhan,suchas‘Yehpoliticianlogtohzyadaghabarayetohnahin?’,andthemilitaryupdateshegot,coupledwiththerestraintIndiashowedbynotcrossing

theLoCduringthefighting,ensuredthatworldopinionfellsolidlybehindIndia.AnditseverelyweakenedMianSaheb’scasewhenhewenttoWashington,DC.

Aspredicted,however,welostaparticularsourceofinformation.Thefactofthematteris,ifasecretconversationisoverheardonaparticularchannelbytechnicalmeans,nooneisevergoingtousethatchannel

again.Whyisitthatthesedays,it’sbecomesomuchmoredifficulttotrackKashmirimilitants?ThesamethinghadhappenedinPunjabwhenmilitantsusingtelephonelinesweregettingexposed.Oncetheystartedsufferinglossesandstartedgettingcaught,thentheywerethatmuchmorecarefulandthatsourceofinformationdriedup.Ithasn’tcompletelydriedupbecausehuman

beingsbeinghumanstillmakemistakesandpickupthephoneandsay,‘Lagaoyaar,baatkartehain.’

Becauseofoursuccesses,however,alotofdisinformationwasalsopliedintothesechannels.Forexample,wheneveraVIPvisittoKashmirwasplanned,likethatoftheprimeminister,ahundredmessageswouldflyaroundsaying,‘Uskouradena,uskibaja

dena,safedgharkhatamhojanachahiye.’Thefirsttimeitalarmedmealittlebit,butthenIrealisedthiswasallbeingdonedeliberately:theyknewwewerelisteningandtheywantedtoscareus.Andifyougosostrictlybythisinformationandgetscared,thennoVIPwillevervisitKashmir.

Inanycase,almostatthesametimeasthereleaseofthetapes,theIndianarmyhad

recapturedTololing,apositionoverlookingtheSrinagar–Lehhighway,andthetidehadturned.Wewereonourwaytovictory.AndinearlyJuly,ImadeatriptoKargil.

IwasinSrinagar,butIwasn’tthereforKargil;whattookmetoSrinagarwastheweddingofChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullah’seldestdaughterSafia.FarooqandIhadacloserelationshipsince

mypostingintheIBinSrinagarin1988—asweshallseeinthenextchapteronthehijackingofflightIC-814andinsubsequentchapters—totheextentthatwhenJagmohantookoverasgovernorofJ&KinJanuary1990(thetimethatmilitancyexplodedintoapopularmovement),hehadmetransferredoutofSrinagarbecausehebelievedmetobe‘Farooq’sman’.Forwhatever

thatwasworth,FarooqinvitedmywifeandIforSafia’sweddingandwewent.WehadnobetterplacetostaythantheresidenceofChiefSecretaryAshok‘Tony’Jaitley,anotherfriend,onewhowasnotonlyabureaucratbutknewKashmirbetterthanmost.HefeltandbehavedlikeaKashmiritoo,whomIhadgottentoknowsincemytenureinSrinagar,sowestayedwithhimfora

fewdays.WhileIwasthereItold

FarooqthatImightaswellgotoKargil.Safia’sweddingwasintheevening,sothechiefministergavemeahelicopterinthemorninginorderthatIcouldreturnsometimeintheafternoon.IflewuptovisitLt.Gen.MohinderPuri,themanwholedthe8MountainDivisionacrosstheZojilaPassandrecapturedTololing,whichwasthe

turningpointinthewar.Hewouldrightlybemuchdecoratedafterthewarwasover.IwenttoGeneralPuri’sbunker,andhegavemelunch,alongwithabriefing.Iaskedhimhowlongitwouldtaketowrapupthewar.

‘Yeah,we’regettingthemoffourback,’GeneralPurisaid.‘They’restilloccupyingsomeofourareasbutwe’remakingprogress.Butitwilltakemetime.Maybea

month.’Ironically,myvisitwas

on4July1999,theAmericanindependenceday—thedaythatNawazSharifwassummonedtotheWhiteHousebyPresidentClinton.ItwasthedaythatSharifannouncedthattheintruderswouldvacateKargil;IndiaretookTigerHillthenextday;andthewarofficiallyendedaweeklater.Ofcourse,whenImetGeneral

Puri,neitherofusknewthatBillClintonhadreadMianSahebtheriotact,andwhenwelaterheardwhathadhappenedinWashington,DCwewerebothamusedthatwehadexpectedthefightingtocontinueforanothermonth.

Afterthewarwasover,thechairmanofthefour-memberKargilReviewCommittee,K.Subrahmanyam,cameandmetme,forbythattimeIhad

takenoverassecretaryatR&AW.

‘WhydoyouthinkKargilhappened?’heasked,withparticularreferencetothebuild-upovertheprecedingwinter.‘Therewasnointelligence.’

‘First,letmeclarifythatIwasnotinR&AWintheperiodyou’retalkingabout,’Isaid.‘IwasinIBandthereweresomebitsofintelligencethatIthoughtwerequite

significant.Thesewerepassedon.’

Maybebyitselftheintelligencedidn’tamounttomuch,butwehadinformationthattherewasunusualactivitytakingplaceontheothersideoftheLoC.WewerekeepingawatchintheaftermathoftheMay1998nucleartestsinPakistan,andwhatwesawhadtodowithtroopmovement,buildingofbunkers,movementof

weaponry.Andinfactitcametomydesk—IwasthenumbertwomanintheIB—andItookittotheDIB.

‘There’ssomethingunusualaboutthis,’ItoldShyamal.

‘Whydon’tyousendanotetothegovernment?’

‘I’lldrawupanote,butIthinkthisshouldgounderyoursignature,’Isaid,‘becauseit’snotjustanordinarything.’

SoinJune1998theIBsentanotetothegovernment.TheKargilReviewCommitteereport,initschapteron‘Findings’,underthesection‘Intelligence’,said:

‘TheIntelligenceBureau(IB)ismeanttocollectintelligencewithinthecountryandisthepremieragencyforcounter-intelligence.Thisagencygotcertaininputsonactivitiesin

theFCNAregionwhichwereconsideredimportantenoughbytheDirector,IB,tobecommunicatedoverhissignatureonJune2,1998,tothePrimeMinister,HomeMinister,CabinetSecretary,HomeSecretaryandDirectorGeneralMilitaryOperations.Thiscommunicationwasnotaddressedtothethreeofficialsmostconcernedwiththisinformation,namely,Secretary(R&AW),whoisresponsibleforexternalintelligenceandhastheresourcestofollowup

theleadsintheIBreport;ChairmanJIC,whowouldhavetakensuchinformationintoaccountinJICassessments;andDirectorGeneralMilitaryIntelligence.Director,IBstatedthatheexpectedtheinformationtofilterdowntotheseofficialsthroughtheofficialhierarchy.ThisdidnothappeninrespectofSecretary(R&AW)whoatthattimewasholdingadditionalchargeasChairmanJIC.TheCommitteefeelsthatacommunicationofthisnature

shouldhavebeendirectlyaddressedtoalltheofficialsconcerned.’

Obviously,neitherthehomeministrynorthearmytookmuchnoticeoftheIBreport,buttherewassomethingfunnyhappeninginthatarea.Wereportwhateverunusualactivitythatwefind,andthisinformationhadcometousfromLehayearbefore.

WhatevertheKargil

committeemayhavesaid,thefactisthatvariousgovernmentsfromtimetotimehaveignoredintelligenceinputs,inthiscaseprovidedalmostayearbeforetheintrusionsinKargilwerediscoveredbyshepherds.

Theotherrealityisthatwithourfocusoncounter-terrorismwearesowrappedupinactionableintelligencethatweoverlooktell-tale

signs.Thiscontroversywastohauntusagainwhen26/11happened.Itissoeasytomakeintelligenceagenciesthescapegoat,‘intelligencefailure’isthegeneralresponse.

Andwhatwasthearmydoing?Itissupposedtosendoutregularpatrols,whichithadobviouslystoppeddoingbecauseithadbecomesoroutine.It’sassimpleasthat.

InKashmir,allwe’ve

donesince1989istalkofinfiltration,andit’sthearmywhichisthefirsttotalkofit.Butinfiltrationcontinues.Everysummerasthesnowbeginstomelt,yougetaplethoraofintelligencereportssayingthatPakistanissendinginnewbatchesofmilitants.Yetforallthesedirewarnings,peoplecomeandpeoplego.Thearmyhasnotbeenabletostopit.

Yetthearmywonthe

KargilwarinJuly,andinAugustItookoveraschiefofR&AW.JustbeforeItookover,Daveonedaysaidtome:‘TheseR&AWguysrunatradeunionhere.Idon’tallowthemintomyroom.’

TheatmosphereatR&AWwaslesscollegialthanitwasintheIBandthatwasbecausewhiletheIBwashomogenousinitscompositionofofficersfromtheIndianPoliceService,

R&AWcomprisedseveralservices—includingitsownservice,theR&AWAdministrativeService(RAS).ThefounderofR&AW,RamNathKao—amansomysteriousthattherewasapparentlynophotographofhim—hadenvisionedR&AWwouldhaveitsownservice.Initiallytherecruitmentwasfromtheopenmarket,muchinthewaytheCIAortheMI6does;

Kaotookfromvariousstreams,suchasthepostalservice,therevenueservice,thearmy,etc.HisideawasthatpeoplewouldleavetheirparentservicesandjointheRAS.

However,Kaoandhisdeputy,K.SankaranNair,didnotlaydownclearrulesofseniorityforpeoplejoiningfromdifferentservicesandthishasplaguedtheservicefromdayone.Asaresult,

manypeopledidnotoptfortheRAS,fearingtheywouldloseoutonthesenioritytheirparentserviceofferedthemanddefeatingtheverypurposetheRASwassetupfor.ThishasresultedingroupismintheRAS,unnecessarybecauseinmyexperiencetheR&AWhadofficerswhowereastop-notch,manforman,asthoseintheIBdespitetheheterogeneityof

backgrounds:forexample,mysuccessor,VikramSood,whohadaverygoodtenureaschief,wasoriginallyfromthepostalservice.Similarly,oneofourbrightofficerswhowaspostedinPakistan,VipinHanda,andwholaterdiedtragicallyearlyinamalfunctioningliftatR&AWheadquarters,wasfromtherevenueservice.

Oneconsequenceofthegroupismwastradeunionism,

asDaveputit,andIwasmindfulofthat.Asitwas,thebuzzgoingaroundR&AWwasthatDulatwastakingoverandbringinginhisowngangfromtheIB;furthermore,therumourwasthatmystaffofficerwouldbesomeonefromIB.ImadeitapointnottobringofficersoverfromtheIB,andIaskedsomeone,‘Who’sthemostdifficultfellowhere?Who’stheringleaderoftheRAS?’

‘JayadevaRanade,’Iwastold.Iappointedhimasmystaffofficer.Hewasverygoodathiswork,andwe’restillgoodfriends.

Infact,theironyofthematterwasthatasafalloutofthisrunningrivalrybetweentheRASandnon-RASpersonnel,Ranadedidnotgethispromotionorwasmadeadditionalsecretarytillafewdaysbeforeheretired;somethingthatwouldhave

affectedhispensionhaditnotcomethrough.ThesamegovernmentthathadsecondthoughtsaboutmakinghimanadditionalsecretarythenmadehimamemberoftheNationalSecurityAdvisoryBoard,wherehewastheChinaexpert.Thisisthecrazinessofgovernmentfunctioning.

AppointingRanadewasn’ttheonlysurprisemycolleaguesgot.AttheR&AW

headquartersthereareelevenfloors,andthechief’sofficeisontheeleventh;toaccessithehasaprivateliftatthebackofthebuilding.Thebuildinghasbeenstructuredinsuchawaythatthechiefcanenterthegrounds,drivearoundandcomeuptheprivateliftwhichgoesstraighttotheeleventhfloor,withoutanyoneknowing.It’scalled‘thechief’slift’.Everyoneelsecomesin

throughthemainentrance,whichhasawholerowofliftsonthefarendofthespaciouslobby.

WhenIheardofthis,IthoughtIcan’tcomeinsneakingaroundtheback.Inanycase,I’maguywhocomestoofficelate,andifIcomelatetheneverybodyshouldbeabletoseethatIcomeabitlate.IwantedtomakeapointsoIbeganusingthemainentrance.IsaidI

wouldusetheprivateliftonlywhenIwasgoingoutduringtheday,orformyguests,orwhenIwasgoinghomeatnight.Acolleaguepointedouttomehowmuchofadeparturethiswas.Accordingtohim,Iwasthefirsttodoso,theothersusedtocomebytheprivateliftandleavebyit.‘Saab,aapsepehleisstarafsekoinahinaayaa.Peechheseaateinhain,peechhesehichalegaye.’Itwasanother

exampleofthewaythingswereatR&AW.

DaysafterIjoined,IdecidedtopayavisittoR.N.Kao,whowasnearingninetyandlivinginVasantVihar,aposhcolonyforretiredseniorbureaucrats.IcalledhimupandaskedifIcouldvisit.‘Thisisagooddecisionyouhavemade,tocallmeup,’hesaidrathermodestly,andinvitedmeover.

Hewasatall,thinman

withahawk-likenose,andwechattedabouttheorganisationthathebuilt.Apparently,whenIndiraGandhigavehimthego-aheadtosetupanexternalintelligenceagencyhewenttoLondonandmetthesecond-in-commandattheMI6,SirMauriceOldfield,wholatertookoveras‘C’(andwhowasrumouredtobeoneofthemodelsfor‘C’inJohnleCarré’sspynovels),

foradviceonsettingupR&AW.TheonethingthatstoodoutfromourconversationwashisadvicetomethatnowthatIwasincharge,Ineednotworryaboutanyoneelse;IshouldrunitasIthoughtbest,withoutlookingovermyshoulder.‘You’vegotthebestjobinthegovernment,’Kaosaid.‘Nowdon’tworryaboutanyoneelse,andjustdoyourjob.’

Thatwasgoodadvicebecausethereweren’ttoomanydullmomentsinthemonthsafterItookover.Foronething,on12October1999,GeneralMusharraftookoverinPakistaninamilitarycoupd’état.Ihadbeeninthejobfortwomonthsorso,andeveryoneinR&AWwascaughtunawares.Icanclaimcreditforalotofthings(actuallyIcan’t,duetotheOfficial

SecretsAct)butthefactwasthatasfarasthecoupwasconcernedwewerecaughtunawares.

Inanutshell,MusharrafhadgonetoSriLankafortheweekendtoattendtheirarmy’s50thanniversarycelebrations.Onthewayback,hewassackedbyNawazSharif,whoappointedtheISIchief,KhwajaZiauddin,inhisplace.Thearmyquicklysurroundedthe

primeminister’sresidenceandarrestedhim,butnotbeforeMianSahebsentamessagetoKarachiInternationalAirportnottoletMusharraf’sflightland,andinsteadre-directittoIndia.(‘Overmydeadbodywe’regoingtoIndia,’Musharrafreportedlyshoutedatthepilotswhilewavinghispistolinthecockpit.)Theflightwasallowedtolandoncethearmysurroundedthe

airport,andMianSahebwasthrowninjail;hewouldlaterbeexiledtoSaudiArabia.MusharrafwenttoPresidentRafiqTararanddeclaredhimselfchiefexecutive.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthisguywouldgetoffaflightandlockuphisprimeminister?Cometothinkofit,whowouldhaveanticipatedthattheprimeministerwouldhavesackedhim?Itallhappenedsofast.

Weknewthatthisfellowwasuncompromising.DuringVajpayee’sbustriptoLahore,forinstance,thestorywasthatMusharrafconvenientlycametomeetourprimeminister—withouthiscap.Inthemilitary,yousalutewithyourcap,andifyou’renotwearingyourcap,youdon’tsalute.MusharrafobviouslyhadrefusedtosaluteVajpayee.AndthenofcoursewasMusharraf’s

conversationwithhisnumbertwoduringtheKargilwarthatR&AWhadinterceptedandthatthegovernmenthadplayedfortheworld.

ItwasaturnofeventsthatsaddenedVajpayee,forhehadgottenalongwithMianSaheb.Nownotonlywasthepeaceprocessintatters,buthewasgenuinelyconcernedforwhatwouldhappentoNawazSharif.Isawthattherewasareal

shocktoVajpayeeandBrajeshMishra,buttotheircredittheywouldeventuallygetoveritandtrytodobusinesswithMusharraf.IthelpedthattheCIAchiefcameandsharedhisopinionwithusthatMusharrafwassomeonepeoplecoulddobusinesswith.

Butthatwasstillinthefuture,forjusttwomonthsafterMusharraftookover,Indiafacedanothercrisisthat

wasinspiredinPakistanandblessedbyMusharraf:thehijackingofitsIndianAirlinesflightIC-814.

3TWOHOSTAGE

CRISES

Ifyouweretoaskme,Gen.PervezMusharrafhadtohavehadahandinthehijackingofIndianAirlinesflightIC-814

on24December1999.ThereasononecansaysoisthatsuchanoperationcouldnothavebeenundertakenwithoutISIsupport;ahijackingwasnocakewalk,eveninthosepre-9/11days.AndMusharraf,beingthearmychiefandthattooinacountrywherethemilitaryhadtakendirectcontrol,wasallpowerful.Infact,thestoryweheardwasthatwhenthehijackerstooktheplaneto

Lahoretheyweregivenabagofweapons.Thuswiththreeeventsinquicksuccession—theKargilintrusion,thecoupd’état,andthehijackingofIC-814—therewaseveryreasontobewaryofMusharraf,whoonesuspectedhadahandinallthreeincidents.Thehijackingitselfmadeforaharrowingfinalweekofthefinalyearofthecentury,whatwiththepressureuponthegovernment

fromthefamiliesofthe176passengersheldhostage,andtheinternationalisolationinwhichIndiafoundherself,whiletheWestcelebratedChristmas.

IC-814wasenroutefromKathmandu,Nepal,toNewDelhionChristmasEvewhenfivearmedmen,threateningtodetonateabombonboard,hijackedtheplaneataround5p.m.TheytoldCapt.DeviSharantotaketheaircraft

furtherwestthanitsintendeddestination,towardsLahore,butfuelranlowandtheplanehadtobelandedinAmritsar,whereitremainedfor45to50minutes.ThatwastheonlymomentwhenIndiacouldhavetakencontrolofthehijackingincident.OnceitleftAmritsarthentheonlywayitcouldhaveendedwaswithIndiagivingintotheterrorists’demands,whichiswhathappened.

WhenthehijackingbecameknownthegovernmentconvenedaCrisisManagementGroup(CMG)headedbythecabinetsecretary,PrabhatKumar,tomonitorthesituationanddealwithit.WhiletheplanewasonthegroundinAmritsar,PunjabPolicewasinchargeofthesituation.ThePunjabPolicechiefwasSarabjitSingh,abatchmate,whowasbasedinChandigarhandhad

takenchargeafewweeksearlier.SarabjitandIhadknowneachotherthroughoutourcareers,andhelatertoldmehisversionofwhathappenedwhileIC-814wasinAmritsar.

Sarabjithadjustcomeoutofadentist’sappointmentwhenhegotnewsofthehijacking.Asinthepast,AmritsarairportwouldbethemostvulnerableinPunjab,soheimmediatelyspoketoJ.P.

Virdi,theinspectorgeneral(border),postedinAmritsar.ThestatepolicehadcommandosinAmritsarandVirdihadtwocompaniessentimmediatelytotheairport.Thedeputyinspectorgeneral(border),JasminderSingh,hadthepresenceofmindtoreachtheairtrafficcontrol(ATC)towerevenbeforeIC-814landed.JasminderkeptreportingtoSarabjitonthedevelopmentsasthey

unfolded.Sarabjitdecidedto

monitorthesituationfromChandigarhandawaitinstructionsfromtheCMGinDelhi,becausehefelthewasnotinapositiontoactonhisown.ThiswasnotapositionthatformerPunjabPolicechiefKanwarPalSinghGillwouldhavetaken.

K.P.S.wasthemancreditedwithleadingthepolicefromthefrontinthe

fightagainstterrorisminPunjab.In1993,hehaddealtwithasimilarsituationwhenanIndianAirlinesflightfromDelhitoSrinagarwashijackedandforcedtolandinAmritsar.ThehijackerswantedtheplanetakentoeitherLahoreorKabul,butaquickoperationbytheparamilitaryNationalSecurityGuard(NSG)endedtheepisode—inaspanof12seconds,allfourterrorists

wereimmobilisedandthemainhijacker,MohammedYousufShah,killed.YouneededamanlikeGillin1999tomakeaquickassessmentanddisabletheaircraftwithoutwastingtimewaitingforclearinstructionsfromDelhi.

SarabjitdidconsiderthathehadathisdisposalinPunjabcommandoswhoweretrainedinanti-terrorism,andthattheycouldstormthe

aircraft,buttherewouldbecasualties.HetoldDelhi,whichrespondedthatthegovernment’stopprioritywasthattherebenocasualties.Sarabjitwasalsointouchwithhischiefminister,ParkashSinghBadal,whowasatthetimevisitinghisvillage.Badal’sinstructionwas:becareful.ThechiefministerdidnotwantamessinPunjabanddidnotwanttobeblamedforanything.He

toosaidthatnoharmshouldcometothepassengers.

Ontheotherhand,DIBShyamalDattaaskedSarabjitwhyhedidnotpuncturethetyresoftheaircraftandimmobiliseit.‘Theyweretalkingtomeasiftherewasabicyclethere,’Sarabjitmusedyearslater.(SinceIknewSarabjitandIknewwhatpressurehewouldbeunderwitheveryonebreathingdownhisneck,Iavoided

talkingtohimduringthecrisis.)

SarabjitsaidthatDelhinevertoldhimthatIC-814wasnottobeallowedtotakeoff.Aftertheeventhecameinforalotofflakforallowingtheaircrafttoleave,andevenK.P.S.joinedthechorustosaythatthePunjabPoliceshouldnothaveallowedtheplanetoflyaway.‘Iwasn’tGill,’Sarabjitsaidinallmodesty.‘Iwasn’tof

hisstaturetostakeleadershipbecauseofthebadluckbywhichtheplanelandedinAmritsar.’

SarabjitdecidedtosittightanddojustwhatDelhiinstructedhim.Thefault,thus,wouldliewiththeCMG,whichcouldnotcometoacleardecisiononwhattodo.

CaptainSharanalsocameinforcriticism,buthisrolewasexemplary.Hekept

tellingtheATCtohelpwithfuel;thatthehijackershadalreadykilledapassenger,maybetwo;andthatevenflyingonreservefueltoLahore—whichwasashortdistanceaway,ontheothersideoftheborder—wasarisk.Worse,theplanewasparkedmidwayontherunway,insteadofattheendfromwhereitcouldbeginitstakeoff.

Thehijackersinsistedthat

theplanekeeptaxiingandtoldCaptainSharantotakeoffhoweverhecould.Thebodylanguageofthehijackersshowedthemtobequitepanic-stricken,andsothecaptaintookoffwithonlyhalfarunway.AtLahorehewasrefusedpermissiontolandandLahoreATCeventurnedofftheairportlights;itwasonlywhenCaptainSharanthreatenedtolandonaroadthattheypermittedIC-

814toland.Thehijackershadbeensofilledwithpanicthattheydidn’tthinktheywouldgetoutofAmritsarandkilledRupinKatyal,ultimatelythrowinghisbodyoutinDubai.

ReadersmayrememberthatIC-814wasthelasthijackingthattookplaceinIndia.Longbeforethattherewerelotsofhijackingstakingplaceallovertheworldandwheneveranyoneheardofa

hijacktheywouldcrosstheirfingersandhopethatthehijackedaircraftwouldnotlandintheirterritory.Ahijackingwasano-winsituationthatnoonewantedontheirhead.BythetimeIC-814happened,mosthadgottenoverthehijackingphobia,butIndia’smostvulnerableairportsremainedSrinagar,JammuandAmritsar.SoonafterthehijackingofIC-814the

governmentdecidedtostationNSGcommandoesattheseairports.

On24December1999,however,theCMGdebatedhowtodealwiththehijacking,andwhiletheCMGwasdebating,IC-814flewaway.ItdebatedmatterssuchashowtodeploytheNSGcommandoestoAmritsarfastenough.Inallthatdebatetheopportunitytogaintheupperhandslipped

away.Togivecredittothehomeminister,L.K.Advani,helandedupattheCMGandtookchargeaftertheplaneleftAmritsar.

IwasapartoftheCMGsinceIheadedR&AW,andseveralpeoplehaveaskedmeaboutwhathappenedinsidetheCMGduringthose50minutes;mostofthepubliclyavailableliteratureblames‘mismanagement’forthemissedopportunitytogeta

handleonthehijacking.EvenfilmmakerVishalBharadwaj,whowasworkingonafilmscript(andlatermadetheexcellentfilmHaider,basedonBasharatPeer’sscript),askedmetorevealtohimwhathappenedintheCMG,butitisnotmyplacetodisclosethecontentsofasecretmeeting.

WhatIcansay,however,isthattheCMGdegeneratedintoablamegame,with

variousseniorofficialstryingtolaytheblameforallowingtheaircrafttoleaveIndiansoilononeanother;thecabinetsecretary,beingtheheadoftheCMG,wasonetarget,andtheNSGchief,NikhilKumar,becameanother.Itwasafraughttimeandnerveswereunfortunatelyconstantlyonedge.

Ineithercase,theplanelandedinLahore,was

refuelledandasthestorywent,thehijackersreceivedabagofweapons.ThentheplanewenttoDubai,wheretwenty-sevenpassengerswereallowedtoleave;andthentheaircraftwenttoKandahar,Afghanistan,atthattimeruledbytheTaliban.WhileIC-814wasinDubai,IndiahadcontemplatedacommandoraidattheDubaiairport,butthelocalauthoritiesrefused

tocooperate.WetriedtoprevailontheAmericanstoputpressureontheUnitedArabEmiratestoallowusaraid,butasImentionedearlier,Indiafounditselfisolatedinternationally.Nothingseemedtobegoingourway.

AftertheplanereachedKandahar,whichincidentallywasthebaseoftheone-eyedheadoftheTalibangovernment,Mullah

MohammedOmar,weheardofthehijackers’demands:thereleaseofthirty-fiveterroristsfromIndianprisons,themainonebeingMaulanaMasoodAzhar,adreadedveteranterroristleader;and$200millionincash.Wesentateamofnegotiators,thebestprofessionalsinthebusiness,includingfutureIBdirectorsAjitDovalandNehchalSandhu,aswellasmyseniorcolleagueC.D.Sahay(who

wouldtakeoverasR&AWchiefafterVikramSood);therewasanexternalaffairsministryrepresentative,VivekKatju,andrepresentativesofotherdepartmentsliketheBureauofCivilAviationSecurity.Atrulyhigh-poweredteamwithoutmuchpowertodoanythingonthesoilofacountrygovernedbypeoplesympathetictothehijackers.

Thiswasevidentinthe

factthattheTalibansurroundedtheaircraftwithtanksandsoldiers,whichtheysaidwastodissuadethehijackersfromanyfurtherviolence,butwhichweunderstoodwasasignaltousnottotryaraidbycommandostoimmobilisethehijackers—anoptionthatwediscussedindetail.ItbecameclearthattheairportwasessentiallyundertheISI’scontrol,andthattheTaliban

werebeingguidedthroughouttheepisodebytheISI.PakistanijournalistZahidHussain,whowasinKandaharduringthehijacking,laterwroteinhisbook,FrontlinePakistan:‘Afghansources...revealedthatthehijackersweretakinginstructionsfromPakistaniintelligenceofficerspresentattheairport.’ForHussain,‘theextentofTaliban/ISI/jihadicooperationwasrevealed

duringtheIndianhostagecrisisof1999’.

ItwasfrustratingtobeoutmanoeuvredbyPakistan’sspyagency.Ontopofthat,Doval,withwhomIhadworkedcloselyintheIBandwhowouldlaterbecomePMNarendraModi’snationalsecurityadvisor,waspressingmefromKandahartogetthegovernmenttofindanearlyresolutiontothehijacking.Whocouldblamehim,forthe

teamouttherewasbadlystuckinahostileenvironment,surroundedbyTaliban.‘Takeadecisionquickly,sir,’hesaid,‘becausethesefellowsaregettingimpatientandIdon’tknowwhatwillhappen.’Eventually,afterfivedaysofnegotiationsthehijackers’demandswerewhittleddowntothereleaseofthreeterrorists:MasoodAzhar,AhmedOmarSaeedSheikh,

andMushtaqAhmedZargar.WehadarrestedMasood

Azharbackin1994,whenhehadcometoIndiatosettlesomedisputesbetweendifferentfactionsofhisoutfit,theHarkat-ul-Ansar.Hewasofsuchhighvaluethattogethisrelease,hisgroupfloatedafrontgroup,al-Faran,whichin1995kidnappedsixforeigntrekkersinsouthKashmirandheldthemhostageinthemountains,demandingthe

releaseofMasoodAzharandtwentyotherterrorists.ThesixwereBritonsKeithManganandPaulWells;AmericansJohnChildsandDonaldHutchings;GermanDirkHasert;andNorwegianHansChristianOstro.Childsmanagedtoescape.Ostrowasbeheaded(andthename‘al-Faran’wascarvedonhischest).Theotherfourwereneverheardfromagain;afewmonthslateral-Faranclaimed

theynolongerheldthem,andtheirbodieswereneverfound.Muchlatertherewerereportsthatinlate1995,theal-Faranleader,AbdulHamidTurki,waskilledinanexchangewithourarmy,andthatninedaysafterTurki’sdeath,thehostageswereshotdead.MasoodAzharwasnotreleased.

Wespentayeartryingtospottheal-Faran/Harkat-ul-Ansarkidnappersandtheir

hostages.ItprovedverytoughinthemountainsofsouthKashmir.Atthetime,asI’vementionedearlier,IwasheadingtheKashmirgroupintheIB,andwegotawholelotofinformationeveryday—therehadbeenasightinghere,therehadbeenasightingthere,anothersightingsomewherecompletelydifferent.TheBakerwals—apastoralcommunityinhabitingthe

hillsandmountainsofKashmir—andsomeGujjarswouldbringusthesestories,andinonesense,theavalancheofinformationwasfarcical.ThetruthisthatthekidnappershadtakentheWesternersdeepintotheforests,andnotechnicalintelligence,satelliteimagery,orGujjarearsandeyesonthegroundcouldnailthem.

Infact,onedaytheministerofstateforhome

affairs,RajeshPilot,whousedtotakeakeeninterestinKashmiraffairsandwhowasencouragedindoingsobyhisprimeminister,P.V.NarasimhaRao,summonedboththevice-chiefofthearmystaff,Lt.Gen.SurinderNath,andmetohisroominNorthBlock.GeneralNathhadearlierbeencommanderoftheSrinagar-basedXVcorpssohehadaworkingknowledgeoftheValley.

Pilotshotoffabunchofquestions.

‘Whatthehellisgoingon?’theministersaid.‘Whycan’tthearmygettoknowwherethehostagesare?Andwhenwegivethearmyinformation,whyaren’ttheyabletodoanything?’

PilotwashimselffromtheGujjarcommunityandwaswellawareoftheintelligencethatwascominginfromthem.Hespreadout

onthetablealargemapoftheKashmirValley.

‘General,’hesaid.‘Tellme,supposeItellyouthattheseguysarehere,’hepointedtoamountainousspotinsouthKashmir,‘howlongwillittakeforyourpeopletogetthere?’

Andintypicalarmyparlance,GeneralNathbeganhislong-windedanswer:‘Itwillhavetobeabrigade-leveloperation.’

SoPilotfoldedthemaphehadspreadoutbeforehimandthegeneralleft.Wewerebacktosquareone.

Wewerekeentogetthehostagesback;bythattime,weweresickofkidnappings.ItwasaphenomenonthatbeganinDecember1989withthekidnappingofthehomeminister’sdaughter,RubaiyaSayeed;thesuccessofthathostagetrade-offmadekidnappinganeveryday

occurrenceinKashmir.Itbecamealucrativebusiness.Amilitantwouldpicksomeoneupandextortgoodmoney.Itbecamesothatatargetcouldbekidnappedinthemorningandreleasedintheevening;peoplehadnochoicebuttopayupandsmile.

Infact,justbeforetheal-Faranincidenttherewasahigh-profilekidnappingofFinancialTimes

correspondentDavidHousego’ssonKim;thejournalistmadeuseofhisnetworkofcontactstogethisboyreleased.ThepickingupofthesixWesterntrekkersmarkedthepeakofthekidnappings;andinthewayIC-814wasthelasthijacking,theal-Faranabductionsbecamethelastkidnapping.Afterthis,itfadedandstopped,becauseithadbecomecounterproductivefor

everyone.Somepeopleallegethat

Indiastrungouttheal-Farankidnapping,orthatIndiahalf-heartedlysearchedforthekidnappedtrekkers,becauseitwasprovingtobeapublicrelationsdisasterforPakistanandthatitwasoneofthefactorsthathelpedIndiagetovertheinternationalhostilityitfacedoverKashmirandtherebysubsequentlymanagethepoliticalproblem.Thisis

nonsense.Whatwasanunexpected

consequenceofthekidnappingwasthattheWesterngovernmentsusedittotheirgreatadvantageinbuildinguptheirnetworksinKashmir.TheAmericans,forinstance,madealotoftripstoSrinagaronthepretextofmonitoringthekidnapping,foroneoftheirnationalswasstillinvolved.Theysenttheirdiplomatsandtheysenttheir

intelligenceprofessionals;wekneweachandeveryvisitortotheValley.Inasense,then,theal-FarankidnappingwasthefirstopeningupofKashmir,foruntilthisincident,veryfewforeignersusedtogotoSrinagaronceviolencebrokeoutin1990;perhapstherewouldbetheoccasionalvisitbythefirstsecretary(political)orthepoliticalcounsellorofaWesternmission.Theal-

Farankidnappingbecameagoodexcuseandsomeprofessionalsdidbuildupagoodnetwork.TheBritishalsoshowedalotofinterest—theyworkedcloselywiththeAmericans—andtheydevelopedawell-informedpoliticalsection.

Youcouldsaythateveryonegotsomethingoutoftheal-Farankidnappingexceptthekidnappersthemselves,forMasood

Azharremainedjailed,andsoHarkat-ul-AnsartriedagainthenextyearwhenitkidnappedfourWesterntouristsandkeptthemashostagesinavillageinSaharanpur,UttarPradesh.ThepersonwholuredthetouristsintoatrapwasaformerLondonSchoolofEconomicsstudent,OmarSheikh,whoMusharrafinhismemoirIntheLineofFireallegedwasrecruitedbythe

BritishMI6whilehewasatLSE(MusharrafalsoclaimedMI6sentOmarSheikhtotheBalkans).AgainOmarSheikhandcompanydemandedthereleaseofMasoodAzhar,aswellastenotherterrorists,butthepolicewereabletofoilthekidnappers,releasethehostagesunharmedandcapturethekidnappersincludingOmarSheikh,whospentthenextfiveyearsasaguestatDelhi’sTiharJail.

ThethirdterroristwhosereleasetheIC-814hijackerssoughtwasMushtaqZargar,aparticularlybrutish,ruthless,low-lifeKashmiriterrorist,quiteunlikethemilitantchiefswhowerecommittedtotheirseparatistcause,whohadintellectualcuriosityandwhowerenotideologicallydogmatic.FromaneighbourhoodnearSrinagar’sJamiaMasjid,hejoinedthemovementand

tookupthegunearlyon,launchinghisowntanzeem,al-UmarMujahideen.Heisresponsibleforfortymurders,includingastringofkillingsofKashmiriPanditswhichcontributedinnosmallmeasuretotheexodusofHindusfromtheValleyonceviolencetookcentrestagein1989–90.HeissomebodyIhavealwaysfoundhighlydistasteful.

OnceAjitDovalandthe

othernegotiatorshadwhittledtheIC-814hijackers’demandstothesethreeterrorists—MasoodAzhar,OmarSheikhandMushtaqZargar—thegovernmenthadtotakeacall.Therewasgreatpressureexertedbythemedia,whichkeptshowingvisualsoftheprotestingfamiliesofthehostagesgatheredattheentrytoRaceCourseRoad,wheretheofficialresidenceoftheprime

ministerislocated.Withveryfewcardstoplay,Vajpayee’steamhadlittlechoicebuttoagreetoreleasethethreeterrorists.

SuddenlyitoccurredtoeveryonethattheJ&Kchiefminister,DrFarooqAbdullah,wouldhavetobeinformed;italsodawnedoneveryonethathemightobjectandposeahurdle.Thenationalsecurityadvisoraskedmetogo.Jaswant

SinghmadeanofficialcalltoFarooqonbehalfoftheCCS,andadvisedthechiefministerthattheR&AWchiefwasbeingsenttohim.

IwaspickedtodothedirtyjobasIwasreckonedtobeclosetoDoctorSahebsincemydaysastheIBheadinSrinagarinthelate1980s.Sinceitwaswinter,theJ&KgovernmenthadshiftedtoJammu,andIcalledFarooqandtoldhimthatIwas

comingtoJammu.Heimmediatelyguessedwhythegovernmentwassendingme.Herespondedbysaying,‘Youmightaswellcomeandstaywithme.’Ihadnotexpectedittobeapleasantencounterandhadtakenacolleaguealongasmoralsupport.HedidnottakethefullbombardmentthatIwastogetforthreehoursplus.Hetactfullyexcusedhimselfsayinghehadtogofor

dinner.AsmyR&AWaircraft

landedinJammu,thesunwassettingon30December.ItwasthemonthofRamzan.IwentstraighttoFarooq’sresidence,whereIfoundhimsittingathisdiningtablebyhimself.‘Iknowwhyyou’vecome,’hesaid.‘Justletmegoandsaymyprayers.’

Afterhisprayershecameoutandhadhisjuice.Andthenheangrilysaid:‘You

again?TumneMuftikibetikeliyekiyatha,phirwohikarraheho.’

Whathewasangryaboutandwhatthesmallironyofoursituationwas,wasthekidnappingofRubaiyaSayeedon8December1989,aneventfulepisodelikethehijackingofIC-814adecadelater,andonewherebothofuswereinvolved.Inbothepisodes,hewaschiefminister;duringtheearlier

incident,IwastheheadoftheIBinSrinagar.InbothepisodesIhadaskedhimtoreleasejailedterrorists,andinbothepisodeshehadinitiallyrefused,sayingprescientlythatdoingsowouldhavedireconsequencesformilitancyinhisstate.InbothepisodesIpersuadedhimtoultimatelygivein,onordersfromthetopinDelhi.

Asmentionedearlier,RubaiyaSayeedwasthe

daughterofthenewlyappointedUnionhomeminister,MuftiSayeed,whohadtakenchargefollowingtheelectiondefeatofRajivGandhi’sCongressgovernmentandtheinstallationofaNationalFrontgovernmentledbyVishwanathPratapSingh.Shewaskidnappedasshecameoutofthehospitalwheresheinterned,theLalDedMemorialHospital,by

boysoftheJammuandKashmirLiberationFront,andkeptincaptivitysomewhereinSopore,assomeJKLFboyslatertoldme.

TheJKLFwasfoundedin1977byPakistan-basedAmanullahKhanandMaqboolButt,whowashangedin1984followingthekidnappingandmurderofIndiandiplomatRavindraMhatreinEngland,and

whoseexecutionwasmournedannuallybyKashmiristodefiantlyshowtheirangerwithIndia.Thetanzeemwasthedominant‘nationalist’separatistgroupintheearlydaysinKashmir,espousingindependence.LateritwasovertakeninpowerandinfluencebyothergroupswhichwantedKashmir’smergerwithPakistan.

Mostoftheboyswhofirst

crossedoverintoPakistanforterrorism-trainingundertheISI,followingthefraudulentassemblyelectionsin1987inwhichmanyofthemwereinvolvedaspollagentsforthenewoppositionparty,theMuslimUnitedFront(mostofwhoseleaderswouldsixyearslaterformtheseparatistAllPartiesHurriyatConference),didsoundertheaegisoftheJKLF.(MushtaqZargarwasoriginallya

memberoftheJKLFtillhefelloutwiththegroupin1989andformedhisowntanzeem.)TheJKLF’sleaderswereknownbytheacronymHAJY,standingforHamidSheikh,AshfaqMajidWani,JavedMir,andYasinMalik;theycommittedthefirstactsofterrorinKashmirbetween1988and1990,thoughtheirunwaveringcommitmenttoindependencemadethemsuspectinPakistanieyes.

TheJKLFhadbeenhatchingakidnappingplanforsometime;theirfirsttargetwasactuallythechiefminister’seldestdaughter,SafiaAbdullah.Theboys,however,founditdifficulttogettoSafiabecauseGupkarRoad,wherethechiefministerstayed,hadenoughsecurityandprotectiontomakeakidnappingdifficult.Also,shedidnotgoouttoomuchinthosedays.Aftera

while,theJKLFgaveupontheplantokidnapSafiaandtheirnexttargetwasthedaughteroftheseniorsuperintendentofpolice(SSP),AllahBaksh.Thoughhewasastraightforwardpoliceman,whoonlyspokethelanguageofthe‘danda’andfollowedstrictlywhateverordershegot,hewasoneoftheofficialsblamedfortherigged1987elections,ashispolicemen

allegedlypickedupmanyMUFworkersandthrewtheminjailforthenight.

Whiletheywereplanningthiskidnapping,on5December1989,MuftiwassworninastheUnionhomeminister,andoneoftheJKLFfellowshadabrainwave:whynotpickupRubaiya.WithMuftibecomingminister,Farooqhadinanycaserecededintothebackground,andinthosedays,hehadleft

KashmirfeelingdownandhadgonetoEngland,asheoccasionallydid(hehadstudiedthereandhemethiswifethere,soitwasanaturalgetawayforhim).AndRubaiya,Mufti’smiddledaughter,wasa23-year-oldmedicalinternattheLalDedhospital;shewentineverysecondday;someonesaidshewentinatsuch-and-suchtimeandleftatsuch-and-suchtime;soitwouldbeaneasy

pick-up.Thuson8December,at

aboutaquartertofourintheafternoon,whenshewashalfakilometrefromhome,Rubaiyawaspulledoutofthemini-busshewasinandputintoaMaruticaranddriventoSopore.Shehadbeenkidnapped.

Allhellbrokeloose.WherewasMufti’sdaughter,everyonekeptaskingme.Thekidnapperscalledupthe

officeoftheKashmirTimesandclaimedresponsibility.TheydemandedthereleaseofseveralmilitantsincludingJKLFleaderHamidSheikh,whowasincustody.SinceitwaswinterandthegovernmentwasinJammu,Itookthenextmorning’sflighttoSrinagar,andimmediatelypeoplewhohadanylinkorconnectiontoMuftigotintotheact.

ChiefSecretaryMoosa

Raza,aGujaratcadreofficerfromTamilNadu,wasthemainnegotiator,butalltheback-upwasprovidedbyIB,andIworkedinclosetandemwithhim.MoosararelylefttheIBofficefromwhereoperationswereconducted,butforobviousreasonstheIBwaskeptinthebackground.Thefirsttwoguysonthescenewerejournalists,ZafarMehrajoftheKashmirTimesandMohammedSayeed

Malik,bothofwhomhaddeepconnectionswithMufti.Sayeedcametodoarecce,basicallytoreporttoMuftiwhatwasgoingon,andwhetherthemeninSrinagarwereshowingseriousnessintrackingdownRubaiya.

ButZafarMehrajhungaroundandwashelpful.HearrangedameetingwiththefatherofAshfaqMajidWani,oneoftheJKLFtopgunsandoneofthoseinvolvedinthe

actualkidnapping.AshfaqwasalreadyalegendinKashmirforhisbravado,andthelegendgrewafterhediedwhiletryingtolobagrenadeatsomeCRPFpersonnelinMarch1990.Hisfather,ontheotherhand,wasahumblegovernmentclerk.

Wemetinagovernmentflatandsatontheground,andAshfaq’sfatherwasveryemotional,notleastbecausetherewassomeangerinthe

Valleythattheboyshadkidnappedanunmarriedgirl,whichtheyconsideredahighlyun-Islamicact.Ashfaq’sfatherkeptsayingDelhihadalwaysletdownKashmirandKashmiris,andthenhewouldlaunchintoanemotionalspeechabouthowtheboyswereactuallyniceboys,thattheywouldn’tharmanyone,thathecouldvouchforthem,andthatRubaiyawaslikeasistertothem.

Ashfaq’sfathertoldusthatthekidnappingwasbasicallytogetHamidSheikhfreed.Hehadbeeninjuredandsowasbeingkeptinthehospital,andtheJKLFwantedhimreleasedsothewholekidnappingwasforthat,pluswhateverpublicitytheycouldget.

‘Okay,’Isaid.‘Butifhe’stobereleased,wheredoyouwanthimreleased?InLalChowk?’

Ashfaq’sfatherwasnotveryclear.‘Whydon’tyouhandhimovertotheIranians?’hesaid.

‘TherearenoIranianshere,’Isaid.‘WhichIraniansdoyouwanthimhandedoverto?’

‘No,youcouldhandhimovertotheIranianembassy.’

‘HowwillyoutakehimandhandhimovertotheIranianembassy?’Iasked.‘SupposetheIraniansrefuse,

thenwhatwillwedowithhim?’

Hekeptsayingvaguethingslikethat,perhapsbitsofconversationthathehadhimselfheard.TheJKLFhadapparentlyseriouslyconsideredoptionslikethis.

‘Whydon’tyouleavehimattheborder?’Ashfaq’sfathersuggested.

‘Ifthegovernmentagreeswecould,’Isaid.‘Somanyaregoing,hecouldalsogo.’

Intheend,inhalf-disgust,half-bravado,andhalf-theatre,hegrabbedmywristandsaid:‘Letmetellyouonething.Theseboysareverygoodboys,andevenifDelhidoesnothing,noharmwillcometoRubaiya.Sheisliketheirsister,shewillbereleased.’

Thatwastheconversation.Anditgaveusconfidencethatthewholeepisodewouldhaveagood

ending,andthatweneednotjumpthegun.WefeltthatRubaiyamightbereleasedfornoone,orattheleast,inexchangeforjustHamidSheikh.

Alotofotherfellowsgotintotheact.Therewasthejudge,MotiLalKaul,whoreportedfaithfullybacktoMufti;therewasanMLA,MirMustafaofLasjan,whowaslaterkilled.MoulviAbbasAnsari,adecentman

whowasinstrumentalinsettinguptheMUFandlaterjoinedandheadedtheHurriyat,andImethimthroughacolleagueintheJ&Kpoliceduringthattime.MoulviAbbaswasclosetotheJKLFboys,whohadalotoffaithinhim,andafterImethimhevolunteeredtohelpbygoingandtalkingtotheboysholdingRubaiya.Unfortunately,bythetimehegotintoaction,thingswere

movingatafastclipandnobodyneededtoomuchhelp.

Thehomeminister’sdaughterwasahostageandtherewasintensepressureonus,soIwasmeetingalotofKashmiris.Indeed,thiswasthebeginningofmycareerasapersontalkingtoasmanyKashmiris,ofasmanyhuesaspossible,asIcould,notastartinthebestofcircumstances.Infact,oneof

thefirstpeopleIapproachedwasDrAbdulAhadGuru,thecardiothoracicsurgeonwhowasanideologueoftheJKLFandwhobasicallytoldmetogetlost.

IwentandmetDrGuruathisresidence-cum-clinicinBarzallaateightinthemorningonabitterlycoldDecembermorning.IhadbeentoldthatifIwantedtogoandmeethim,Ishouldgothereateighto’clock.There

wasalongqueueofwaitingpatientsoutsidehishouse.Hecameoutofhisroomandaskedme,‘WhatcanIdoforyou?’

‘Youknowourproblem,’Isaid.‘ThisHamidSheikhisinthehospitalandhehasalotofregardandrespectforyou.Youcouldhelpusresolvethiswholematter.’

‘HamidSheikhisapatientofmine,’DrGurusaid.‘It’sjustadoctor–

patientrelationship.I’mnotgettinginvolvedinanyofthis.Sorry.Can’thelpyou.’

Hesaiditstraight,andhismessagewasclear.Ileft,empty-handed.

(Incidentally,DrGuruwasmurderedin1993bythepro-PakistanHizbulMujahideen,whichwasonamissiontowipeoutthepro-independenceJKLF.)

Onthemorningof11December1989,Farooq

arrivedinKashmironhisreturnfromLondon.AsI’vesaidonce,withoutFarooqAbdullahtherewasnoNationalConferenceandinfactwhilehewasaway,thecabinetwasprettymuchdeadexceptforonemeetinginwhichnooneknewwhattodoorwhattodecide.OnhisreturnFarooqimmediatelycalledforacabinetmeetingandhisseniorministerscomplainedthattheyhadno

ideawhatwasgoingon.‘Everythingisbeing

handledfromtheofficeoftheIB,’oneofthemsaid.‘Eventhechiefsecretaryhasstoppedreportingtous;heonlyreportstotheIBandspendsallhistimesittingintheiroffice.Wehavenotbeenkeptintheloopatall.’

Asusual,thiswasoneofthosethingsyoucouldsaywas‘almosttrue’.

Farooqpromptly

summonedMoosa,whohadbeenprojectinghimselfastheinterlocutor,andtoldhim:‘You’renolongertheinterlocutor.’

ThehaplessMoosawonderedwhy,andFarooqsaid:‘Howthehellcouldyounotreporttothecabinet?’

‘Buttherewasnocabinetinyourabsence,’Moosapointedout.‘Ididn’tknowwhotoreportto.’

Thetruthwasthatpoor

MoosawasreportingtothecabinetsecretaryinDelhi,agentlemanbythenameofT.N.Seshan,whowouldgoontogainareputationforbeinganassertivechiefelectioncommissionerandforclampingdownonelectoralmalpractices.MoosawasflabbergastedbyFarooq’srebuke,andhetoldSeshanthathemightberemovedaschiefsecretary.AsaresultIgotafranticcall

fromDelhisayingthattheyhadheardthatMoosawasbeingremoved.Itoldthem,thechiefminister’sbackandhe’sinabitofahuff.

IwenttoFarooqandsaid,‘Sir,I’mtoldyou’rereallyangrywithMoosa.It’snotreallyhisfault.Giventhelimitationsinwhichwe’reworking,he’sdoinghisbest.’

Farooqrelentedandsaid,‘Okay,we’llreinstateMoosa.’Andthenhesaidto

me:‘Whatthehellisgoingon?’

WhatwasgoingonisthattheganginDelhiwhokeptrepeatingadnauseamthatFarooqwasnotseriousweregunningforhimandnowtheyhadagoodexcuse:hewasn’tinJ&Katacrucialtimelikethisandithadtakenhimthreedaystocomeback.Thathewasnogood.Farooqwasnofoolandhesawthattwoparallelgameswere

playingoutinDelhi:onewasforthereleaseofMufti’sdaughter,andtheotherwasthechancetogetridoftheincompetent,no-good,holidaying-in-LondonFarooqAbdullah.Andonethinginfluencedtheother.

Ihavetosaythatfromthe11thtothe13th,whenRubaiyawasfinallyfreed,FarooqcooperatedtotallywithwhateverMuftiandDelhiwanted—exceptforthe

pointaboutreleasingfiveterrorists.M.L.KaulwastheonewhowentandmetFarooqwithMufti’smessagethatallfiveterroristshadtobereleased,andFarooqwasfurious.

‘Howhasitgonefromonetothreetofive?’heasked.‘EvenifitweremyowndaughterIwouldnotreleasethem.’

YethedidcallupMufti,inmypresence,becausethere

wasalotoftalkgoingaroundthatFarooqwasjustnotbotheredaboutthekidnappingbecauseitwasMufti’sdaughter;theusualDelhiDarbarnonsense.Farooqcalleduponeeveningandsaid,‘Look,wearedoingourbest,Iassureyouwewillnotallowanythingtogowrong.MuftiSaheb,IamdoingasmuchforyourdaughterasIwouldhavedoneformyowndaughter.’

Theendofthestoryisthaton13December,twoministersarrived:InderGujralandArifMohammadKhan.WehadbeentalkingtoDelhiwithregardtothenegotiationstillaboutmidnight.Itwasstillastalemate.Seshan,whowasstillthecabinetsecretary,readtheriotacttoMoosa.‘Enoughisenough,’hesaid.‘Wewilltellyouwhathastobedone.Tellyourchief

ministertofallinline.’Afterallthis,around

midnight,weeachleftthecontrolroomtogohome.SoonafterIreached,however,Ireceivedacallthatthetwoministerswerearriving.InthosefivedaysIthinkIsleptatotalofeighthours,andnowIwastoldthatthesetwoministerswouldarriveatfiveinthemorningbyspecialplane.Nochanceofsleep,Itoldmyself,soI

shavedandthenlaydownfora90-minutenap.AtaroundfourIgotreadyandthenrealisedthatIhadn’tinformedFarooqyet.Farooqdidnotlikesurprises.

IdrovebyFarooq’sgateandsaid,‘DoctorSahebsorahehonge?’

‘CMSahebutthgayehonge,’theguardsaid.‘Namaazkatimehorahahai.’Itwas4:30a.m.

ItoldhimtogetFarooq

onthephone.Hecameonthelineandasked:‘Hello,whatareyoudoing?’

Itoldhimthetwoministerswerecoming,soIguessedheknew.‘Sowhatifthey’rearriving?’hesaid.‘Whydoyouneedtogototheairport?’

‘TheDIBisalsocoming,’Isaid,asIBchiefM.K.Narayananwaswiththetwoministers.

‘Bringthemstraight

here,’Farooqsaid.Itwasdarkwhenthe

planelandedandtheministerssaidtheywantedtowashupattheguesthouse.IsaidtheCMhascalledyoustraighthome,he’swaitingforyou,sowewenttoFarooq’shouse,andhetookustothehamamdownstairs.Itwasaround6a.m.,andjustaboutdaybreak.Assoonasweallsatdown,Farooqsaid,whydon’tyouhearitfrom

theIBchiefhereinSrinagar.SoIbriefedthemandgavethewholespielinanutshell.

Frankly,Idon’tknowifGujralandArifcametoSrinagartogenuinelylistentoFarooq,oriftheywerejustplayinggoodcop/badcop.WhateverFarooqwouldsay,theywouldsay,‘Wedidn’tknowthis!’WhateverGujraldidn’tlikehewouldpretendhehadnotheardandhewouldtaphishearingaid.

ArifwouldsaysomethingandGujralwouldsay,‘Kyakahaaapne?’Thewholethingwasacharade.

Thiswentonfortwohours,wedrankthreecupsoftea,andthenthetwoministerstookFarooqoutsideandtoldhim,‘Thisiswhatistobedone.’

Hesaid,‘Okay,youwanttogoaheadandreleasethem,doit.ButIwanttolodgemyprotest.’

Farooqwasasharpcookie,hesensedthatonceV.P.Singhandcompanycame,hisdayswerenumbered.Hewasjustplayingalong.

Butheclearlytoldthemthatifthegovernmentheldout,Rubaiyawouldbereleasedunharmedandwithouthavingtofreeterrorists.Ifthegovernmentcavedin,itwouldburstthedam,andtherewouldbeno

lookingbackforterroristsinKashmir.‘Wewillhavetopayforit,’hetoldthetwoministers.

Heprovedright.Ihadgonetoseethe

DelhiteamoffattheairportandonthewaybackfoundthatithadbecomeDiwali.TheentirecityofSrinagarwasilluminatedandtherewerelotsofboysgoingaroundandcollectingmoneyontheroads,collectingfunds

forthemovement.Itwasnowunderwayinrightearnest.ThewholemoodinSrinagarhadchanged.Azaadiwasnowaroundthecorner.

So,on30December1999,duringthehijackingepisodeofIC-814,whenIarrivedinJammutoadviseFarooq,hetookonelookatmeandsaid:‘Youagain.’

MostpeoplewouldbewaryofraisingtheirvoicewiththeR&AWchief,but

thechiefministerwasinafuryandforthreehoursheshoutedatme.

‘YouwerethereduringRubaiya’skidnapping,’hesaid.‘Howcouldyoucomebackagain?’

‘Sir,Iwassolidlywithyouthattime,butthistimeI’mwiththegovernmentofIndia,’Isaid.‘ThenIwaspleadingalongwithyou.ThistimeI’mpleadingwithyou.’

‘Isaidthenthatwhatever

youaredoingiswrong,andI’msayingitagain,’Farooqshouted.‘Idon’tagreewithit.’

Heexperiencedwavesofanger.Hewouldcalmdownandthenhewouldstartalloveragain.Calmdownandstartagain.Thenhewasatit:howweakDelhiis,howbigamistakethisis,whatabunchofbloodyidiots,buffoons.Itjustwentonandonandon.Partofitwastheatre;when

Farooqgetsintoit,helikestomilkthedramaforallhecan.

‘Sir,thereisnootheroption,thishastobedone,’Itoldhim.

HecalledupJaswantSinghandgavehimanearful.‘Aapjobhikarrahehain,galatkarrahehain.’HecalledothersupinDelhi.Hekeptbangingthephonedown.

Thenattheendhesaid:‘ThosetwobloodyPakistanisorwhatevertheyare,Idon’t

giveadamn.Letthemgotohell.’HewasreferringtoMasoodAzharandOmarSheikh.‘ButIwillnotletthisKashmirifellow(Zargar)go,he’sakiller.Hewillnotbereleased.’

‘Sir,’Isaid.‘ItwillnothappenwithoutZargar.’

‘Idon’tcareifithappensornot.’

Finallyhesaid:‘Okay,I’mgoingtothegovernorandgivingmyresignation.’

Ihadfiguredsomethinglikethismighthappen,soIsaid:‘Sir,ifyou’regoingtothegovernor,thenatleasttakemealong.’

Hewasagreeable,soat10p.m.wewenttoseeGovernorGirishChandra‘Gary’Saxena.GarySaxenawasalsopreparedsinceFarooqhadsentanadvancemessagethathewascomingover.

‘Thesefellowswantthese

terroristsreleasedandI’vetoldtheR&AWchiefIwon’tbeapartytoit,’Farooqtoldhisgovernor.‘Iwouldratherresign,andthat’swhatIhavecometodo.’

GarySaxena,incidentally,wasaformerR&AWchief.Hedealtwiththesituationextremelywell.

‘DoctorSaheb,come-come,sitdown,relax,’Garysaid.‘You’reafighter,youdon’tgiveinsoeasily.’

OutcamethebottleofBlackLabel.AshepouredtheScotch,Garysaid:‘DoctorSaheb,youcan’tthrowinthetowelsoeasily.Sitdown,relax.’

Farooqlistenedtothegovernor.Healwayshadregardforageandthingslikethat.

‘Thesebloodyfellowsdon’tknowwhatthey’redoing,’Farooqranted.‘They’remakingahuge

mistake.’‘Maybe,’Garysaid,

pouringanother.‘Butatthispointoftimethereisnootheroption.ThismusthavebeenthoughtofanddiscussedinDelhi,andifthey’vedecidedthatthere’snootheroption,thenwehavetogoalongwithit.’

Ikeptmytrapshut.Ihadalreadygotitforthreelonghours.

Farooqsaidhisbit,the

dramawasover,wewentbackhome.

ThenextmorningIjudgedthatbeforeIwentbacktoDelhi,IhadbettermakeuseofthethreehoursofshitIgotfromFarooq.SoatbreakfastIsaid,‘Sir,Ineedafewthingsdonefromthestategovernment.’Farooqtypicallywasallcharmthenextmorning,andwhateverIaskedhesaid,‘Done.’Done,done,done.Justlikethat.

TransfersandotherfavoursforfriendsinKashmir,mattersthatnormallyhavetogothroughthegrindofthestatebureaucracy.

TherewerenocallsfromDelhi,aseveryoneassumedIwouldgetFarooqtocomearoundandreleasethetwoguysinJ&K.OmarSheikhwasinTiharJail,butMasoodAzharwasinKotBhalwaljailontheoutskirtsofJammu,andZargarwas

incarceratedinSrinagar.Bothwerebroughtovertotheairport,allthelegalformalitiesweresortedoutwithamagistrate,andtheywereputaboardmyR&AWaircraft,asmallGulfstreamjet.

AzharandZargarwerenotallowedtoseeme.TheywereblindfoldedandputonboardbeforeIgotontheaircraft.Therewasacurtaininthecabin,andtheywere

madetositintheback.Isatinthefront.Therewasnoquestionofmyhavingachatwiththesefellows,muchasIpridedmyselfontalkingtoanyoneandeveryoneinKashmir.

AsweweretakingoffIwastoldtogetdowntoDelhiasquicklyaspossiblebecauseJaswantSinghwaswaitingtogotoKandahar.WhenwelandedinDelhi,theyweretakentoJaswant’s

aircraft,whereOmarSheikhwasalsowaiting.

JaswantSinghwasaverylonelyman.Whentwenty-sevenpassengers,mostlywomenandchildren,andthedeadRupinKatyalwerereleasedinDubai,thetourismminister,SharadYadav,raisedhishandandsaidIwanttobethere.HequicklyflewouttoDubaiandtookchargeofthereleaseandhewavedhishandonTV.So

whenthetimecameforKandahar,JaswantSinghraisedhishandandsaid:‘I’llgo.’

Nobodywashelpingusout.RelationswithPakistanwerestrainedpost-Kargil,andwewereyettocometotermswithMusharraf.TheAmericanswereoutontheirChristmasweek,sonoCIAtopleadwith;mymeetingwithGeorgeTenet(CIAchief)wasinthefuture.Jaswant

keptcallingtheTalibanforeignminister,AbdulMuttawakil,butthatfellowwouldn’ttakehiscall.WhenheshowedupinKandaharfortheexchange,hewastheoneonwhomeverybodywhohadfeltfrustratedwiththewholeincidentinIndiafocusedtheirfrustration.

Inanycase,on31December1999,itwasallover.Whatsomewouldhavesaid—thatitwasnotagood

yearforIndianintelligence—wasnowfinallypast.Afteraweekofdramaandintensepressure,IgothomeintimetobringintheNewYearwithmywife,sippingcognacbythefireside.

Asfarasgovernmentpolicygoes,whentheUPAgovernmenttookpowerin2004,thematterofIC-814wasraisedandpeoplefeltthatweoughttoreviewourpolicywithregardto

terrorismandhijacking;itwasfeltthatthegovernment’spolicyshouldbetonevercompromisewithterrorism.Nevergivein.ButIrememberJaswantSinghspokeup—bravely,Ithought—andsaidthesepoliciesaregoodandfine,butatthetimetherewasnootheroption;andthatwemightagainbefacedwithasituationwherewehadnooptionbuttonegotiate.

Thefactofthematteriseverybodycompromises.EventheIsraeliscompromise.Youcanactbigandsaywedon’tcompromisewithterrorists.Buteveryonedoes.Ihadseenitfirst-handontwooccasions.Itmayhavebeentheendoftheyear,butitwasnottheendoftheworld.Wewouldmoveforwardinthenextyear,andthat’swhatwedid.

4KASHMIR’SMANDELAOR

DELHI’SAGENT:SHABIR

SHAH

Intheyear2000twoterroristsreturnedtoIndia.Oneofthem,HashimQureshi,wasamongthefirstKashmiriterroristsalongwithMohammadMaqboolButt;in1971HashimhadhijackedanIndianAirlinesplanetoPakistan.Theother,AbdulMajidDar,headedthemostlethalhome-grownterroristgroup,HizbulMujahideen,andbyvirtueofthatwascurrentlytheleaderof

Pakistan-basedmilitants.EachoftheirstoriesareapocryphalinthelessonstheyholdforKashmirisaswellasNewDelhi:ofhowclosetoabreakthroughwe’vebeen,andhowitalwaysmanagestoslipaway.

Thatbothreturned,onefromAmsterdamandonefromPakistan,couldhappenonlybecauseeventhoughIwasnowtheR&AWchief—someonethatmostmilitants

wouldrunamileawayfrom—talkingtoKashmirishadhelpedcreateaconduciveatmosphere.Duringthistime,severalotherseparatistsandmilitantsbegantoharbourdoubtsaboutthedirectioninwhichtheirmovementwasheaded,andwhethertheviolencetheyhadunleashedhadgottenthemanywhere.Therearetwostoriesinparticularthatillustratewhatwenton:thatoftheman

knownastheNelsonMandelaofKashmir,theeldestofthemoderngenerationofseparatists,ShabirShah;andthatofhiscommander-in-chief,onewhohadkidnappedthefirstforeignersinKashmir,BabarBadr—anomdeguerreforoneFirdousSyed.

HowIgottalkingtoShabirandFirdousandmanyothersisitselfastory;becauseitnearlynever

happened.In1990,whenmytenureinSrinagarasheadoftheIBstationcametoanend,Ishouldhavemovedontoothermatters,aswasthenormalcourseintheIntelligenceBureau.FranklyIwasgladthatmytenurewasoverbecausethelastfewmonthsinSrinagar,whenmilitancyoverwhelmedeverything,werehellish.

Srinagarinthewinterof1989-90wasaneerieghost

townwitnessingthebeginningsofawardance.RubaiyaSayeed’skidnappingopenedthefloodgatesofinsurgency.Killingswerealmostadailyoccurrence.Bombsandfiringoccurrednotfarfromthechiefminister’sresidenceinthemostsecurezonedownourroad.Gun-totingyouthintruckswereseenclosetothecantonment.Militaryparadesbyterroristswereheldin

downtown.Kashmirisbelievedthattheywereonthevergeofliberation.ManyevenputtheirwatchesbackhalfanhourtoPakistantime.ItwasprimetimeforPakistanispies;notjustmilitantsbutreputedbusinessmen,doctors,engineersandgovernmentofficialsweremeetingtheirhandlersinDelhi,Kathmandu,LahoreandRawalpindi.Everyonewas

suspectedofbeingaPakistani,noonetrustedanyoneelse.

ThestategovernmentwasinJammu;therewerehardlyanycentralgovernmentemployeesleftintownexceptthosefromtheagencies.Everyonewhocouldwasrunningaway.TherewasnegligiblepresenceofthearmyandtheCRPFinthecity,nosecurityparaphernaliaorbulletproof

carseither.TheJ&Kpolicewasunderheavyattackfromthemilitants;therewerereportsofsympathiserswithinthemovement.Onewaslefttoone’sowndevices.Everythingchangedovernight.

MyultimatenightmarethenwaswhatwouldhappenifthelargecrowdswhichhadstartedgatheringafterJagmohanarrivedinSrinagarforhissecondtenurein

January1990decidedtomarchtotheRajBhavan.Therewouldhavebeennowaytoprotectthegovernororhisresidence;resistancewouldhaveledtolarge-scalebloodshedallover.

ItstartedwiththeRubaiyakidnapping,mentionedinthepreviouschapter,thoughitwasn’tthefirstincidentofterrorism;theblastson31July1988attheSrinagarClubandoutsidethe

CentralTelegraphOfficemarkedthefirstincidentsinthisera.Yet,atthetime,therewasnopanic.Ayearlaterpeople’suncertaintyandcautiongrewbuttheyhadstillnotpanicked.

Forinstance,inSeptember1989thestategovernment’sadvisor,O.P.Bhutani,oneofmyearliermentorsinKashmir,wasbusycelebratinghisson’smarriagewithlotsofsinging

anddancing.MywifeandIwereathisplaceonenightandattendedtheweddingatCentaurHotelthefollowingnight.TherewastobeageneralreceptionthenextdayattheShalimarBagh,thefamedMughalGardeninSrinagar.Butthatnight—on28September—theseparatistShabirShahwasarrestedatRambaninJammu.Hisrepeatedincarcerationshadhelpedbuildamytharound

himandhispopularitygrewwithyoungKashmirisduringtheturbulent1980s.NewsofhisarrestledtoriotsinvariousplacesincludinghisnativeAnantnagandinSrinagar;soBhutanihadtocancelthereception.Wewerecautious,butthatwasit.

ThedamburstthenighttheJKLFboyswerefreedinexchangeforRubaiya’srelease.AsFarooqhadpredicted,thegovernment’s

cavinginemboldenedmanyKashmirisintothinkingthatazaadiwaspossible.‘Thepricewewillhavetopay,’wereFarooq’spropheticwords.

DespiteRubaiya’skidnapping,tillafterChristmasIwasstilldrivingaroundSrinagaronmyown.MostoftheinfrastructurethattheIBhastodaygrewduringtheprimeministershipofRajivGandhiforhetooka

keeninterestinintelligencemattersandithelpedthathehadacerebralDIBlikeNarayanan.DuringmytimeinSrinagartheIBhadafewAmbassadorcarsplusthatswanky—actuallyasmall,butnifty,hatchback—newcar,theMaruti800.IloveddrivingtheMarutiandwheneverIwantedtoleavethedriverbehindIwouldtakeitoutanddrivemywifeintothecity,buzzingfromone

placetoanother.Thiscontinuedtill3January1990,whenthefirstofmyIBcolleagueswasshotdeadbytheJKLFboys.

Themilitants,whohadcometrainedandarmedfromcampsacrosstheLineofControl(LoC),hadbeenadvisedbytheISItotryandrolltheStatebackinKashmir.ThosetargetedincludedKashmiriPanditswhoworkedinthe

government,likeNeelKanthGanjoo,thejudgewhohadsentencedMaqboolButttodeath,andLassaKoul,thedirectorofDoordarshanTV’sSrinagarstation;theyincludedmainstreampoliticiansfromtheNationalConference,whichwasdenouncedbymilitantsaspro-India;andtheuniformedservices,aspartofwhichwasthegunningdownofaCentralReservePoliceForce

(CRPF)detail,oroffourairforceofficers.AnditincludedfourIBofficersinaspanofaroundfiveweeks.

Asmentionedearlier,theIBwasmostactive,mostfearedandmostdenouncedinKashmir.TheISI,itselfbeinganintelligenceagencyandemboldenedathavingrecentlydefeatedthemightySovietUnioninAfghanistan,knewexactlyhowkeytheIBwastothecentral

government’sholdonKashmir;ittoldthemilitantstotargettheIB.MostofourofficersonthegroundwereKashmiriPandits,wholivedamongtheordinaryKashmirifolk,andtheymadeforeasytargets.

ThefirstIBofficershotwasaBihari,though:R.N.P.Singh.HewaskilledinAnantnag,inbroaddaylight.Inthosedayssilencerpistolswereused.Someonecould

justwalkuptoyouandshootyouandnoonewouldknow.Youwouldjustdropdead.Astheotherswerekilled—KishenGopalinBadgamon9January,M.L.BhaninNowgamon15January,andT.K.RazdaninSrinagaron12February—weknewwewerebeingtargeted.Itsuddenlybecamescary.Allofuswereunderthreat.

TheIBofficeonGupkarRoadhascompletelychanged

now,butinthosedaysithadasteepstaircasecomingdown,withalandinghalfwaydown.Iusedtowalkdownfromthetopofthosestairstothebottomeveryday,andIbegantothink:ifthere’saguysittingacrosstheroadwithasniperriflethenI’madeadduck.Justthewalkfromthehousetothefrontwithoutevenleavingthecompoundwasaheart-stoppingexperience—onadailybasis.

Althoughwegotbulletproofvehicles,thingsthatwinterweresobadthateverytimeyouwentout,youdidn’tknowifyouweregoingtocomebackornot.

Oneday,wewereinvitedtolunchbyJoginder‘Tiger’Singh,thentheCRPF’sIG(andlaterdirectoroftheCentralBureauofInvestigation)andwedrovethereviathebigRajbaghbridge.Wewereonthe

bridgewhenabombwentoff.Alotofwoodworkflew

overthecar.ThedriverstoppedthecarandIshoutedathim,‘Whatthehell,getamoveon.’WereachedTiger’s,andittookawhiletocalmdown.Finally,whileIhadmylunchthedriverwentanddidarecce,checkedupandreturned.Hesaidthattherewasahouseattheedgeofthebridgeandthebombhadgoneoffinthathouse.

Jagmohanwasappointedgovernoron19JanuaryandarrivedinJammu,wheretherewerecelebrations.Toimpressthenewgovernor,JoginderSinghhadabout300youngstersroundedupindowntownSrinagar.Thenightof20JanuarywasoneofthemostinfamousnightsofKashmir.AllofSrinagarcameoutontheroadsinprotestandtherewasalotofwailingandshriekingthat

roseandfellunnervingly.On21January,Iwas

summonedbythegovernortomeethimat10.30a.m.atRajBhavan.Iwasusheredinimmediatelyonarrivalintothegovernor’sofficeoverlookingtheDalLake.Jagmohanwassittingathisdeskwearingagreysuit.HewaslividwithJoginderSinghforroundinguptheboyswithouthis‘permission’.JoginderSinghwasshaken

butmostlykeptquiet.Ican’trememberifweevenexchangedaword,suchwasthetensionintheroom.Iwasembarrassed.Jagmohanwastogetconsiderableflakforwhathappenedinthoseearlydaysofhissecondterm.Theeventsofthosetwonightsweretocastashadowonwhatfollowed.

Intheafternoonof21January,therewasagainaprotestinthecityand

protestors,consistingmainlyofyouth,hadtobefiredupon,leadingtoanumberofdeathsatGowKadalintheoldcity.SuchwastheatmospherethatJagmohanwastolaterclaiminhismemoir,MyFrozenTurbulenceinKashmir,thathestoppedKashmirfromjoiningPakistanon26January1990.

Thenightof20January,Iwasatdinnerattheresidence

oftheresidentR&AWofficer,DujNath,andhelivedinBarzalla,whichisquitefarfromGupkarRoad.Duringdinnertheloudspeakerofthemosqueoutsidesuddenlycameonandstartedbroadcastingwailingathighvolume.Alargecrowdcollected.Duj’shousewasattherearofalargecompoundandatthegatewasalonesentry.Thereweresixofusthereandwewatched

thewholetamashafromthehouse.Iwascertainthatwerethecrowdtobreakthegateandstormthehouse,thesixofuswouldbelynchedalive.

MyassistantdirectorbackatGupkarcalledandaskedwhereIwas.Hetoldmenottoreturnthatnight.‘It’snotsafe,’hesaid.‘Staywhereyouare.’Asluckwouldhaveit,oneofthedinnerguestswastheKashmirValleysubareacommander,Brig.

MadanMohanLakhera,andhecalledforanarmycolumn.Soalongtwohourslaterwewerebackhome.

DuringthatkillingspreeofIBofficialstherecameadaywhenIwassortofgheraoedbymyIBcolleaguesinmyoffice.Thestaffcameout,alltwentyofthem,andtheytoldmetheyfeltveryinsecureinSrinagar.Whathadhappenedwasallthecentralgovernment

employeeshadrunawayfromKashmirthatwinter;theyhadalldisappeared,leavingbehindnobody.TheonlypeopleleftweretheIB.Thestaffsaid,we’retheonlyonesleftandtheplaceisnotsecure.Inthosedays,therewasnoarmy,andminimalparamilitarypresence.Asfarassafetywent,wewerelefttoourowndevices.

‘Secureornotsecure,I’mnotgoinganywhere,’Isaid,

‘andneitherareyouguys.’WhenRazdanwaskilled

(thelastofthewinter,thenextIBofficialwouldbekilledinJuly1990)hewasshotwithoneofthosesilencer-equippedgunsandwegotacallfromthepolicesayingtheyhadabodyattheircontrolroomandthatitmightbeoneofourpeople.Thepoliceaskedustocomeandidentifythevictim,andIwent.Razdanwasoneofour

techofficers,aKashmiriPanditfromHabbaKadal.IhadoneofthePanditofficerswithmeandIsaid,‘Youwouldknowhishouse,willyougoandinformhisparentsofwhat’shappened?’

TheofficersaidhewouldbutthenIthought,no,Ishoulddoitmyself.

ThefourofuswenttoHabbaKadal.Itwaslunchtime.Thedooropened,andinsidewesawanelderly

coupleabouttositdownfortheirmeal.Themanhadabowlofriceinhishand,andonelookatusandheunderstoodwhathadhappened.HebitterlysaidafewwordsinKashmiriandflunghisbowlagainstthewall.

IspentmytimethosedayssendingthesebodiesdowntoDelhi.Theyweregrimdays.

WhenournewDIB,

RajendraPrasadJoshi,visitedSrinagarhesawthatIwaslookingdrawn.(JoshihadtakenoverfromNarayananaftertheformationofthenewNationalFrontgovernmentofV.P.Singh.)‘Aren’tyoudrinkingtoomuch?’heaskedonenightbeforedinner.

‘Sir,there’snothingelsetodohere,’Ireplied.Ihadnobodyforcompany,nobodytotalkto.MywifewasinJammubecausemydaughter

waspreparingforherclass12boards.Nobodytrustedanyone,nobodyreliedonanyone.Srinagarwaslikeaghostcity.

WehadayoungdomestichelperbythenameofFarooq.Wehadhiredhiminthesummerof1989.Mywifefoundhimsoft-spokenandagoodworker.ButwhenthingsgotbadoneofourchapssuggestedInotletFarooqintothehouse.‘How

doyouknowhe’snotbeeninfiltratedhere,’thecolleaguesaid.‘He’snewhere?’

‘Yeah,ifhe’sinfiltrated,he’sinfiltrated,’Isaid.‘Nowit’stoolate.Nextyou’llaskmetostartlookingforbombsundermybed.’

Wehadagardener,SultanWani,andhehadbeenkeptbecauseheturnedtheIBcompoundintooneofthemostbeautifulgardensinSrinagar.Hewassooldthat

nooneknewwhenheretired,buthekeptworkingthere.Andsomeonesuggestedtomethathewasnotokay.‘WhatdoIdowithhim?’Isaid.‘Ican’taffordtochuckouttheoldman.’

Itwasthatkindoftime,abadtime,andformeitcametoanabruptend.ThedayJagmohanwasappointed,FarooqAbdullahcarriedthroughwiththethreatthathehadmadetothenewprime

minister,V.P.Singh—ifthenewgovernmentsentJagmohantoJ&K,hewouldquit.Jagmohanwasthegovernorin1984whowassenttoJ&KtodealwithmilitancythathadexplodedintheValley,knowingthatFarooqwouldalsoresign.V.P.Singhhadnochoice,however,andwhenJagmohan’sappointmentwasannouncedFarooqquit.

IhadbeenwarnedthatI

wasalsogoingtoberemoved,andthepersonwhowarnedmewasVijayDhar,afriendandaneighbouronGupkarRoad.VijaywasthesonofambassadorD.P.Dhar;thefatherwasaconfidantofIndiraGandhi,thesonaconfidantofRajivGandhi.VijayknewIwaspreoccupiedduringtheRubaiyakidnapping;itendedon13Decemberat5:30p.m.,andthenextdayhecameand

askedtohaveacupofcoffee.‘IjustwanttowarnyouthatpeopleinDelhiaregunningforyou,’hesaid.‘Youshouldbecareful.You’vebeenbrandedasaFarooqman.’

‘Whoaretheseguys?’Iasked.

‘ArunNehruandcompany,’hesaid.Thisincludedthehomeminister,MuftiSayeed,whosedaughter’sreleaseIhadworkedforandwhonever

reallylikedme;andJagmohan,whoseprevioustermhadoverlappedwithmineandwhodidn’tlikehowcloseIwastoFarooq.Itookitinmystridebutthat’sexactlywhathappened.InearlyMarchIwasrelieved;andIonlygottoknowthatIwasbeingturfedouttoDelhithedaymysuccessor,R.C.Mehta,wascomingtoSrinagar.

Igotacallinthemorning

thatR.C.wasarrivingandIdidn’timmediatelygetit;Isaidifhe’scoming,don’tworry,I’llgoandreceivehimattheairport.Theysaid,no,he’sgoingtobethereforawhile.That’swhenithitme.

ActuallyIwashappytogetoutofthere.WhenIreachedDelhiIheardthatithadtakenthemawhiletofindsomeonewillingtogotoSrinagar.Infact,Jagmohan,geniusthathewas,senta

messageontheIBchannelaskingforK.P.Singh,whohadbeenpostedinSrinagarbeforemeduringJagmohan’searliertenure,tobepostedagain.ThusIknewthatmytimewouldsoonbeup.TroublewasthatK.P.turneddowntheoffertoreturntoSrinagar.Hehaddonehisbit.HetoldJoshi,theDIB,‘Sir,Ihavealreadybeenthere.WillyousendwhoeverJagmohanasksfor?’

TheytriedafewseniorofficersandfinallyR.C.figured,‘Chaltehain.’

WhileIwasinSrinagar,Joshihadsaidsomethingthatgaveawayforward.ThingsweregoingbadlyintheValley:Kashmirisbegantosniffazaadi,fortheyweretakeninbytheISI’sbluffthatiftheystartedsomethingbigenough,thePakistanarmywouldcomeandliberatethemfromIndia,muchinthe

wayIndiahadhelpedBangladesh’sliberationfromPakistan.InsurgencyinKashmirwasmastermindedbyGen.Zia-ul-HaqandhishenchmenasrevengeforBangladesh.Kashmiriswerecrossingtheborderindroves.TheIB’ssourcesdriedupbecausenoonewouldtalktous;noonewantedtobeseengoingtoGupkarRoad.Wewereinamess.ThePakistaniswereenjoying

watchingKashmirburn.Thus,in1990,weneeded

thearmytocontainmilitancy,butifitwerenotfortheIBandtheintelligenceitprovidedthearmywouldn’thaveknownwhattodo:itwouldhavebeenfightingblind.InthatverydifficultperiodthearmyoperationswereguidedbytheIB,andfranklyIdidnotcontributeanythingbecauseIhadbeenpulledout:thesuccessesin

fightingmilitancyduringthattimewereatributetotheworkbycolleaguespostedinSrinagarafterme.Theyrosetotheoccasionandtookoutsomekeymilitants.Somemilitantsgotkilled,someofthemdisappeared,andsomewentbacktoPakistan,andthatiswhatencouragedseparatistslikeShabirormilitantslikeFirdoustocomeoutoftheshadows.

Thewayforwardthat

JoshiinspiredwasthatdespitethekillingsanddespitetheIBbeingtargeted,whatwasmostimportantwasforDelhitoreachouttotheKashmiris,andfortheIBtodosotoo.JoshiknewthattheIBneverhadthebestreputationintheValleysincethetimeofSheikhSaheb.

PerhapsJoshi’sinsighthadtodowiththefactthathewasn’tliketherestofus.JoshicametotheBureaulate.

Hewasn’tlikethoseofuswhohadbeenearmarkedrightatthebeginningofourservice;heenteredtheIBatthelevelofdeputydirector,whichwasexceptionalinourorganisationbecausetheIBlikespeopletogrowfromwithin.Asaresult,hehadmoreexperiencethantherestofusofbeingapoliceofficerinthefield;combinedwiththefactthathewasdowntoearth,simpleandpractical,it

helped;hesawstraightinmanymatters.

Joshibecamechiefquitebyaccident;thoughhewassecondinsenioritytoNarayanan(theywerefromthesamebatch),everyoneassumedNarayananwouldbeinthesaddletillheretired.ButwhenV.P.SinghbecameprimeministerheeasedoutNarayanantotheJointIntelligenceCommittee(JIC)andmadeJoshithechief.

AndintheoneyearthatJoshiwasinthesaddle—V.P.Singhwasprimeministerforjustayear—hemadethispoint:wemustunderstandthatwehavetoreachoutandbefriendtheKashmirisothathedoesn’tfeelDelhiisalwayshostiletohim.

WhenIreturnedfromSrinagarinMarch1990Iwasaskedtohandlethis,sinceitwasassumedthatImustknowsomepeople,though

thefactwasIknewnobody.IwaswonderingwheretostartwhenIwassuddenlytransferredtocounter-intelligence.FormostintelligenceofficersthatwouldhavebeentheendoftheirKashmirexperience.

Whathappened,however,isthatV.P.Singh’sgovernmentfellandChandraShekharbecamethenewprimeministerwiththesupportoftheCongressparty.

HebroughtNarayananbackastheDIB.AndassoonasNarayanantookoverhecalledformeandsaid:‘You’vehadenoughofaholiday,nowcomebackanddosomeseriouswork.Iwantyoutoagaintakeover.’AndsoIwasputinchargeoftheIB’sKashmirOperationsGroupinDecember1990,afterafewmonthsofcounter-intelligence,andtillthetimeIwentacrossto

R&AWeightyearslaterIdidnothingbutKashmir.

WebegantalkingtoKashmiris.Therewerethreetypes.

OnetypecomprisedKashmiriswhowereontheperipheryofthemovement.Theythoughttheywereinthemovement,buttheyweren’treallybecausetheyweren’tintokillingpeople.TheseguyswereclosetotheJKLFbuttheywerenotideologues

—youcouldsaytheywerehangers-on.SomebodywhoknewYasinMalik,somebodywhoknewShabirShah,etc.TheywouldvisitDelhiandwouldcomewithstoriesandwewouldtalktothem.TheywerebasicallygeneralKashmirissupportiveoforsympathetictothemovement.

Thesecondcategorywasareadymadegroupofthepeoplewhoreallymattered,thepeoplewhowereallin

jail.Byearly1990,theformerMuslimUnitedFrontleaderswhowouldlaterformtheAllPartiesHurriyatConference,ortheJKLFguys,wereindifferentjails.Wethushadtheopportunityofreachingouttowhoeverwewantedtobyvisitingtheminjail.LikeShabirShah,YasinMaliktoowascontactedwheninjail.

Thethirdcategorywerethemilitants.Obviously,this

wasaslightlymoredifficultgroup,forhowdoyougettosomeboyswhoareinthefield,orunderground?LikeFirdousandothers,wegottothembutittooktime.

Eventually,therewasnobodyinKashmirwhomtheK-Groupdidnotreachoutto.So,withthat,besidestheanalysisandoperationsandotherstuffthatwedid,wegotveryinvolvedintalkingtoKashmiris.Andwespenta

lotoftimecultivatingrelationshipsliketheonewithShabirAhmedShah,theheadmasteroftheboyswhotookuparmsinthelate1980s–early1990s.

Shabirhadbeeninandoutofjailsince1968,whenhewasonlyfourteenyearsold.TheonlyKashmiriwhohadspentmoretimeinjailthanShabirwasSheikhAbdullah.ThefactthatShabirwasolderthanthenew

lotofmilitantboysandthefactthathekeptgoingintoandcomingoutofjailmadehimtheobjectofrespectandadmirationofKashmiriyoungsters.MythsgrewaroundhimsuchastheonethatheunfurledaPakistaniflagataninternationalcricketmatchbetweenIndiaandtheWestIndiesinSrinagarin1983.Hewasn’tevenatthematch.

Buthedidn’tmindallthe

publicityandallthetimeinjail:itsavedhimfromeverhavingtolayoutanagendaoraroadmaptofreedom.Infact,beinginJammujailquiteoftenduringthe1980sputhimintouchwithSikhboyswhowerejailedforKhalistan-relatedterrorism,mostofthemwiththeSikhStudentsFederation.Hencesomenetworkinghadstarted,whichpickeduppaceintheearly1990s,between

extremistsfrombothPunjabandKashmir.ForPakistanthiswasgoodnewsfortheycouldtrytoexploitbothtogether.However,whatIunderstoodfromtheSikhboyslaterwasthattheygotdisillusionedwiththeKashmirisprettyquickly.TheysaidtheKashmiriswerefaint-heartedandtalkedbigbutwoulddonothing:‘Inmeindumnahinhain,kucchnahinkarenge,’theysaid.

Inanycase,Shabirandlike-mindedKashmiriseparatistsformedthePeople’sLeaguein1974inprotestagainstthenegotiationsthatwouldleadtotheaccordbetweenSheikhSahebandIndiraGandhithefollowingyear.Inlate1986,acloseassociateofShabir,MehmoodSagar,wasinstrumentalinpatronisinganti-IndiayouthinSrinagarcitywhileShabirwasinjail,

leadingtotheformationoftheanti-IndiaIslamicStudentsLeague(ISL).Someofitsmembers,likeitsgeneralsecretary,YasinMalik,activelyworkedforMUFcandidatesinthe1987stateassemblyelection,andtheywerethrowninjailwhentheyprotestedagainsttheblatantelectoralmalpracticesofthosepolls.TheISLwouldlatermorphintotheJKLFwhileShabirremainedinthe

People’sLeague.TheISL,however,hadaclosebondwithShabir,whowasthentheemotionalvoiceofKashmiriyouth.

Shabircaughtmyattentioninlate1988,whenaninterviewofhimbyZafarMehrajappearedonthefrontpageoftheKashmirTimes.Shabirbeingundergroundmadetheinterviewbignews.BythattimehewasalsoknownasanAmnesty

International‘prisonerofconscience’:hewasquitetakenbysuchmonikers.AndthenalmostayearlaterheandhislieutenantNayeemKhanwerearrestedatRambaninJammuwhilethetwoweremakinganattempttocrosstheLineofControltotakechargeofseparatistactivitiesinPakistan-occupiedKashmir.TheISIguyswerewaitingforhimandhadwantedhimtocome

acrossforalongtime;hewasamostsought-afterseparatist.

YearslatervariousformercomradesofhiswouldallegethatShabirhimselfavoidedgoingacrossbecausehelackedthecouragetodoso.Perhapsitwouldhaveputhimtoarealleadershiptest;severalmilitantslatertoldmethatonceyougoacross,youdon’tknowifyou’regoingtobeusedormisused.Orperhapshedidn’twanttoget

tootangledwiththeISIbecauseonceyou’vebeentothat‘randikhana’,itisverydifficulttogetbackout.AKashmirimilitantoncetoldme,guyswho’vecomeintopropercontactwiththeISIarenevergoingtobeinapositiontoworksomethingoutwithDelhi.

Andincidentally,ShabiristheonlyseparatistleaderwhohasneverbeentoPakistan.

WhenIstartedtalkingtoKashmiristhen,theobviouschoicetostartwithwasShabir.TheentireJKLFleadershipatthatpointlookeduptohim(theHizbulMujahideenhadn’tbecomethedominantgroupyet),hehadhisownmilitanttanzeem,andheseemedtohaveacertainamountofegothatwecouldmassage.Thefactisthatanybodywhoissomebodyorwhothinksheis

somebodyinKashmirhasabigego.AndatthatpointShabirwastheheadmastertotherestofthemilitants.

YeteventhoughIhadnoprobleminwalkingintothejailwhereShabirwasbeingheld,therewasnoguaranteethathewouldutteraword,muchlessbegintalkingtome.ItwouldhavebeengoodtohaveanintermediaryandIstumbledacrossonethroughamainstreampolitician,Prof.

SaifuddinSoz,whowasthenwiththeNationalConference.Sozwasastrangecharacter:hewouldneverlookanyoneintheeyewhenhespokeandinsteaddirectedhisgazeatapointjustaboveone’shead.Hewasacomplicatedcharacter,votingagainsthisownpartyin1999andbringingdowntheone-year-oldBJPgovernment(whichwasre-electedanyway),forwhichFarooqthrewhimout

oftheparty.Inthewinterof1990,

however,Sozapproachedmeandaskedmeforhelpwithafriendwhowasinjail.‘Pleasehelphim,he’sapersonalfriendofmine,’Sozsaid.‘Andhecouldbeofusetoyoualso.’

‘Whetherhe’sofusetomeornot,ifhe’sapersonalfriendofyourswe’llhelphim,’Isaid.

Soz’sfriendwasa

prominentbusinessman.AtthattimeinKashmir—anunusualtime—therewerebusinesspeople,someofwhommoneywasextortedfromandsomeofwhomweregivingmoneytomilitants.Someofthesebusinesspeoplewithlinksacrosstheborderwerepivotalinsponsoringterrorism.ThesamepeoplewouldhelpusinthegovernmentofIndiainourfightbackagainst

militancy.Inthewaythattherewereobviousseparatistsorobviousmilitants,therewerealsoobviousbusinessfamiliesinvolvedinthesameracket,insomeaspectoranother.Sincetheyhadpublicdealings,beingbusinessmen,theyweremoreeasilyapproachablefortheIBthanamilitant.Someofthemwereintroubleandtheycametous;someofthemweheardaboutandweapproachedon

ourown;somebecamefriends.Obviouslytheywillneedtoremainanonymous.

Soz’sfriendwaspartofaflourishingbusinessfamilyandhewasinjailbecauseJagmohan,despitehisshorttenurethesecondtimearound—hetookoverinJanuary1990andhadtoresigninMayduetothefiringuponaprocessionofmournersoftheassassinatedMirwaizMoulviFarooq—zealouslywentafter

thosehethoughtwerefundingandfinancingmilitancy.Iftherewasanallegationagainstabusinessperson,Jagmohanhadthatpersonpickedup.Thus,thisfriendofSoz’sfromaprominentbusinessfamilywasthrownintojailandwasthereforfiveorsixmonthsbeforeSozfinallycametome.

ThebusinessmanwaseventuallyreleasedandI

wenttomeethim.HewasdistrustfulofmeandhadlotsofreservationsabouttalkingtotheIB.Yetwhilehespokelittle,hedidmentiontomethattherewasnobodybetterthanShabiratthatpointtotargetortalkto.‘Hecouldbetheanswertoyourproblems,’thisbusinessmansuggestedtome.‘IfDelhiisseriousaboutadialoguewithKashmiris,thenShabiristherightperson.’

ThatbusinessmanwasclosetoShabirandremainedsoaslongasShabirwasthefocusofthingsinKashmir.

ShabirwasinjailwithhislieutenantNayeemKhan,whohadlefttheISLtojoinwithShabirinthePeople’sLeague.Nayeemwasagood,practicalinfluenceonShabir,whohaddreamsandvisions.NayeemhelpedourcauseasavoiceofreasonatShabir’ssidebecausewhenwestarted

talkingtoShabir,theprisonerofconsciencehadtypicalKashmirireservations.‘Whatarewegoingtotalkabout?’hesaidtome.

‘Let’stalkabouttalking,’Ireplied.

WhenIsaytypicalKashmirirefrain,whatImeanisthatatthebackoftheKashmirimindareallthesacrificestheyhavemadefortheirmovementandallthedeathsthathavetakenplace;

thatallofithasonlygrownandmultiplied;andthattherehastobesomethingshownforit.‘Ithastobepeacewithhonour,’Shabirwouldtellme.Sofromtalkingabouttalks,webeganspeakingaboutthefutilityofthegun,andthenaboutpeacewithhonour.Itwasaslowprocess.

SometimesImethiminjail,bringingalongabottleofRoohAfzaandaboxofgrapes,andsometimesImet

himataJammunursinghome.Webegantotalkofdialogue.IbegantocallhimtheNelsonMandelaofKashmir,andhelikedtobeknownthatway.WespokeofasettlementwithIndiaandthathecouldbecomechiefminister—orevenprimeminister—ofKashmirinthewaythatSheikhSahebwasintheperiod1947–53.

Onceotherseparatistswerereleasedin1993—the

MUFguyswhoformedtheAllPartiesHurriyatConference—hebegantofeelreadyforrelease.Wereallymassagedhisego,encouraginghimtothinkthathehadamonopolyonDelhiandthatwewantedtoseehimaschiefminister.‘ShahSaheb,’Isaid.‘Nowwewanttoseeyouthere.Iwanttocomeandstaywithyou.’

Shabirwouldlaughaboutit,buthewasalsoconcerned

becausehewasgoingalongwiththeflowandonceinawhilehewouldwonderwhetherhehadgonetoofarorwhetherhehadgonetoofast,andwhereallthiswouldendup.‘Iwillberesponsible,’hesaidrepeatedlytous,andinsistedthattherehadtobepeacewithhonour.‘Ofcourse,’Isaid.‘Ifthere’sadialogue,therehastobesomethingfortheKashmirisalso.’

Thepeoplearoundhim—Nayeem,Shabir’scommander-in-chiefFirdous(whowascaughtbythearmyduringthoseyears),andeventhatbusinessmanwhoputmeontohim—allwantedShabirtomovealittlefaster.YetsincehefelthewasseniorandsuperiortoalltheotherseparatistshewantedtowaittillthegovernmentofIndiareleasedthebig-nameseparatistsbeforethey

releasedhim.Indeed,thelastbignamereleasedbeforeShabirwasYasinMalikinMay1994,andinOctober1994Shabirwasreleased.

WhenShabirwasout,hedecidedhewouldmarchtoPoonch,thenbacktoJammuandthenclimbupthroughBhaderwahandKishtwarinDoda(apartoftheJammuregion)onhiswaytoAnantnaginsouthKashmir.Itwasagoodplan.Bythe

timehereachedSrinagarhewaslikethePiedPiperofHamlin:everyonewasfollowinghim.HiseachstopwasthrongedbyexcitedKashmiris.IndiaTodayputhimonitscoverontopofabus.IwastakenabackbythemassivereceptionandaskedaKashmirifriend,‘Isthisguyreallythatbig?’

TheKashmiriturnedaroundandsaid:‘Look,thereisafeelingthathehasdonea

dealwithDelhiandthereforehegivesusalotofhope.Thatisthereasonsomanypeoplearebackinghimorfollowinghim.’

Shabirwastherightmanattherightmoment.KashmirishadgonethroughalmostfiveyearsofunrelentingviolencewithoutanyoftheazaadithattheISIhadpromisedthem.Theywantedreliefandtheywantedpeacewithhonour.Shabir

tappedthesentimentandinBaramullahemadeaspeechwherehesaidthathehadcomewithaneedleandthread,lookingtosewtogetherapeace.Itseemedthatin1995hewouldseizethemomentandgiveKashmiranewdirection.Hehadevengottenmarriedin1995,somethingthatnotonlyendedhispenchantforrepeatedlygoingtojailbutalsofuelledhispersonal

ambition.HespoketohisfriendsaboutthepossibilitythathecouldwinaNobelPrize.

Andthen,nothinghappened.Shabirbegantohavesecondthoughtsandhebeganbacktracking.

Someofitwashisownfearofsteppinguptotheplate,andsomeofitwasDelhi.InMarch1995,forinstance,ShabircametoDelhiandhemetawhole

bunchofpoliticians,includingthoseintherulingCongressparty,thoseintheLeft,andevenVajpayee,whowasthentheleaderoftheopposition.WhilehewasinDelhihetoldusthatheneededtogotoKathmandu,andheaskedmetofacilitatethetrip.‘I’mgoingtomeetMehmoodSagar,’hesaid,referringtohisPakistan-basedseniorcolleagueinthePeople’sLeague.Sagarused

toownashopinMaharajBazaar,andin1987,boyswouldcongregatetherebeforetheycrossedtheLoC.Shabirapparentlywantedtoconsulthisseniorcolleague,whowashimselfnowacrosstheLoC.‘IcanonlymeethiminKathmandu,’Shabirsaid.‘SoImustgotoKathmandu.’

Ijudgedthatitwasnobigdeal.Ifweweretodobusinesswithhimthenweshouldlethimgo,evenifit

wasobviousthatSagarwouldnotbetheonlypersonhewouldmeet.ItwouldbeMehmoodSagar-plus;theISIwouldwantawordortwoaswell.‘Nobigdeal,’Ithought.

IwasoverruledbymypanickybossesinDelhi.‘No,no,thisisveryrisky,’theysaid.Inintelligencework,youhavetofollowthechainofcommand.AndsoShabir,whowasinVaranasionhiswaytoKathmandu,was

calledback.Shabirneverletmeforget

that.‘Aaphumkotrustnahinkarte,’hesaid.ToputitinthewordsofGeorgeTenet,weshouldhavetakenthatchancetocheckhimout.

AsShabirbegantolosesteamthepeoplearoundhimbecameincreasinglydisillusioned.As1995progressed,allthatNayeemandFirdouseversawwasShabirhavingaball,

travellingaroundIndiaandmeetingpoliticiansandactivists,goingtoplaceslikeCalcuttaandTrivandrumandbeingfetedasTheNextBigThingFromKashmir.Theprimeminister,P.V.NarasimhaRao,whowasthinkingofabreakthroughinKashmir(hehadalreadyhadabreakthroughinPunjabwiththe1992stateassemblyelections),encouragedthepoliticalclasstopumpup

Shabir.ShabirevensetupshopinDelhi:heestablishedtheKashmirAwarenessBureauinsouthDelhi’sMalviyaNagar,anditwasinauguratedbyI.K.Gujral,alaterprimeminister.ItwaspartofShabir’sgettingknowninDelhiandbecomingapartofthepoliticalfirmament.

AndallthatNayeemandFirdouseverheardfromShabirwashowheshouldget

theNobelPrize.Thisdidn’thelpthemilitantswhowantedtojoinhimoverground.Theywereinamoreprecariouspositionbecausethelifespanofamilitantwastwototwoandahalfyearsbeforetheywouldgetbumpedoffbythearmyorthepoliceorsomebodyelse.Theyneededadialoguetobegin,andapeaceinitiativetowork.WeevensuggestedtoShabirthathedeputeateamtocontinue

thedialogueonhisbehalfbuttonoavail.

NarasimhaRaowassokeentoropeShabirintoplay—hedidn’tlikeFarooqmuchandwantedtoseeafreshleadershipinKashmir—thatIwassentbytheDIBtobriefhimonKashmirbeforeheleftonaforeigntourasprimeministerinNovember1995.ItwastheonlytimeIevermettheman,whoalsoneverlookedmeintheeye,but

askedme:‘HownecessaryisFarooqfortherevivalofthedemocraticprocessinKashmir?’

NarasimhaRaowasobviouslylookingtowardsastateassemblyelectioninJ&KthefollowingyearanditwasclearthathewasplacinggreathopeinShabir.HehadevenaskedmetointroduceShabirtohisfinanceminister,ManmohanSingh,anotherfutureprimeminister.Andto

capit,onthattriptoAfrica,whentheprimeministerwasinBurkinaFaso,heannouncedthatthegovernmentwaswillingtodiscussanykindofpoliticalarrangementwithKashmir;anyquantumofazaadi.‘Theskyisthelimit,’werehisfamouswords.HewassignallingtoShabirthathewasreadytogiveKashmirispeacewithhonour.

Shabir,however,didnot

seeitthatwaybecausehedidnotcheckNarasimhaRaoout.ForsomereasonhethoughtNarasimhaRao’sofferoftheskywasforFarooqandtheNationalConferencetodrawtheminandtherebylegitimiseelections.Thatwastheunintendedconsequenceofallthis:FarooqandhispartyworriedthattheycouldgetleftbehindinNewDelhi’sattempttowootheseparatistsandsothey

jumpedintothefrayinthe1996stateelections.AndsinceShabirdithered,theNationalConferencewonbigandformedthegovernment.

Theditheringin1995–96didnotgounnoticedbyShabir’slieutenants,whoultimatelygotdisillusionedwithhim—Firdousbeforetheelections,Nayeemaftertheelections.Firdousandseveralothermilitantswewerespeakingtoinfactdecidedto

nolongerwaitforShabirtomakeuphismindandinearly1996theycameoverground,laiddownarms,andbeganpeacetalkswiththegovernmentofIndia.ThiswasalsoasetbacktoShabirbecausehebelievedhehadamonopolywithNewDelhi.WhenFirdousandothermilitantsbeganadialoguethenShabirbegantothinkthatDelhiwasdouble-dealingwithhim.

Asmentionedearlier,perhapsShabirfeltthingsweregoingtoofastandhedidn’tfeelheknewwhereitwouldallend.Itwasbasicallyamatterofhenothavingfaithinhimself.

Theironyis,becauseofthewaywepursuedhimandtheofferthattheprimeministermade,thingsopenedupinKashmir.MoreandmoreKashmirisbegantocomeforwardandthe

NationalConferencewonpower;sothatbythetimeofthenextelectionin2002,Shabirhadmissedthebus.Thereweremoreplayersandhewasnolongerabigdeal.HadShabirjumpedintothefrayin1996hecouldhavehaditallandachancetoforgehispeople’sdestiny.

IhadalongchatwithShabirduringthe2002elections,whenItriedtopersuadehimtocontest,but

hesaid,‘WhatcanIdosingle-handedly?Icanatmostwinoneseat.IfIhadmorepeopleIcouldwinprobablythreeseats.Andanywayit’sdecidedthatFarooqAbdullahorhissonOmarwillbecomethechiefminister.’Itoldhimhewaswrong,buthedidnotlisten.

Afterthe2002elections,MuftiSayeedbecamethechiefministerwithouthavingwonthelargestnumberof

seats,andItoldShabirhehadbeenwrong.ItoldNayeemandhimthattheycouldhavebeenministersiftheyhadbecomeMLAs.Naeemagreedandsaid,‘Yes,wemadeamistake.’ButShabirwasbitter.‘Bigdeal,’hesaid.‘MuftiistheothersideofthesamecoinasFarooq.’

ThingswereneverthesameforShabirafterthat:hiscareerdriftedaimlesslyandnowhe’sinhissixtieshehas

aHurriyatConferenceofhisownafteroncejoiningitandsplittingit.HehasoflatetiltedmoretowardsPakistan,whichfundshim,andgetsmoneyandhangsaroundinSrinagar.Heiscynical,likemostKashmiris,andwilltellanyonewholistensabouthowinsincereDelhiis.

ItremindedmeofwhatFirdousoncesaidtomein1995,whenhisfrustrationwasreachingazenith.He

askedmewhethertheIBhadpsychiatrists.

‘No,’Isaid.‘Whydoyouask?’

‘Howdoyouanalysepersonalities?’Firdouspersisted.

‘Bytalkingtothem,’Isaid.

‘No,’hesaid.‘Shabirisnotsoeasytoanalyse.’

Shabirwasahellofaletdown.Theyallthoughtthat,evenYasin.Itwasa

disappointmentforme,havingspentsomanyyearstalkingtohim,tryingtogettheISIoutofhishead,tryingtogethimtogetupandstandupforhispeople.Butinretrospectitwasn’tsuchabigdisappointmentbecauseone,thethreadofdialoguewithShabircanbepickedupagain,atanytime.Andtwo,theexperiencewasastepinthesuccesseswehadinbringingmilitantsinfromthe

cold,betheyShabir’scommander-in-chiefFirdous,HashimQureshi,orAbdulMajidDar.

5

PROXYWARRIOR

IfterrorismsuspectsvoluntarilyreturnedfromabroadduringmytimeastheR&AWchief,themainreasonfordoingsowastheir

disappointmentwithPakistan.Perhapstheyhadmatured,grownolderandwiser,andhaddevelopedfamilialresponsibilities;perhapsitwasexhaustionandadesiretocomehomeandbreatheeasily;butwhatwasundeniableinallcaseswasasenseofbetrayalandtheshatteringoftheirdreamthatPakistanwouldhelpliberateKashmirfromIndia.

Ihadseenthisrepeatedly

after1994andupcloseingreatdetailwithShabir’scommander-in-chief,BabarBadr,whoserealnamewasFirdousSyed.Heandhisgroup,theMuslimJaanbazForce(namedafterthepeople’smilitiathatPakistanimilitarydictatorZia-ul-Haqhadpropounded),hadinApril1991kidnappedSwedishengineersJohanJanssonandJanOleLoman,workingontheUrihydel

projectjust18kmfromtheLoCinnorth-westernKashmir.ItwasthefirsttimeforeignerswerekidnappedinKashmir.EventheUnitedNationssecretarygeneral,JavierPerezdeCuellar,appealedfortheSwedes’release.TheSwedishgovernmentpaidofftheMJFinPakistanandinthreemonthstheengineerswereallowedtowalktofreedom.Notlongaftertheywere

kidnapped,though,thearmycaughtFirdousandacoupleofhisboys,andaftertheusualdetentionandinterrogation,weattheIBgotwordfromthearmythatherewasamilitantwhowasunliketheothers:hewasreasonable,hewasgood,hespokesense,hetalkedpeace.

Firdouswasnotatalltherun-of-the-millmilitant.Hewasamiddle-classboyfroman‘NCfamily’,onethat

traditionallysupportedtheNationalConference.HewasfromBhaderwahinDodadistrict,whichlayontheJammubankoftheJhelumriver—themetaphoriccuspofboththeKashmirandJammuregions—soDoda’sMuslimscomprisedKashmirisandnon-KashmiriswhostronglyidentifiedwithKashmiriculture.Firdous’sfatherwasinthetimbertrade,andsincepoliticsinJ&Kwasbasedon

patronage—timbercontractsweredoledoutbythegovernmentinexchangeforpoliticalsupport—theirswasahardcoreNCfamily.OneofFirdous’schildhoodmemories,infact,wasattheJammurailwaystationwithhisfolkstoreceiveSheikhAbdullahfollowingtheSher-e-Kashmir’srelease,aftertwodecadesofimprisonment,andreturntoJ&Kin1975.

Firdouswasateenager

duringSheikhSaheb’stwilightandtheabbreviatedfirsttenureofFarooqAbdullah.ThatwasatimewhentherewasmuchturmoilintheMuslimworld,firstwiththeIslamicrevolutioninIranin1979,andthenwiththeSovietUnion’sinvasionofAfghanistanleadingtoaresistancemannedbyIslamists,fundedbySaudipetro-dollars,andarmedbytheCIA.Itstillsurprisesme

thataculturedandsensitivefellowlikeFirdouscouldhavegotteninvolvedinaggressionandmilitancybutthatwasthetrendinthe1980s,particularlyafterthe1987assemblyelectionthattheMuslimUnitedFront(MUF)feltwasstolenfromthem.ThoughhewasclosetoShabirShah—theheadmasterofthoseboysthatcomprisedthefirstwaveofmilitancy—hedidnotjointheIslamic

StudentsLeague(ISL),whichlaterbecametheJammuandKashmirLiberationFront(JKLF),andinsteadformedhisowngroup,theMJF.

In1988,soonaftertheassemblyelection,groupsofboyscrossedLoCforarmstrainingbytheISI.FirdouswasamongthoseyoungstersandhewentacrosswithShabir’sotherlieutenant,Nayeem.Aftertheirreturn,theMJFwasinvolvedin

severalincidentsofterrorism,andthencamethe1991kidnappingoftheSwedesandFirdous’ssubsequentcapture.AfteramonthoffutileinterrogationbyparamilitaryforcesliketheCRPFandtheBorderSecurityForce(BSF)hewashandedovertothearmyforsolitaryconfinement.

Thiswasakeyperiod,forFirdousaswellasforus,becauseduringtheeleven

monthsthathewaswiththearmy’s10GarhwalRiflesalotchangedforhim.Foronething,hehadtimetointrospectaboutthemovement,theviolence,andwhetherornotitwasworthit.Afreerunoftheregiment’swell-stockedlibrarycontributedtothisprocess,andthoughFirdous’sinvolvementinrebelactivityandmilitancymeantthathisformaleducationhadbeen

curtailed,hereadvoraciouslyduringthattime,goingthroughaboutfiftybooksrangingfromGen.DouglasMacArthur’smemoirstoFaizAhmedFaiz’spoetry.Itprobablyhelpedthathewasinsolitaryandnotamongotherprisoners,whoweremorelikelytobespendingtimeinplanningjailbreaks(ashewouldlaterinJammujail).

Themanwhoallowed

himafreerunofthelibrarywasthecommandingofficer,Brig.NaseebSinghKatoch.ThisprofessionalsoldiertalkedtoFirdous;andthatwasthesecondthingaboutthechangeFirdousunderwent.ThetwoofthemdebatedKashmir,themovement—aseparatistmilitantandamantotallycommittedtoIndia.ThemaninuniformimpressedFirdouswithhisknowledge,his

patience.BrigadierKatochgenerallydispelledastereotypethatFirdousandothermilitants(nottospeakoftheirISIhandlers)hadofIndiansoldiersinparticularandIndiansingeneral.FirdousfoundthatIndianswerereasonable.

ThearmyalsorealisedthatFirdouswasnothinglikethecrude,uncouth,illiterateandsometimesbarbaricmilitantstheyordinarilycame

across.TheunitsentwordtousattheIBthatherewasareasonablefellowwhomwemightwanttotalktoatlength.

IntheIB,thewholeideaoftalkingdirectlytoboyswhohadtakenupthegunwastwo-fold:onewasthatweneededtodetachanymilitant—andinthiscase,Firdouswasanimportantmilitant—frommilitancyandviolenceandbringhim

overground.Thiswouldbetoourtacticaladvantage.Thesecondwasthatwecouldtryandgethiminvolvedintalks,becausethatwouldbethebestwaytoendmilitancy.Thearmyandtheparamilitarycouldeventuallymanagetheviolence,butwewantedtoenditcompletely,andthatwouldonlycomethroughthemovementchangingtackfromviolencetopolitics—andtalkingwas

thewaytogetthatstrategicadvantage.

InFirdous’scasehewasclosetoShabiraswell,andweweretryingtobreaktheicewithShabir.BythenNayeemhadalsobeenarrestedandhehadstartedtalkingtous,andsoifwehadbothofShabir’slieutenantstalkingtousthenShabirwouldhavenochoicebuttomoveforward;otherwisehemightgetleftbehindbyhis

ownlieutenants.Somypeoplewentand

metFirdousandtalkedtohim,inthehopethathemightbeofsomevalue.Ialsomethimoncein1993,bywhichtimehehadbeenshiftedtoJammujail.ButIdidnotmeethiminjail.HecametoDelhi,dressedasaSikhinaturban,andwasbroughthereonaspecialaircrafttosecretlymeetRajeshPilot,theministerforinternal

security.Pilotwasmeetingseveralsuchmilitants.IalsogottomeetFirdousatthispoint,andIwonderedwhatthehellisthisandwhoisthisKashmiripretendingtobeasardar.

WhenShabirgottoknowthatthegovernmentwastalkingtoFirdous,hethrewafit.NotbecauseaKashmirimilitantmightbecompromisingwiththegovernment,butbecause

Shabirbelievedthatastheleaderheshouldbetheonlyonetalkingtoanyoneinthegovernment.Shabirbelievedthatanypoliticalnegotiationshouldbedonebyhimandhimalone,forhenotonlysawhimselfasthenextSheikhAbdullah,hewentbeyondthat:hewasnotunhappybeingknownastheNelsonMandelaofKashmir.

Shabirhadabrainwave.Firdoushadspenttwoanda

halfyearsinjailandhisdetentionunderthePublicSafetyActwouldsooncometoanend.Usuallywhenamilitant’sdetentionended,wehadthemre-arrestedjustoutsidethegateoftheprisonandsentthembackin.ShabirsuggestedweletFirdousgofreeinsteadofre-arrestinghim.Hewouldsendhiscommander-in-chiefonaspecialassignment,andsinceShabirwasthenvery

importanttothegovernment’splans,particularlythoseofPrimeMinisterP.V.NarasimhaRao,weagreed.

ThespecialassignmentthathesentFirdousonwasacrosstheLoC.WithbothShabirandFirdousinjail,theirmilitantgroupswererunningintofundingproblemswiththeISI.ThoughtwoveryseniorcolleaguesofShabir’swere

acrosstheLoC—MehmoodSagarandIrshadMalik—ShabiraskedFirdoustogoacrossandspendsometimetheresortingoutthings.Heneednothurryback.

ShabirhadsentFirdoustogethimoutofhishair.Unexpectedly,Firdouscametoacrossroadsinhislife.InJanuary1994,FirdouscrossedtheLoCandaftersometimeatthetrainingcampsnearandaround

Muzaffarabad,hedecidedtotourPakistanandseethecountryanditspeople.Itwasaneye-openingexperienceforhim.

OneofthepeoplehehungaroundwithwasIrshadMalik,whoatonepointbecamethesecretarygeneraloftheUnitedJehadCouncilthatwasestablishedinMuzaffarabadinPakistan-occupiedKashmir;itwasacoordinatingbodyforallthe

militantgroupsthatwereoperatingoutofPoKandotherplaces.OnceIrshadhelpedFirdouswithsortingouttheirvariousfinancialdifficulties,FirdousinMarch1994embarkedonhistourofPakistan.ThisincludedvisitingrelativesandotherKashmirimigrants,suchastheentrepreneurinSialkotwhomadefootballsfortheinternationalsportinggoodscompanyAdidas.Thisfriend

wasobviouslyabigshot.YetwhenFirdousvisitedhim,thefriendgavehimadvice:‘Yahanaayeho,yahanbaithnanahin.’

Firdouswaspuzzledandangry;heassumedthefriendhadtakenFirdoustobeafreeloader,andwasthusadvisinghimnottostaylonginPakistan.Firdousdidnotrealisethenthatthefriendwasonlygivingwordstohisowndisillusionmentwith

Pakistan.FirdouswenttoKarachi

andmetMehmoodSagar’suncle,aretiredadmiralofthePakistannavy.TheuncletoldSagarthatwhateverhedid,heshouldonedayreturntotheirhomeland,Kashmir.ThenheturnedtoFirdousandsaid:‘PromisemethatyourgoalwillalwaysbeindependenceandneveraccessiontoPakistan.’Firdouswasstunnedtoheara

formermemberofthePakistanarmedforcestellingaKashmirifreedomfighternottojoinorsettleinPakistan.

FirdousvisitedacousininMuzaffarabadwhowasdirectorofeducationinPoK.ShetoldhimnottosettleinPakistan;sincehewaslikelytobekilledifhereturnedtoKashmir,shesuggestedthatlikemanyotherKashmirishemigratetoLondonandsettle

downthere.‘You’restillyoung,’shesaid.

Itwasthesamerefraineverywherethathewent.EachandeveryKashmirithathemetinPakistanfelttheywereinanalienland.

TherealshockcamewhenFirdousvisitedLahoreandmadetheacquaintanceofMajidNizami,thechiefeditoroftheNawa-e-Waqt.NizamialsoranarelieffundforKashmirimilitantsand

wasthusconsideredabigshotinseparatistcircles.YetallNizamiwouldtalkaboutwasthetwo-nationtheoryandhowKashmircouldonlybecomeapartofPakistan.AtaseminarattheAvariluxuryhotelinLahoreonitsfoundationday,FirdouslistenedwithdisbeliefasNizamisaidthatthethirdoptionforKashmir,thatofindependence,wasun-Islamicandunpatriotic,anda

disgracetoMohammedAliJinnah,thefounderofPakistan.

Nizami’sargumentwasthis:anindependentKashmirwouldreducePakistan’sstrategicdepth,astheinternationalborderwouldonlybe10kmfromthearterialGrandTrunkRoadthatconnectedLahoretoRawalpindi;andanindependentKashmirwoulddeprivePakistanofwater,

sinceallofthewaterthatirrigatedthebreadbasketinPunjabcamefromtheMangladaminMirpur.ForNizami,thiswaswhatalltheKashmirisacrifice—thelivesandlivelihoodlost—wasfor:asecurePakistaniborder,andwater.

FirdousthenrealisedthatPakistan’sprioritiesandKashmir’sprioritiesweretwoseparatethings.Andinthebargain,Kashmiriswere

losingout,quitedisastrously.Firdous’sfinalstrawwas

hismeetingwiththeISIbeforehewasduetoreturntoIndia.ThemanrunningtheKashmiroperationswastheISI’sdeputydirector-general,Lt.Gen.SyedIftikharHussainShah.UnderGeneralIftikharweretwoofficers,BrigadierFaisal,wholookedafterthepoliticalcell,andBrigadierFahd,wholookedafterthemilitarycell.Firdous

wasgivenintensivetraininginbombmaking,andoncehebecameanexplosivesexpert,FaisalandFahdbriefedhim.

BrigadierFaisaltoldhimthatPakistanwantedviolencetobetakentothenextlevelinKashmirwiththeuseofexplosives.FirdouswastotakethefighttoJammuandbeyond,totheveryheartofIndia.FaisalwantedthemilitantstogiveIndia‘athousandcuts’andthusbleed

hertodeath.BrigadierFahdsaidthemainaimwastopreventnormalcyfromreturning:‘Mostofall,youaretomakesurethatassemblyelectionsdonottakeplace.’

FirdouswassurprisedathowPakistan,whichin1990promisedmilitantslikehimselfthatitwouldinvadeIndiaandtakerevengeforBangladeshoncemilitancygotfullyunderway,wasin

1994askingthesamemilitantstopreventelections.Whataclimbdown.

Tomakesure,FirdoussoughtandgotameetingwithGeneralIftikhar,whereheaskedtheISI’snumbertwomanforsurface-to-airmissiles(SAM).TheISIhadprovidedtheAfghanMujahideenwithSAMs,andthesehadturnedthetideoftheresistanceagainsttheSovietUnion.Bringingdown

ahelicopterortwowouldcauserealpanicinIndia.

GeneralIftikharturnedhimdown.‘Whydoyouwanttowasteyourmoney?’thegeneralasked.‘WehaveSAMs,wewilldecidewhenKashmirneedsSAMs.’

AsFirdoustriedtoarguethepoint,herealisedthattheISIdidnotwanttoprovokeIndiabeyondapoint;itdidnotwanttheproxywartoescalateintoanopenone,

whichtheuseofSAMswassuretodo.TheISIwasnotinterestedinraisingtheviolenceaboveIndia’slimitoftolerance.TheISIwasnotinterestedinthefactthattheKashmirishadgoneallouttofighttheirdirtywarforthem.

FirdousgavebrigadiersFaisalandFahdapieceofhismind,rantingagainstthetwo-nationtheory,sayingthatKashmiriswerebeingused,andthatPakistanrantherisk

ofdisillusioningtheKashmirimilitants.Butthebrigadierswerenotinterestedinanydebate;theywereonlyinterestedinFirdousgoingbackandusingbombsagainstIndia.Theytoldhimasmuch.

WhatacontrasttoBrigadierKatoch,Firdousrealised.TheIndiansoliderengagedhiminintensedebate,listenedtohim,andansweredhispointswithhisown.ThePakistanisoldiers,

ontheotherhand,lookedbored;talkingtothemwaslikebangingone’sheadonabrickwall.

Ontopofthis,therumouramongtheKashmiriswhowereintrainingwasthatwhenevertheygottheirpayfromtheISI,therewasalwaystenpercentmissing.

ThisbitterexperiencemadeFirdous’sbreakwithPakistanfinalandcomplete.Heleft.

WhenhereturnedtotheValley,ShabirShahhadbeenreleasedamonthearlierandwastravellingaroundKashmirspeakingofmendingthingswithaneedleandthread,anddrawinglargecrowds.AtfirstFirdouswasexcitedbecausehenowknewthatwithPakistannotcommittedtotheKashmirmovement,theviolencewasofnouse.Andiftheviolencewasofnouse,thenithadto

bereplacedbyadialogue.FirdoussawthecrowdsasanendorsementbyordinaryKashmirisofanewpaththatthemovementshouldtake.YasinMalik,whowasreleasedafewmonthsearlier,inMay1994,hadalreadyannouncedthathewouldcontinuethemovementthroughnon-violence,whichwasanotherindicationthatdisillusionmenthadsetinallround,andtheverypeople

whohadstartedthemilitancywerenowlookingtoendit.

Shabir,however,wascarriedawaybyhisownimportance,andinsteadofchartingoutaplanforinitiatingadialogueandbringingpeacetotheValley,allShabirwasdoingwastalkingaboutwhetherornothestoodachancetowintheNobelPeacePrize.Hewasnottakingthemovement’snextstepseriously;hewas

justmarkingtime.Hedidnotlooktobegoinganywhere.ThisFirdousfoundtobeequallydisillusioning.

Firdousbegantogetimpatientbecausehewasstillunderground,stillamilitant,andeitherhewouldgetarrestedorhewouldgetbumpedoff.OrhewouldhavetogobacktoPakistan.Firdouswasthusworriedabouthisownsafety.OntopofthathesawShabir

wanderingaboutIndia,paradingaroundKashmir,havingagoodtime.Firdousbecamerestless.

AfterFirdousreturned,ourguysintheIBfoundoutandinsteadofarrestinghimoranythinglikethat,Isoughtameetingwithhim.Wehadlotsofsessionstogether,andovertimeFirdousandIbecamegoodfriends.Wetalkedalot,andrememberthatwasmyroleonbehalfof

thegovernment:totalk.WetalkedalotaboutShabir.Once,onavisittoDelhi,whenhewasstayingatahotelIwentandmethimandheaskedmethequestionaboutwhetherwehadpsychiatristsinourdepartment.

‘HowelsedoyouassessapersonalitylikeShabirShah?’Firdoussaid.‘Becausethisfellowneedsapsychiatrist.’

Ilaughedthenandsaid

thatwedidassesspeoplebutwedidnotusepsychiatrists.Hisquestion,though,gavemethefirstdoubtthatthesefellowsweredriftingapart.

ThenexttimewemetwasinJammu,andhesaidthathehadhadenoughofShabir.

‘Yehkyahorahahainiskesaath?’IaskedFirdous.

‘Hewillnotdoanything,I’mconvinced,’FirdoussaidaboutShabir.‘I’vetoldhim,aapkojomarzikariye,hum

jomarzikarenge.’BothFirdousandNayeem

hadhadalotofrespectforShabirandsomewherealongtheway,theylostit.ThisisalsotrueofKashmirisingeneral;afterthattumultuousreceptionhegotallovertheValley,thepeoplelostrespectforShabir.FirdousandNayeemthoughtthatShabirwascookingadealwiththegovernmentofIndia,andthat’swhatKashmirisin

general,tiredofmilitancyanditsviolence,hadalsohoped.WhenFirdousandNayeemrealiseditwasn’tgoingtohappen,theyweredisillusionedwiththeirformerleader.NayeempartedcompanywithShabiroveradisputeaboutmoneybutisbackwithhimagain.

FirdouswalkedoutonShabirfirst.TheoccasionwasameetingoftheAllPartyHurriyatConference,a

conglomerateofthirty-oddseparatistgroupsheadedbytheformerleadersoftheMUFthatwastightlycontrolledbyPakistan.TheHurriyatwantedShabirtojoin,butShabirgavesomeconditions:thattheHurriyatmergeintoasingleunit,thatitelectasingleleader,thatitgiverepresentationtoJammuandLadakh,amongothers.TheHurriyatdidnotwanttodoso.SoShabirheldoff

joininguntilMay1995,whenacrisisdevelopedattheChrar-e-Shariefshrine,takenoverbyaPakistanimilitantnamedMastGul.Shabir,withoutwarninghislieutenants,wenttotheHurriyatmeetingandsignedup.InJuly1995,Firdouswalkedout.

Firdous’smisfortunewasthatShabirflopped.HadShabirtakenchargeandforgedahead,hewouldhave

beenbiggerthantheHurriyat.Allthemilitantslookeduptohiminthebeginning,andwhenthepeaceprocessbegan,hewasthemostsoughtafterbyDelhi.TheUSambassador,FrankWisner,firstvisitedSrinagarin1996,andhehadaspeciallunchmeetingwithShabirinahouseboat.Obviously,WisnerthoughtShabirwasimportantenoughtotalktoone-on-one,andwantedto

checkShabiroutonwhetherhewasseriousaboutmovingforward.TheironyisthattheHurriyat,whichhadhurriedlytakenShabirShahinjustayearearlier,nowsackedhimafterhemetWisner,onthechargeofindiscipline.

AfterFirdouswalkedoutonShabir,hegotintouchwithahandfuloffriendsofhisinmilitancy,andtheywerelike-mindedinthattheyagreedtocomeoutandtalk

peacewiththegovernmentofIndia.TheyincludedBilalLodhi,thechiefofal-Barq,whichwasAbdulGhaniLone’smilitantgroup;ImranRahi,adivisionalcommanderoftheHizbulMujahideen;andGhulamMoinuddin,adivisionalcommanderoftheMuslimMujahideen.InFebruary1996,thefourheldapressconferenceatAhdoosHotelinSrinagar,denouncingtheHurriyatandstatingthat

theywerereadyforapeaceinitiativewithNewDelhi.

Ithadanexplosiveeffect.TheUnionhomeminister,S.B.Chavan,welcomedtheinitiativeandinvitedthemtoDelhi.Thefournow-formermilitantswenttoaformerNCministernamedGhulamHassanMir,whodefectedfromFarooqAbdullah’sfirstgovernmentin1984.MirhadbeenanimportantplayerinKashmir,andhesawthe

chancetobeapeacemaker;sohegotinvolvedinFirdous’speaceinitiativebybringingthefourtoDelhi.Thiswashowhegottobecalled‘Manager’.

Itwasamajorbreakthroughthatpavedthewayforthedemocraticprocessandtookthewindoutofmilitancythatyear.Onitsown,however,itdidnottakeoff,probablybecausethelimitationthatthefourex-

militantshadwasthattherewasnopoliticalleaderamongthem;noneofthemwasbigenoughtodrivetheirinitiativeforward.FromDelhi’spointofview,itwasagodsendinthattheygotsometopmilitantsoutofthegame.NoonewasmorekickedthantheDIB,D.C.Pathak,whofeltthatShabir’sC-in-Chadmorethanmadeupforhisindecisiveness.Butsoonafter,thegovernment

changed,thehomeministerchanged,andthebiggestchangeofallthathappened,thebiggestsetbacktomilitancy,wastheholdingofassemblyelectionsinJ&Kin1996.

ThoseelectionsbroughtFarooqAbdullahbackintopower,andoncehewasinthesaddle,Firdousandhisfriendswouldonlyhaveasecondaryrole.Infact,Itookthefourofthemtomeet

FarooqandIsaidthatnowthattheNationalConferencehadcometopower,thetwosideshadtomakeadeal.Farooqwaswillingtoaccommodatethem.Buttheywerenotwillingtojointhemainstreampoliticalparty.Perhapsitwastoosoonforthem.

Firdousdidgetaccommodatedthefollowingyear,inFebruary1997.IwasalwaysfondofFirdousashe

struckmeasmoresincerethantheothermilitants,andtheyearsafterFarooqbecamechiefministeragain(beforeIwenttoR&AW)wereyearswhenIcouldhavegottenanyfavouroutofFarooq.SoIsaidtothechiefminister:‘Thisboyisanextremelygoodfellow,whydon’tyouaccommodatehimsomewhere?’

Farooq’sreactionwasimmediateandpositive.He

toldmetobringFirdousovertohisplace,andthenextmorningwemetthechiefministeronhisverandah,whereFirdousexplainedhowhewasfromatraditionalNCfamily.Butatthattime,Farooqdidn’tevenneedanexplanation.

‘Sure,’Farooqsaid.‘I’llgivehimanMLC’sticket.’

Andjustlikethat,Firdouswasonhiswaytobecomingamemberofthelegislative

council.‘Youcancomeandmeet

meanytimeyoulike,’FarooqtoldFirdous.‘Don’thesitate.’

Whenitstarted,itwasagreathoneymoon,forFirdouswasalsotakenupbyFarooq;thiswasonlynaturalbecauseFarooq’spersonalityisalsofairlylargerthanlife.Andtobeginwith,Firdouswasalloweddirectaccesstothechiefministeracoupleof

times.ButthenFarooqmusthavethought,whydoesthisguyneedtoseeme?SoheputhimintouchwithpartygeneralsecretarySheikhNazirAhmed.That’swhenFirdous’sNCexperiencebegantosour.

ThoughSheikhNazirisFarooqAbdullah’sbrother,thetwoaretotallydifferent.YoucouldsaySheikhNazirwastheoldschooloftheoldschool,theoldguardofthe

oldguardintheNC—thekindthatneverforgaveDelhiforanything,leastofallthewaySheikhAbdullahwasarrestedin1953andthrownintojailforaseriesofincarcerationsthatlastednearlytwenty-twoyears.ThismanreactedquitedifferentlytoFirdous;heneverallowedFirdoustofeelcomfortable.

‘Merekobulatehain,phirkucchnahinkehtehain,’Firdouswouldcomplainto

me.‘Mainboltahoonkyakaroon,wohboltehainkucchnahin.’

SheikhNazirjustwouldnottrustFirdous,andsimplybecauseFirdoushadcometotheNCthroughme,aseniorIBofficial.InSheikhNazir’seyes,onceanIBagent,alwaysanIBagent;whyshouldhebeinourparty?WhichwasquiteunfairtoFirdoussincehewasalwayshisownman,evenafterwe

becamefriends.Buthewasneverletintotheinnerworkingsoftheparty.

FirdouswentbacktoFarooqbutIdon’tthinkhegotmuchjoyoutofthat.Andfouryearslater,whentheendofhistermwasinsight,Firdouswashimself50-50aboutcontinuing;heknewthathemightnotgetanothertermbuthewaskeenonit.HecametometoaskmetospeakwithFarooq.‘Meritoh

koisunwainahinhaiNCmein,aapDoctorSahebsebaatkarenge?’

‘Kyonnahinkarenge?’Isaid.‘Ihavenoreservations.’

Itwasthewinterof2001andIwasbythattimeinthePrimeMinister’sOffice.IwenttoJammutodeliveralecture,andmetFarooq.Hebluntlyturneddownmyrequestwithastraightno.

‘Sorry,buthe’llhavetowait,’Farooqsaid.‘He’s

doneaterm,we’llaccommodatehimsomewhereelse,butIhavetoseeaboutotherpeople.’

‘He’sagoodchap,sir,’Isaid.

‘Yeah-yeah,’Farooqsaid.‘Iskokahinauraccommodatekarlenge.’

FirdouslefttheNC.Hewasextremelydemoralised.Youmightsayhelostheartquickly,butthenhewasamilitantwhohadbeenacross

theLoCtwiceandhadtakenuparmsagainstIndia.Hewasnolongerwiththeanti-Indiafolksandnowapro-Indiapartyhadlefthimfeelingrejected.

Whenthe2002assemblyelectionscame,Itoldhimthatifhewasinterestedinpolitics,heoughttocontesttheelections.

‘Aswhat?’hesaid.‘Aswho?’

‘AsFirdousSyed,’Isaid.

‘Gohome,backtoBhaderwah.’

‘Wahannahinhoga,I’mmostlyinSrinagar,’Firdoussaid.

‘IftheHurriyatbackedme,IwouldcontestfromdowntownSrinagar.’

‘SogomeettheMirwaiz,’Isaid.

HemetMirwaizUmarFarooq,thechairmanoftheHurriyatConference,buttheMirwaizdidnotshowmuch

interest.Firdousthrewhishandsup.‘Meresenahinhoga,’hesaid.‘Ican’twinanelection,I’mnotfitforpolitics.’

Hedidn’thavethegumptiontofacethevoters.

Hispoliticalcareerfizzledout,andhehasbeenabitofarecluseeversince.Hestartedathinktankanddidsomewritinginnewspapers,butevenhisthinktankwoundupwhentheUPAgovernment

tookchargein2004andstoppedgivingitgrants.Itcametotheextentthatin2014hedidn’tevenhaveapassport;simplybecausethegovernmentdidnottrusthimanddidnotwanttogivehimsuchadocument.Firdousisamanwhowantedpeace,butitseemedasifnoonewantedhim.

Firdous’sstoryistypicalofmostKashmiriswhobecamedisillusionedwith

Pakistan,evenoldhijackerslikeHashimQureshi.YetitwasnoteasygettingsuchmenbacktoIndia.ItwasfinallymanagedonmywatchasR&AWchief,in2000,makingforsomeinterestingstories.

6

TINKER,TAILOR,HIJACKER,SPY

IfirstmetHashimQureshiinParis,intheearlysummerof2000.HehaddrivendownfromhishomeinAmsterdam,

Holland,inhisredPassat,andwhenwecamefacetofaceheextendedhishandandsaid:‘I’mHashimQureshi.’

‘MujheDulatkehtehain.’Hashimsmiled.‘Aap

apnasahinaambatayenge?’heasked.‘Ihavemetmanypeople,nobodytellsmehisrealname.’

‘WhatcanIsay,thisismyname.’

‘You’retheonlyonewho’severgivenmehisreal

name,’Hashimsaid.Andsobeganourrelationship.

Hashimhadobviouslymetalotofspooks:fromPakistan,fromIndia,andashetoldme,fromtheNetherlandsandtheUnitedStates.Hence,fromtheverybeginning,hewasalwayssuspect.Itwasalwaysdifficulttofigureoutwhohewasworkingfor.Perhapsitdependedonthatverymoment.

IhadfirstheardofHashiminSeptember1989,whenanarticleofhiswaspublishedinaKashmirinewspaperandinanationalnewspaper.Ofcourse,Ihadheardofthehijackinghehaddonein1971;atthattime,twoyearsintomycareerattheIB,Iwaspostedattheheadquartersdoingcounter-intelligenceandthehijackingwasnosmallmatter.Itgrewcuriouserwhenthehijacker

claimedthatheworkedfortheBSF,andevencuriouserwhenthePakistanisclaimedthatthehijackinghadbeenstage-managedsothatIndianairspacecouldbeclosedtoPakistaniaircraftduringBangladesh’sliberationwarthatwouldcomelaterthatyear.Thesewereallstoriesthatmadetheaffairhead-scratchinglymysterious.

ButwhenIreadhisarticlein1989,Ifranklydidnot

connectitwiththemanwhohadcommittedthehijackingeighteenyearsearlier.Thearticleitselfwasanti-militancyandanti-Pakistan,andIsaidtomyself,here’sabraveKashmiritobewritingagainstmilitancy:forbythistimein1989,targetedkillingshadbegunandfifteenpeoplehadbeenassassinated;theJKLFhadcalledforaquitKashmirmovementinthebeginningofthesummer;and

whenShabirShahwasarrestedthatsameSeptembertherewereriotsresultinginthreedaysofcivilcurfewandfourpersonsdead.Thestormhadbeenbrewing(anditbrokeonlythreemonthslater,inDecember,followingtheRubaiyaSayeedkidnappingepisode),andallKashmirislookedsullen.Ontheotherhand,herewasaguywhosoundedlikeFarooq,thechiefminister,inhisanti-

militancyarticle.NoKashmiricouldhavethoughtwellofHashimafterwhathehadwritten.IthenheardthathewaslivinginHollandandsoIshrugged,thinkingKashmirislivinginHollandhavethelibertytosaywhatevertheylike.Iputhimoutofmymind.

Foureventfulyearslater,inSeptember1993,IwasinLondontoattendanintelligence-liaison

conferencethattheBritishhosted.Ihadthreenights,soIthoughtIshouldcallupFarooqwhowasinEnglandthosedays;eversincehequitinJanuary1990andtillhewasre-electedinOctober1996,JammuandKashmirwasundergovernor’srule.Mainstreampoliticianshadgoneundergroundwhilethegovernmentwasgrapplingwiththesecuritysituationandwhilewewerelayingthe

groundforgettingthepoliticalprocessupandrunningagain.FarooqwasmostlyinEngland,inandoutofDelhiandSrinagar,becausehewasnumberoneontheterrorists’hitlist:wehadheardthattheISI’slargestbountywasofferedforFarooq’shead.

OnedayIfoundmyselffreeandsoIcalledFarooqandsaid,‘Sir,I’minLondon.’

DrAbdullahwasnotlivinginLondonbutinSouthendbySea,Essex,anhourandahalf’sdriveeastfromLondon.‘WillyoubecomingintoLondon?’Iasked.

‘I’llcometoLondonwheneveryouwant,’Farooqsaid.‘Butfirstyoumustvisitusathome.’

Farooqandhiswifelivedinamodestcornerhousenearthebeach,butthatisthekind

ofmanheis,adjustingfromthegoodlifeinIndiaquiteeasily.Also,thereseemedtobenosecurity,consideringhowweIndiansareobsessedwithit.‘Doyouhavenosecurityatall?’Iasked.

‘Sure,’hesaid.‘ThepoliceknowI’mlivinghere.They’vegivenmeanumberthatIcancallinanyemergency,they’llcomeimmediately.Theyhavetheirownwayofdoingthisthing,

soI’mnotworried.’Farooqandhiswife

MollieandIwenttoaclubforlunch.WhenwereturnedhomeIsatinthedrawingroomwhilehewentintoanadjoiningroomandcamebackwithawholestackofliterature.HehandedmesomethingbyHashimQureshi.‘Thismayinterestyou,’hesaid.

‘Okay,’Isaid,thumbingthroughHashim’swritings.

‘Hemaybeusefultoyou,’Farooqcontinued.‘Whydon’tIgethimtospeaktoyou?’

ThenFarooqcalledupHashimandweexchangedgreetings.Itwasassimpleasthat.

HashimlatertoldmethathehadfirstmetFarooqjustafewmonthsbeforewespokeonthatfirstphonecallfromEssextoAmsterdam,duringthesummerof1993.Inhis

telling,Farooqcalledhimonthephone.

Itwasn’tthatextraordinaryathingbecauseKashmirisinmanywaysasmallplace,andapartofHashim’sextendedfamilyweretraditionalNationalConferencesupporters.‘LikemostKashmiris,IworshippedSheikhSaheb,’HashimtoldmeabouttheSher-e-Kashmir,SheikhAbdullah.HashimsaidthatSheikhSahebused

tovisitHashim’sparents’placeinNowhatta,andlater,wheneverFarooqtravelledtoBandipora,hewouldstopbyandpayhisrespectstoHashim’smother.TherewerephotosofFarooqwithHashim’sfatherandatHashim’sbrother’swedding.

AccordingtoHashim,whenhehijackedaplanein1971,theforcescameandtookhisfather,MohammedKhaleelQureshi,away.

Hashim’smaternaluncle,MohammedSikander,wasclosetoSheikhSaheb,whowasstillunderarrestatthetime,soHashim’smotherwenttoBegumSahibaandsuccessfullypleadedforherhusband’srelease.SheikhSaheblaterscoldedHashim’sbrother:‘Didyourfatherhavetoproducethiskindofson?’

FarooqandHashimmetin1993inHydePark,ofallplaces.‘Let’seat,’Farooq

toldhim.‘There’saBengalirestaurantwithsuperbfood.’

TheymetseveraltimesafterthataroundEurope:inSwitzerland,inBelgium,atconferences.AndHashimclaimedthatFarooqhadtoldhim:‘Becauseyouaskforazaadi,weKashmirisgetsomerespect.’

AfewmonthsintomytenureasR&AWchief,Hashimmadecontact,andIresponded.HewasaDutch

national,wantedforthealmost-three-decade-oldhijacking,sowehadtomeetinEurope.Buthedidn’twanttomeetinHolland.Perhapsithadtodowiththefactthatheearnedanoccasionalsalarybeingaconsultanttotheirintelligenceservice.SowedecidedonathirdcountrywhosecapitalIwaspassingthroughonotherofficialwork.

Whenwemet,hesaidhe

wantedtocomeback.‘Whendidyoufirst

contactthegovernmentaboutcomingback?’Iasked.

ItturnedoutthatHashimhadwrittentothethenprimeminister,RajivGandhi,possiblyin1985.Intheletter,heclaimed,hehadwarnedthePMofwhatwaslikelytohappeninduecourse,thatis,themilitancyinKashmir.RajivGandhipassedonthelettertoR&AW,butthere

wastoomuchsuspicionofthehijackerwhohadspentnineyearsinPakistanijails.Dowetrusthim,wenttheinternaldebate,whichcontinuedforseveralyears.

Induecourse,R&AWmadecontactwithHashiminAmsterdam.Interestingly,whenImetHashim,ourmaninHollandwasRabindraSingh,thesameR&AWofficerwhodefectedtotheUSAin2004afteritwas

discoveredthathewasaCIAmoleinIndia’sspyagency.Hashim,however,claimedthatSinghwasadud:hewasawomaniser,usedtodrinkheavily,andtalkedloosely.PerhapswhathesaidofSinghwastrue,butitdidn’tmitigatethefactthatSinghbetrayedIndia.BythetimeSinghreturnedtoheadquarters,IhadleftR&AW.

Hashimtalkedtomeat

thatmeetingofcomingback,andIasked:‘Whatwillyoudo?’

‘Nowthatthepoliticalprocesshasbegun,Iwillalsofindaroleinit,’Hashimsaid.

‘Wherewillyoufitin?’Ipersisted.

HehadheardthatweinthegovernmenthadbeentalkingtoShabirShah.HeclaimedShabirwashisfriend.‘Shabirmeradosthai,uskesaathhumtie-upkar

saktehain,’hesaid,optimistically.

IwastryingtodiscouragehimbecauseIfeltthatwhateverlittlehemightbeinHolland,backinKashmirhewouldn’tfitin.Also,itwasmyresponsibilityasahumanbeingtowarnhimthathemightreturntoabadmess.Hashim,however,waskeentoreturnhomeanddosomethingforhispeople,ashetoldme.Andhesounded

morePunjabithanKashmiri:hewasproud,talkedopenlyandwithalotofconfidence.ThatwasthesortofthingthatgotKashmirisbumpedoffbytheISI.InDelhi,eventheIBwasimpressedwithHashim.MyfriendAjitDovalspoketohimatlengthandtoldme,‘Yehtokaamkabandahai.’

‘YehShabirtumharadosthoga,’Isaidsceptically,butHashimdidnotletmecomplete.

‘Iwillsethimrightifhemisbehaves,’Hashimsaid.

IlaughedandsoHashimimmediatelycalledupShabirandputitonthespeaker.‘I’mthinkingofcomingbacktoKashmir,’hesaid.

‘Welcome,welcome,’Shabirsaid.

Ishookmyheadinresignation.Youdon’thavetobeR&AWchieftorecognisethesmellystuffbeingnonchalantlythrown

around.Hashimtoldmethatthe

1971hijackingoftheIndianAirlinesplane‘Ganga’wasMaqboolButt’sidea.

KashmirisregardMaqboolButtasoneofthefirstmartyrsoftheirmovement.AccordingtoHashim,MaqboolwasthechairmanofthearmedwingofthePlebisciteFront—thefrontstartedbySheikhSaheb’sright-handman

MirzaMohammedAslamBegin1955,twoyearsafterSheikhSahebwasarrested,thatcalledforapopularplebiscitetodeterminethefinalityofKashmir’saccessiontoIndia,aspromisedbythefirstgovernor-general,LordMountbatten.ItwasknownastheJammu&KashmirNationalLiberationFront(JKNLF).

Maqboolwashangedin

Delhi’sTiharjailon11February1984.Hehadbeensentencedtodeathforthe1966murderofapolicemanaswellasthemurderofthemanagerofaKupwarabank;heescapedfromSrinagarjailin1968bydiggingatunneloutandthenwenttoPakistan.HereturnedtoIndiain1976andwasarrested;hishangingeightyearslaterwasostensiblyaspaybackforthekidnappingandmurderof

IndiandiplomatRavindraMhatreinBirmingham,England,on3February1984.TheanniversaryofMaqboolButt’sexecutionisobservedannuallyinKashmirasadayofanti-Indiashutdownandprotests,butinrecentyearsthisanniversaryhasbeenlosingsteam.Instead,itnowseemslikelythattheanniversaryofthe9February2013hangingofMohammedAfzalGuru,forhis

complicityintheDecember2001attackonParliament—achargethatmanyKashmirisfounddubiousandvindictive—willbeobservedasthemajoranti-Indiadayinstead.

HashimsaidhemetMaqboolButtforthefirsttimeasafifteen-orsixteen-year-old,whenhewenttoPakistanwithhisfamilyinearly1969.KhaleelQureshi,Hashim’sfather,wasamemberofthePolitical

Conference,thepartyfoundedbyMohiuddinKarrain1953asthefirstpartyopenlyforaccessiontoPakistan.HashimstayedinPeshawarandwasenthusedtomeettherenegadeMaqboolButt,whowasadmiredbymanyyoungsters.DuringHashim’sfivemonthsinPakistanhewasinfluencedbyMaqbool’sargumentagainstaccessiontoPakistanbutforazaadi.Accordingto

Maqbool,theinternationalcommunitywouldnotsupportKashmir’saccessiontoPakistan,butitwouldsupportazaadi—onbothsides.Theinsight,thattheworldwouldnottakesidesbetweenIndiaandPakistan,unlessitsidedagainstboth,impressedHashim.HejoinedMaqboolButtandtheJKNLF.

MaqbooltoldHashimthattheorganisationanditscauseneededtogetsomepublicity,

andhesentHashimbacktoKashmirtotryandenlargetheJKNLF.Hashimdidjustthat,formingcellsaroundurbanSrinagarandclandestinelyputtinguppostersthatcalledforanarmedstruggle.Naturally,thecellshehadsetupnowaskedforarms.

AtthisstageHashimonedaywalkedintotheRoyalHaircuttingSaloonatRegalChowkandmadethe

acquaintanceofafellowcustomer,whohappenedtobeaBSFinspector.Theybecamefriends.

HashimtoldtheBSFinspectorhewasthinkingofcrossingtheborderintoPakistan,andtheinspectorpromisedtohelphim,providedHashimgotinformationforhimonanorganisationcalledal-Mujahid.Hashimagreed,becauseal-Mujahidwas

nothingmorethananorganisationonpaper,setupbytheself-styledfirstmujahidofKashmir,SardarMohammadAbdulQayoomKhan,whowasoccasionallyeitherthepresidentortheprimeministerofPoK.‘Itwasrubbish,’saidHashim,whoagreedtotheinspector’sterms.TheinspectortookHashimtomeethissuperintendentofpolice,AshokPatel.InearlyApril

1970,Hashimwentacrosstheborder.

HashimwenttoRawalpindi,whereJKNLF(andfutureJKLFco-founder)DrFarooqHaiderlivedandhadaclinicwherehetreatedKashmirimigrantsforfree.DrHaiderwouldhaveaprominentroleinmilitancyforhewasveryclosetotheISI.HewasoriginallyfromJammuandwentovertoPakistanbackin1947

becauseofthecommunalrioting,inwhichhiselderbrother,MalikAjazAhmed,waskilled.ThisembitteredDrHaider.ItwasatDrHaider’shousethatHashimcaughtupwithMaqboolButt;andnowtheISIwaswatchingoverthem.HashimtoldMaqboolhowhehadcomeacrosswiththehelpoftheBSF,andtheyallhadagoodlaugh.Hethentoldhimthattheboyswereaskingforarms

fortrainingandtheyallsoberedup.

OneofthemrecalledtheKarachiairportincidentfrom18June1969,whenanEthiopianAirlinesplanewasattackedbythreearmedrebelsoftheEritreanLiberationFront.PartoftheBoeing707burned,butfortunatelytherewerenocasualties,andthethreeEritreanswerecaught,convictedandsentencedtoa

yearofhardlabour.Ithadbeenquitesensational.IntheJKNLFdiscussiontheideatodosomethingsimilarcameup,aterrorattack,somethingthatwouldinternationaliseKashmirandalsotheirJKNLF.That’showtheideaofthehijackingfirstcameup.

DrHaider’sbrother-in-law,JavedMinto,wasanex-pilotofthePakistanAirForce,andheacquaintedHashimwithaircrafttraining.

HetookHashimtotheChaklalaairbaseinRawalpindi(nowknownasthePAF’sNurKhanbaselocatedattheinternationalairport)wheretherewasaFokkerF-27Friendship.TheISI,toldabouttheJKNLF’sintention,washappytograntthempermissiontolearnthebasicsofaviation.JavedandtheISIshowedHashimhowthewirelessworked,howthecompassworked,howtotake

chargeofanairplane,andwhattodoifheneededtotakecontrolofit.Hashimpassedwith‘flyingcolours’,sotospeak.

HashimreturnedtoIndiainAugust1970,viatheSialkot-ShakargarhsectorsouthofJammu.Hecarriedwithhimapistolandagrenade,andaplantohijackaplanefromJammu.ButhewascaughtbytheBorderSecurityForce(BSF).

ThiswasapossibilitythatMaqboolButthadpreparedhimfor.Maqboolhadtoldhimthatifhegotcaught,heshouldimmediatelyownupandavoidgettingbashed,whichwaspointless.Hewastotellhiscaptorsthathewasbeingtrained—andthatthereweretwoothersbeingtrained,bythenamesofJavedSagarandNaseemRana.ThiswouldmaketheBSFwanttolookforthe

otherguys,ratherthanjustlockHashimupandthrowawaythekey.

TheBSFconfiscatedhispistolandgrenade,andHashimaskedforhisfriend,theBSFinspectorfromtheRoyalHaircuttingSaloon.HashimgavehimhisstoryofhowthreeofthemwerebeingtrainedbytheISIforterrorism.AshokPatellandedupinJammufortheinterrogation;eventhe

directorgeneralofpolicegotinvolved,andtheIBsentpeoplefromDelhifortheinterrogation.

UltimatelytheBSFgavehimthebenefitofthedoubtandreleasedhimtolookfortheothertwo.Notonlythat,theytoldhimhecouldfunctionasaBSFsub-inspectorandplaythatcovertokeepawatchattheSrinagarairportforthetwootherfellows.However,to

Hashim’senduringchagrin,theydidnotgivehimanidentitycard,justaplainpieceofpaperwhichsaidhewasasub-inspector.Itwasafarce,Hashimfelt,andhewasnowdeterminedtohijackaplane.

LuckilyforHashim,theBSFpostedhimatSrinagarairportandthismadehisjobeasier.Hashimbeganwatchingthearrivalanddepartureofplanes,andhe

reconnoitredtheairportanditsaircraft.Healsobegantraininghiscousin,AshrafQureshi.Intheabsenceofanyweapontheymadeawoodengrenadeandobtainedafake.22pistol.The.22pistollookedsorealisticthatitnotonlyfooledtheaircraftcaptainbutalsothesecurityforcesinLahore.

TheflighttheyhijackedwastheSrinagar–Jammu–Delhiflightof30January

1971.TheaircraftwasaFokkerF-27,oneoftheoldestplanesIndianAirlineshad,thathadbeendecommissionedandthenweekslater,inatypicalbureaucraticflip-flop,re-inducted.IttookofffromSrinagarat11:30a.m.

AstheflightbeganitsdescentintoJammu,HashimandAshrafranuptheaisletowardsthecockpit.Hashim,holdingthefakegun,ran

inside,whileAshrafheldthefakegrenadeandstoodoutsidethedoortothecockpit,facingthepassengers.Ashrafaskedthepassengerstoraisetheirhandsintheairandwarnedthem:‘Zyadahoshiaridikhanekizarooratnahin.’

InsideHashimstuckhisgun’smuzzletothebackofthepilot’sheadandtookcontroloftheplane.Hetoldthemtotaketheplaneto

Lahore.CaptainsKachrooandOberoiprotestedandargued,butHashimwasmenacingenoughforthemtofallinline.Ataround1:30p.m.,theplanelandedinLahore,inanairfielddottedwithaircraftofPakistanInternationalAirlines(PIA).SecurityforcessurroundedtheFokker.Theplanedoorwasopened,acoupleofaluminumboxeswerethrowndowntouseassteps,and

Hashimsteppedofftheairplane.

TherestofthepeopledeboardedandweregreetedwithteaandLahoribread.Then,toeveryone’ssurprise,thePakistaniexternalaffairsminister,ZulfikarAliBhutto,arrivedattheairport.HegreetedHashimandAshraf,exchangedafewwords,andinvitedthepassengerstolunchwithhim.Followingthelunch,Bhuttoheldapress

conference.Thehijackersdemanded

politicalasyluminPakistanandthereleaseinIndiaofabouttwodozenjailedJKNLFcolleagues.IndiaandPakistanspentacoupleofdaysnegotiatingallthis,whichendedwiththepassengersbeingsentoverlandtoHussainwallaborder,fromwheretheyreturnedtoIndia.Thiswasbecauseon2February,at

8:00p.m.,HashimandAshrafsettheFokkeronfire—atthebehestoftheISI.

K.H.Khurshid,aKashmirioriginallyfromSrinagarwhobecamepersonalsecretarytoPakistan’sfounder,MohammedAliJinnah,wasawitnessinthehijackcase,whichwenttotriallater,andhetoldthecourtthathehadarrivedatLahoreairportat7:00p.m.on2February,and

wastoldthesituationwastense.PIAhadstoppedservingfoodtoHashimandAshraf,keptincustodyattheairport.KhurshidandMaqboolButt,whoalsoarrivedattheairport,weretakentoaroomwheretheymetHashimandAshraf.ThehijackerstoldthemthattheISIwaspressuringthemtoburndowntheaircraft.

Maqboolapparentlythoughtthiswouldbeunwise,

andtillnowHashimhadfollowedallhisinstructionsimplicitly.ButafterheandKhurshidleft,theISIinsistedthehijackersburntheplaneastheonlywayoffinishingtheepisode.Sotheydid.

Incidentally,whiletheGanga’shijackingfocusedworldattentiononKashmir,italsoledtoIndiabanningallPakistaniflightsfromitsairspace.Thisbanwasserendipitouslytimed,

becauseEastPakistanwaseruptingwithprotestandwhenthewartookplacelaterintheyear,Pakistansaiditcouldnottransportenoughtroopstoquelltherebellionduetotheban—asifthatwouldhavestoppedtheinevitablesecessionofBangladesh.Yetitprovidedenoughgristforconspiracytheoriesforyearstocome,astowhetherHashim’shijackingwasmerelyaruse

toprovideajustificationfortheban.

HashimandAshrafremainedheroesinPakistantill14April,whenHashimwasarrestedinMurree.PakistanhadappointedacommissiontolookintothehijackingandwhatitnowfeltwasanIndianconspiracy.AfterprolongedinterrogationotherJKNLFleaderswerearrested,includingMaqboolButtandDrHaider;these

menwereinjailfortwoyearsuntiltheLahoreHighCourtchallengedtheirdetention,exoneratedthemandreleasedthem,callingthem‘patriotsfightingfortheliberationoftheirmotherland’.EvenAshrafwasreleased(hewentontobecomearenownedacademicinPakistan).OnlyHashimremainedinjail.

Thoughhewasfoundguiltyunderamountainofchargesandsentencedto

nineteenyearsinprison,Hashimspentnineyearsinvariousjails:inAttock,Sahiwal,Faisalabad,incampjailLahore,andinMultan.TheSupremeCourtreducedhissentence.‘OnlyIknowhowIwasill-treated,howIwastortured,’HashimsaidofhisPakistaniprisonexperience.

HisfellowKashmirisvisitedHashiminjailandkepthimabreastofwhatwas

goingon.HelearntthatMaqbool,whowasreleasedin1973,metBhuttoonanumberofoccasionsstartingin1974.Bhutto,nowtheprimeministerofPakistan,toldMaqboolthatsomethinghadtobedoneinKashmir.

‘Nothinglessthanindependence,’Maqboolresponded.

‘Pakistanorindependence,IndiamustbeoutofKashmir,’Bhuttosaid.

HenceBhuttowastheonlyPakistaniwhoagreedwithMaqboolthatitwasallrightevenifyoutalkedofKashmiriindependence.HestrucktheKashmirisasapracticalleader.Whereasbefore1971PakistanpursuedKashmirastheunfinishedagendaofPartition,after1971itbecamerevengeforBangladesh.Bhuttowantedrevenge.(InKashmirpeoplewerequiteupsetwhen

GeneralZiaexecutedBhuttoin1979.ButtypicalofKashmiris,theyprotestedagainstBhutto’sexecutionandlateragainstthedeathofhisexecutioner.)

Maqbool,in1974,notonlymetBhuttoforthefirsttime,butalsoFarooqAbdullah.FarooqwasworkinginLondonandwassenttoPakistanbySheikhSahebtogaugereactionswhilethenegotiationsforthe

eventualSheikh–IndiraAccordof1975wereon.InPoK,thePlebisciteFronthostedFarooq.DuringhisvisittoMirpur,whichisintheJammupartofPoK,Farooqissaidtohavemadeapublicspeechwherehesaid,inreferencetotheongoingnegotiations(ortheBeg–Parthasarathyconsultations,astheywerecalled)thatnothingshortofindependencewouldbe

acceptableinKashmir.WhenFarooqmetBhutto,

however,theprimeministeradvisedhimtotellSheikhSahebthatasPakistan,havinglostin1971,coulddonothingforhimatthisjuncture,KashmirisshouldtakewhatevertheycouldgetfromDelhi.ThiswasthesignalfromPakistanforSheikhSahebtogoaheadwiththeaccord,whichhedid,andfollowingwhichhe

becamechiefministerofJ&Ktillhediedin1982.

MaqboolreturnedtotheValleyin1976withtheintentionoforganisingtheJKNLF,andwassoonarrested.Eightyearslaterhewasputtodeath.

Hashimwasreleasedfromjailin1980,afterwhichhekeptagitatingforanindependentKashmirinPoK.ThisdidnotgodownwellwiththeISI,andhewas

pickeduprepeatedlyandreleased,thankstoDrHaider,whowashislinktotheISI.

In1983,Hashimagainthoughtofhijackinganairplane,toseekthereleaseofMaqboolButt.Hijackingseemedtheonlywayofgettingthingsdoneinthosedays,butnoonewaswillingtohelphim.TheISIgaveHashimapassportonwhichhetravelledtoLondonandmetwithAmanullahKhan,

themanwhowouldfoundtheJKLFinLondon(itwasformedinphases:in1977,theLondonunitofthePFturnedintotheJKLF,andthensetupaunitinPoKin1982,andaunitinKashmirin1987).HashimclaimedthatitwasAmanullahwhogavethego-aheadforthekillingofMhatre,therebyvirtuallysigningMaqbool’sdeathwarrant.

Thissortofgamewenton

intheearly1980s.AfterBhuttoitwasGeneralZia-ul-Haq,forwhomthe1979invasionofAfghanistanbytheSovietUnionprovidedPakistanwiththeperfectopportunitytodivertmenandmaterialtoKashmir.PakistanwastheWest’skeyallyandalsothebasefortheAfghanwar,soitwasinapositiontovirtuallyblackmailtheWest.Incidentally,thiswasalsothetimeayoungUSState

DepartmentdiplomatandformerCIAanalyst,RobinRaphel,beganreferringtoKashmirasdisputed.

ThekeyroleinKashmirwasthatoftheISIchief,Gen.AkhtarAbdurRehmanKhan,whogainedfameforrunningtheAfghanwaragainsttheSovietsandinthebargainsignificantlyexpandingthecapabilitiesoftheISI,turningitintothepowerful‘statewithinastate’thatitwas

knownasthereafter.FollowingFarooq’sdismissalbyGovernorJagmohanin1984,therewasaseriousefforttodestabiliseKashmir,andDrHaiderarrangedameetingwiththeISIofselectedJKLFleadersinasafehouseinIslamabad,andfourorfivemeetingsafterthat.HashimcamefacetofacewithGeneralRehmanduringoneofthesemeetings.That’swhenRehmantold

themtogetboysfromtheValleyfortraining,andwaitforasignal:‘WewouldliketoreplicateBangladeshinKashmirbycreatingsomethinglikeMuktiBahini,andbycuttingofftheValley,’theISIchiefsaid.‘Pakistanwouldattackattheappropriatetime.’

ThisdidnotworkoutduetothereluctanceoftheJKLFboys.Indeed,itwasonlyafterAmanullahKhanwasthrown

outofEnglandin1988forterrorismandhecametoPakistanthattheboysstartedcomingacross(Amanullah’sarrivalhappilycoincidedwiththeboys’furyoverthe1987riggedassemblyelectionsinJ&K).

TheISItoldHashimtostartmilitancy,butherefused.Asitwas,theISIwasgettingirritatedwithHashim’sagitationagainstaccessionandfor

independence.SoitsofficerstoldhimtoreturnthepassportandidentitycardandotherpaperstheISIhadgivenhim;ithadbeenabigmistake,theytoldhim.Hashim,instead,filedawritpetitioninRawalpindiinthecourtofJusticeYusufSaraf.ThejudgetookHashimasideandtoldhimthathehadbeenapproachedbytheISIwithregardtohiscase.‘Flee,’JusticeSaraftoldHashim.‘It

isbetteryouleavethecountry.’

WhattookmebysurprisewhilelisteningtoHashim’sstorywasthefollowingpart:thattheCIAadvisedhimtoshifttotheNetherlands.Itisaninterestinganecdote,butHashimdidnotelaborate.

DespitebeingontheISI’sblacklist,Hashimbribedhiswaythroughtheairport—nodoubttheCIAmighthavegivenaslightnudgetohis

efforts—andinAugust1986leftforAmsterdam,wherehesoughtpoliticalasylum.India’sfirstreactionwasthatHashimwasprobablysettingupabasefortheJKLFintheNetherlandsatthebehestoftheISI.HashimtoldmethattheDutchgavehimmorethanasylum;theygavehimworkhelpingwithanalysisbytheirintelligenceservice;andin1992,theygavehimcitizenship.Hashim’s

backgroundattractedintelligenceservices.IntheNetherlandshewastheir‘SouthAsia’expert.

HashimdidreturntoPakistanonce,in1993,onavisa,whichheadmittedhegotwiththehelpoftheAmericans.TheISIchiefatthetimewasLt.Gen.JavedNasir,anextremelypro-Islam,anti-Indiachief,andhewantedtomeetHashim.ButHashimrefusedtomeethim.

HashimwenttoRawalpindiandstayedwithDrHaiderandmetwithleadersoftheJamaat-e-Islami,whowerebynowattheforefrontofKashmirmilitancythroughtheirarmedgroup,theHizbulMujahideen.HashimalsowenttoMuzaffarabad,thecapitalofPoK,anddroppedintotheofficeofengineerTariqShura,whointroducedhimtoamajorintheISI.Hashimrebuffedthemajoras

well.HewenttoPakistan,heclaimed,tocheckoutthefateofKashmirandKashmiris.

HashimwasrepeatedlyapproachedbytheISI,buthewantednothingtodowiththem.HehadenoughexperienceofPakistan—notjustitsjails,butalsoitsinsistencethatKashmirshouldjoinPakistan,notfightforindependence—thathewasdisillusionedwiththecountry.Infact,in2010,his

oldfriendShabirShahapproachedhimandaskedhimtomeettheISI.‘They’reverykeentomeetyou,’ShabirtoldHashim.

‘PakistanisarezeropercentforKashmir,’Hashimreplied.‘EvenifIndiaisonly30percentforKashmir,wecanstilldealwithIndia.ItisimpossibledealingwithPakistanis.IhaveenoughknowledgeofPakistanis,thankyouverymuch.Iwould

rathernothaveanythingmoretodowithPakistan.’

HashimthenaskedhisoldseparatistfriendhowitwasthatShabirhadnevervisitedPakistan.Everysingleseparatist,beitamilitantorapolitician,hadbeentoPakistan—exceptShabir.‘It’sbecauseyou’rescaredofPakistan,’Hashimsaid.‘YetyouarerecruitingonbehalfoftheISI.’

Inthecourseoftime,

Hashimmetmeandsaid:pleasebringmehome.

Itwassixmonthsbeforehecouldmakeitback,duringmyfinaldaysatR&AW.Ittookhimthatlongbecausefirst,hewantedtomakesurehehadourapprovalandthathewouldn’tlandinalegalsoupafterreachingIndia;andsecond,becausehehadtomakearrangementsforhisfamily.HehadmarriedhiscousinZaib-un-NisaBaig,a

Pakistanicitizen,in1982,acoupleofyearsafterhewasfreedfromprison;andtheyhadfourchildren.

Finally,on29December2000,heflewintoDelhiandwasarrestedattheairportassoonashelandedbecauseofa‘lookoutwarrant’issuedagainsthimbytheJ&Kgovernment.HespentafortnightinDelhi’sTiharjail,whereamonghisvisitorswasMuzaffarBaig,whowould

laterjoinMuftiSayeed’sPDPandbecomedeputychiefministerofJ&K.Inthenewyear,HashimwastransferredtoSrinagar,wherehespentalmostayearinthejointinterrogationcentre.HewasreleasedonbailforEidinNovember2001.

Yetthetwothingsthathewanteddidnotmaterialise.First,thehijacking-relatedcaseagainsthimstillhangs,despitehispleaofdouble

jeopardy.Thecase,asofthiswriting,hasbeencarryingonforthirteenyears,since2001,butthewheelsinjusticemoveslowlyandalsolower-tierjudgesarewaryofrulingagainsttheState.ThecaseissoabsurdthattheState’switnessesdon’trecogniseHashimanymore.Andthat’snotbecauseheisathreat,oramenacingfellow.‘Thiscaseistotalrubbish,’Hashimsaid,pointingoutthatSatnam

Singh,oneofthefivemenwhohijackedanIndianplaneonitswaytoSrinagartoPakistaninSeptember1981,wasletoff.SatnamwasthrowninjailinLahorewherehespentthirteenyears,andthenhemigratedtoCanada.InFebruary2000healsoreturnedtoIndia;hewasarrestedandproducedbeforeamagistratetowhomheshowedhispapersandsaid,‘I’vealreadybeenpunished

forthehijacking.’Themagistratesaid,doublejeopardy:noonecanservetwiceforthesamecrime.Shehadhimreleased.

Hashimgotintouchwiththechiefminister,FarooqAbdullah,andsaid:‘Mineisalsoacaseofdoublejeopardy.Howcanyouchargeme?’

‘Yes,Iknow,’Farooqsaid.‘Butyouhavetogetthroughthissomehow.’

Ofcourse,whatHashimdidnotknowwasthatFarooqhadhisplatefullatthetime,in2001,towhichwewillcomeacoupleofchaptersfromnow.

‘TheseIB,R&AWguysdon’trealisethatifIgetasentenceherethentheIndianjudiciarywillfacequestionsinfrontofthewholeworld,’Hashimsaid.‘I’maDutchcitizen.WhenIwasarrested,theyraiseditintheir

parliament,anditwillgetraisedagain.Andthentheywillask,whatisIndiadoinginKashmir?’

Thisbringsustohisothergrouse:thatevenfourteenyearsafterhereturned,he’sstillaDutchnational.IhadpromisedhimIndiannationality,butitturnedouttobetoodifficult,particularlysincemytenureasR&AWchiefendedtwodaysafterhearrived.Lefttome,Iwould

havemadehimacitizen,becausethenhecouldhavebeenusedpoliticallyinKashmir.Yettherearepeopleinthegovernmentwhodon’ttrusthimbecausenobodyiscertainwhetherhe’sanIndianagentoraPakistaniagentoraDutchagentoranAmericanagent.EvenFarooq,who,ifyourecall,introducedmetoHashim,pretendedasifhedidnotknowhimatallanddidnot

wanttodealwithhim.Andthehomeministryseemsgloriouslyuninterested.

Hecameoutonbailandspenthisyearsfightinghiscases,settingupanon-governmentalorganisationtohelpwidows,andevensetupanofficerightoppositetheHurriyatparty’soffice.Nothingcameofit.Manyyearslater,Iremindedhim:‘HashimSaheb,whatdidItellyou,whatwillyoudo

here?’Hashimrepliedtothat

withanUrducouplet,whichroughlytranslatedsays:Iliveinacityofsuchjealousywhereevenduringnamaazpeoplethinkillofothers.‘TheKashmirihasahugeproblem,’Hashimsaid.‘Hedoesn’twanttospeakthetruth,hedoesn’twanttohearthetruth.’

‘Ispeakthetruth,sotheycallmeanIndianagent,’said

Hashim.‘MygrouphasanofficeinfrontoftheHurriyatoffice.IsaythattheHurriyatpeopleshouldgiveuptheaccessiontoPakistan,asshouldourpeople.Sixty-fiveyearshavepassed,another500yearswillpass,KashmirwillneverbecomePakistan.Youcanwriteitdown.Allthesegroups,Mirwaiz(UmarFarooq),(SyedAliShah)Geelani,evenShabirwhoonceroamedaroundwiththe

needleandthreadandnowroamsaroundwithscissors,allthreeoftheseareforPakistan;whydon’ttheybecomeoneparty?Andpeople,don’tsacrificeyourchildren,you’renotgoingtogetanythingfromtheirstruggle.Ifyou’resincere,thensaybothIndiaandPakistanshouldgetoutofourland.’

Hashimsaidhemadeagreatmistakein2000.‘My

sonsaid,everyonethinksyou’reaDelhiman,andDelhidoesn’tthinkyou’retheirman,’hesaid.‘YoushouldhavecometoDelhiandsaid,fellowKashmiris,Pakistanisthebest.Indiawouldhaveraisedyouonapedestal,madeyouWazir-e-Alam,youwouldhavegotArabmoney.Hewasright.’

Instead,Hashimhashadastressfultime.Hehastwodaughtersandtwosons.One

boywasstudyinginAmsterdamandstayedback;bynowhehasajobinabank.Theothersonwasasmallboywhentheyreturned,andasofthewritingofthisbook,hadgrownupandgoneofftoHollandtostudy.Ofthetwodaughters,onegotmarriedin2007andlivesinDubai.Iattendedherwedding,asalsothatofhisson,Junaid,thoughIaskedHashimifhewassureI

shouldattendbecauseIwasaformerR&AWchief;itwouldmarkhimoutinKashmir.Helaughedandsaid,letthemsayI’myouragent.Asitturnedout,atJunaid’swedding,manyoftheseparatistswhoattendedcameoverforachat—becauseIknewthemall.

Hashim’sotherdaughterranawayfromhome.Ithasdepressedhim.SheranfirsttohersisterinDubaiandthen

wenttoLondon,whereshenowlivesandplanstomarry(incidentally,herloveinterestisaKashmiriboy;yetHashimisstilldisapproving).Hashim’swifealsoleft.AnattractivePakistaniwoman,comingfromHollandtoKashmirwasquitealetdownforher,andshechastisedhimforthe‘third-class’worldhehadbroughtherto.TherewasalotofdisruptioninHashim’sfamily.

Whenhisdaughterranaway,herangmeupforhelpinlocatingher.Hiswifewasnotthere,hewasallalone,lonelyandstressedout.‘Please,aaplogonkeharjagahcontactshotehain,’hebeggedme.‘Pleaseissedhoondhwaye.’FinallyshewastracedinDubai.

Allofthistookitstoll:in2013,Hashimhadtohaveaheartbypass.Fortunately,hiswifeisnowbackwithhim.

Youwonderwhy,afterallthis,HashimstaysinIndia.‘There’snocountryfreerthanIndiaandpeopledon’trealiseit,’Hashimsaid.‘Youcanpeeanywhereyoulikeandnothingwillhappentoyou.Americaisagreatdemocracybuthasnotevensparedourministersfromphysicalsearches.IknowoneministerfromTamilNaduwhowentthere;hehadlonghaircomingoutofhisears,and

theysearchedthateven.What’ssogreatabouttheUS?’

‘Indiahasletdownalotofpeople,noonemorethanme,’Hashimsaid.‘Theyhavenomorality.Butatleasttheyarehumane.’

AsImentionedatthebeginning,ithelpedthatmilitantswhowereonceanti-IndiawererapidlydisappointedwithPakistan.OursuccesswithHashimat

thebeginningofthesummerhelpedthenextmancomeover,afarmoredreadedmilitantnamedAbdulMajidDar,whocameoverinwhatwasastorybookoperation.

7THEDEFECTORWHOSHOOKPAKISTAN

ThestoryofAbdulMajidDarisalovestory.Hewasthe

mostimportantKashmiriterroristinPakistan,andhereturnedtoIndiainwhatwasanoperationthatturnedonamatteroftheheart.TheISI,whichgotburned,hadMajidDarassassinated.Andthentheywentandshothiswife.

Aswithmanystories,theepisodebeganwhileIwasintheIB.AKashmiriboyhadbeencaughtandwasinterrogated.Anofficeroftheforceinterrogatingtheboy

cametomeandsaidtheboywasaninterestingfellow.‘Youshouldtalktohim,’hesaid.Wedidso.

Asyoumighthaveguessed,someofthedetailsofthisaccountwillhavetoremainsketchyduetoreasonsofoperationalsecrecy.BesidestheconfidentialitythatI’mswornto,livescouldbeatrisk—beyondtheonesalreadylost.

Theboybeing

interrogatedsaid:‘DoyouknowAbdulMajidDar?’

Whodidn’t?HewastheoperationalchiefoftheHizbulMujahideen,thelethalpro-PakistanKashmirimilitantgroup.ItwasconsideredthearmedwingoftheJamaat-e-Islami,butitwasprettymuchapoweruntoitself.TheHizbwasledbySyedSalahuddin,whoserealnamewasMohammedYusufShah,aJamaat-e-Islami

preacherwhocontestedthe1987J&KassemblyelectiononanMUFticket,fromtheAmirakadalconstituency.Helost.ThewinnerwastheNationalConference’sGhulamMohiuddinShah,thefocalpointofallegationsofrigginginthoseflawedelections.YusufShahwasthrowninjail,andthoughhisJamaatwasreluctanttojointhearmedmilitancythatwasbrewing(prescientJamaatis

arguedthatterrorismwouldonlyleadtoKashmiriskillingKashmiris),whenviolencefinallytookcentrestagein1990,theJamaat-e-Islamigavethego-aheadtotheformationoftheHizbinApril1990.ThefirstchiefwasakillernamedAhsanDar,whoconvincedYusufShahtojoin;thelatteradoptedhisnomdeguerreafterSaladdinthecrusader.

Salahuddintookoveras

chiefinNovember1991,buthewasjustthechiefforname’ssake.Thebrainstrustwastheoperationalchief,AbdulMajidDar:amanofguts.

MajidDarwasnotanoriginalHizbrecruit,thoughhehadastrongJamaatiinfluenceashegrewupinSopore,inBaramulladistrict,oneoftheKashmiritownsthathavehistoricallybeenhostiletoIndia.Bornin1954,

hewasenrolledinthedegreecollegeatSoporebuthadtoleavebeforehecouldfinishhisbachelor’s.Hemarriedin1978,andforawhileitissaidthatheranadry-cleaningshopinSopore.Intheearly1980shejoinedShabirShah’sPeople’sLeagueandbeganvisitingPakistan.WhenPeople’sLeaguemembersbeganjoiningmilitantgroupsinthelate1980s—recallthatShabir

Shah’slieutenantssuchasFirdousSyedformedhisowngroup,andNayeemKhanjoinedtheIslamicStudentsLeague—thenMajidDarfollowedafellownamedSheikhAzizandformedtheTehreek-e-Jehad-e-Islami(TJI).

Intheearly1990s,MajidDar’sgroupdominatednorthKashmir,fromSoporetoKupwara.Itwasalsoatimewhengroupsweresplitting

intosmallerandsmallerfactions,andhencetherewasamovebygroupleaderstounifytheirfollowers/soldierssoastobemoreeffectiveagainstthegovernment.Bytheendoftheyear,MajidDar’sTJImergedintotheHizbulMujahideen,andAhsanDarmadehimdeputychief.

AsIsaid,however,hewastheonewhoreallyranthings.Hewasaguywith

brains,andhadamuchbetterunderstandingofthemilitancyandthesituationinKashmir.Asaresult,hehadbettercontactsandlinkswiththeISI.Also,hegraspedquicklywhenthingsweregoingbad;hegraspedhowPakistanwaswagingitsownwarandhadmadeKashmiritsbattlefield;hegraspedthattheISIwasshiftingitsfocusawayfromtheHizbafter1995,andtowardstrans-

nationaljihadigroups,particularlytheLashkar-e-Toiba;andhegraspedthathispeopleweretired.‘ComparedtoMajidDar,Salahuddinwasapygmy,’hiswifelatersaid.

HencetheboybeinginterrogatedsaidthatMajidDarmightbeinterestedincomingbacktoKashmir,becausehiswifewasverykeentoreturn.AndMajidDarwasverymuchinlovewithhiswife,DrShamima

Badroo.Itwasthesecond

marriageforbothofthem.ShamimawasalsofromSopore,anattractivedivorceewithaforcefulpersonality;itissaidthatMajidDarhadfalleninlovewithherandforcedhertogetadivorce.MajidDar,whohadmarriedearly,ashappensintraditionalfamilies,particularlythoseinsemi-urbanorruralareas,lefthis

firstwifebehindinSopore.AndthenhewentacrosstoPakistanin1991.

Shamimafollowedhimthere,sotheyhadapparentlyfalleninloveandwerealreadyhavinganaffair.Shegotavisaandwenttodoapostgraduatedegree;shestayedwithafriend,metupwithMajidDar,andtheygotmarried.BecauseshewasworkingatthecantonmenthospitalinMuzaffarabad,

MajidDarwasspendingalotoftimeinthePoKofficeoftheHizb,ratherthaninIslamabadwhereSalahuddinwantedhim.ThatMajidDarwasbesottedwithhiswifeearnedhimmuchscornfromtheHizbcadres,particularlythoseclosertoSalahuddin.

That’swhy,theboyunderinterrogationsaid,‘YoucantargetMajidDar.’

Ourearsperkedup.‘Howcanyousaythat?’

‘He’sverymuchinlove,’themilitantsaid.‘Hiswifeisverykeentocomeback.’

OurfilestoldusthatMajidDarhadlefthiswifebackinSopore,soittooksomeexplainingbeforewerealisedhehadmarriedagain.Oncewerealisedthatthiswashissecondwifehewasinlovewith,itstruckmethatshemustfeeluncomfortablelivingoverinPoK,whichbyallaccountswasadraband

backwardplace.Shemusthavejudgedthatthiswasnolife,thatitwasbettertogoback.

Atthetime,however,therewasn’tmuchIcoulddobecauseIwasintheIB,andMajidDarwasbasedinPakistan.ThiswasoutoftheIB’sdomain.AllPakistanmatterswerehandledbyR&AW,andthoughouragenciescooperate,theyarealsocompetitive.TheIBand

R&AWarenodifferentfromotherintelligenceagenciesintheworld,eachofwhichisnaturallypossessiveaboutitsturf.

WhenIbecametheR&AWchief,MajidDar’spossiblevulnerabilitywasoneofthemattersIremembered,andItoldmyselfthatnowwasthetimetogetsomethinggoing.Wegotagroupofcolleaguestoengagewithhim.Obviously

therewasalimittohowmuchwecouldcheckhimout,giventhathewasinsidePakistan,ourarchenemyandaplacewhereevennormalIndiandiplomatsweresubjecttorelentlesssurveillanceandsuspicion.Hence,inthisbusiness,someofthesemattersarebasedontrust,andyouhavetotakealeapoffaith.

Wecouldtakethatleapwithhimbecausehewasa

goodguy,aconfidentfellowwhowascompletelyforendingthemilitancy.OurassessmentinR&AWwasthatthiswasanintelligentguy,perceptiveandsensitive,attestedtobyhisloveaffair.Whenwedugintohispast,wefoundthathehadneveractuallykilledanyone,andsomeofourguysdoubtedthathehadeverfiredagunatall.Weknewthatatthatpointoftime,therewasgreat

disillusionmentwithPakistan,inPakistan,amongKashmiris.MajidDarwaslikelyamongthosewhorealisedthattheonlypeoplesufferinginthemilitancyweretheKashmiristhemselves.

Plus,itwasobvioushewantedtogethisfamilybackhere.Hehadayoungboywhomhewasextremelyfondof.Weworkedoutaplan.Wecrossedourfingers,andwe

begantopraythathewouldfindawayandcomeover.

MajidDarfoundaway,anditwasprettystraightforward:hewenttotheISIandtoldthemhewantedtogobacktoKashmir—astheiragent.Heneededtheapproval,ifnotjustthesupport,oftheISItoreturn.HeconvincedhisISIhandler,afellownamedBrigadierRiaz,thathewouldgoastheirman,andseeingthat

Delhiwaspreparedtotalktomilitants,hewouldgoandengageIndiaindialogue,whilesecretlycarryingouttheISIagenda.BrigadierRiazcheckedwithSalahuddin,whowasokaywithitdespitehisgrowingdifferenceswithMajidDar.HecamearmedwitharesolutionfromtheHizbSupremeCouncilauthorisinghimtoengageindialogue.BrigadierRiazthenwentto

theISIchief,Lt.Gen.MahmudAhmed,whoapprovedMajidDar’sreturntoKashmir.

(GeneralMahmudwasthesameISIchiefsittinginWashington,DCwhenthe9/11attackstookplace.HewasremovedjustbeforetheUSattackedtheTalibanregimeinAfghanistanamonthlater.)

MajidDarslippedintoKashmir,andlateritwas

rumouredthathecametoIndiaviaDubai(whichisprettymuchISIturf).Heremainedundergroundforawhile,sonooneknewhewashere.

Andthenonefineday,on24July2000,MajidDarsurfacedinSrinagarandannouncedaunilateralceasefire.Hesaiditwastofacilitatetalksforasettlement.Ofcourse,thiscausedgreatexcitement

becausenogrouphaddonethisbefore;whileindividualmilitantslikeFirdousSyedhadgivenupthegunandenteredtalkswiththegovernmentin1996,neverbeforehadagroup,andthattooonethathaddominatedmilitancyinthewaytheHizbhadthroughoutthe1990sbeforethepan-Islamistsbegantakingover.OrdinaryKashmiriswhohadlongtiredoftheviolencebuthadbeen

letdownbefore,notablybyShabirShah,wereintrigued.

InPakistan,Salahuddinacknowledgedhissupporttotheceasefire.ThegovernmentofIndiareciprocatedwithathree-monthceasefireofitsown.

TheUnionhomesecretary,KamalPandey,respondedandon3AugustheandotherhomeministryofficialsflewinfromDelhiandmetfourofMajidDar’s

commanders,includinghisnominatedinterlocutor,FazlHaqQureshi,attheNehruGuestHouseinSrinagar.Itwasastart.Itlookedasifamajorbreakthroughhadtakenplace.MajidDarhimselfbecameratherenthusiasticaboutthedialogue,andimmediatelybeganplanningtobroad-baseitwiththeparticipationofotherKashmiriseparatistsandmilitants.

Thenon8August,justfivedayslater,Salahuddin,inanannouncementfromPakistan,withdrewtheceasefire.Butforthefirsttime,asaKashmirifriendputit,KashmirisrealisedthattherecouldbelifeinKashmirwithoutviolence.

TheISIhadchickenedout.Initsview,MajidDarhadbeenturnedbyIndianintelligence;theISIhadlostcontrolofhimandhehad

beenwonoverandbecomeanIndianagent.ShamimalatersaidthatitwasabigshockfortheISIbecausewhileMajidDarwasinPakistan,hewasthelastwordintheHizbulMujahideenasfarastheISIwasconcerned.TheISIrespectedhimalot.HisturnaroundafterhisarrivalinKashmirwasthusashocktotheISI—particularlysincehehadcomewithPakistanipermission,

Pakistaniapproval,onaPakistanimission.Itbrokethebackofindigenousmilitancyandwastohavefar-reachingconsequences,notleastofwhichwasthesuccessofthe2002elections.TheHizbremainsdecapitatedtothisdaywiththeDarloyalistsinPakistanrefusingtoacceptSalahuddin’sleadership.

TheISIbeganplanningMajidDar’sassassination.

DespiteSalahuddin’swithdrawalofceasefire,MajidDarwasspendinghistimeproductively;hehadhisagendafordialogueandsohewentaroundmeetingpeople.HemettheJamaat-e-IslamisupremoandseniorHurriyatleader,SyedAliShahGeelani,afewtimes.HemetMirwaizUmarFarooq.HemetYasinMalik.HemusthavemetShabirShahaswell.Initiallyhewaschecking

themoutbutthenhebegantosuggesttothemthattheyshouldbegintalking.Hewastryingtobuildalobbyandformaconsensusinfavourofdialogue.

MajidDarcameacrossasaconfident,positiveperson,enthusiasticaboveallelseforpeace.HegottheseparatiststothinkwithoutandbeyondPakistan.HadhebeenaroundwhenthegovernmentbegantalkingtotheseparatistAll

PartyHurriyatConference—thethendeputyprimeminister,L.K.Advani,didsoinJanuary2004—hewouldhaveverymuchbeenapartofit(infact,hisinterlocutor,FazlHaqQureshi,didjointheHurriyattalks).

Itwasclearthatinhismind,thePakistanstorywasover.HetoldeveryonethatwhatgothimstartedthinkingaboutadialoguewastheKargilwar.

Pakistan’smisadventureinKargilwasaneye-openerforKashmirisoperatingoutofPakistan,MajidDarsaid.ItwasabigdisappointmentparticularlybecauseUSpresidentBillClintonhadcalledupNawazSharifandtoldhimtopullhistroopsback.That’swhenKashmirisrealisedthatPakistancoulddonothingforthemevenifitwantedto;andthatveneerhadalreadycomeoffwiththe

indication,overthepastfewyears,thatPakistan’santi-Indiaagendadidnotnecessarilytranslateintoapro-Kashmiragenda.

MajidDarwasdisillusionedwithPakistanandcategoricallysaidthatPakistan’stapofterrorcouldbeturnedoffimmediately,atanytime,bytheAmericans.‘PakistanhasnointerestinfreeingKashmir,’hesaid.‘Pakistanjustwantstobleed

Kashmir.’Andso,theKargilwar

hadgothimandmanyothersthinkingaboutdialoguewithIndia.

TheotherthingthatbotheredMajidDarwasthecorruptionofthemovement.Formuchofthe1990s,thetanzeemthathadsustainedthemovementwastheHizb.AndhemadethepointtootherKashmiristhatthoughtheHizbwasdifferentfrom

theJKLF,itwasactuallypro-liberation.Butthenin2000itbegantolookasiftheHizbwouldnotsurviveforlong;ithadbeendiminishedoperationallyandothershadbeengivenmoreimportance,particularlythemercenaries.ControlwasbeingtakenoverbytheLashkar-e-Toiba.NowhisHizbwasplayingsecondfiddletotheLashkar.

ThisresonatedwithotherKashmirissuchasAbdul

GhaniLone,animportantHurriyatleaderwhooftenarguedwithGeelanithattheLashkarandtheTalibanandotherjihadiswerenotwelcomeinKashmir.‘Yehhamaremehmaannahinhain,’Lonesaid.‘TheseguestsarecominghereandkillingKashmiris.’

TheISIdidnotlikeanyofthisatallanditeventriedreachingouttoMajidDar.Butin2001MajidDar

stoppedtakingcallsfromtheISIchief,GeneralMahmud.ThatundoubtedlyfirmedtheISI’sresolvetofinishMajidDar.

Salahuddin’sriftwithMajidDaralsowidened.MajidDarhadalwaysbeenloyaltotheHizbsupremeleader,despiteSalahuddin’scloseproximitytotheISI,buthebegantofindSalahuddin’sduplicityintolerable.Theirestrangementnowwas

reflectedintheincreasinginternecinebattlesintheHizbulMujahideeninPakistan:manyfightseruptedbetweenMajidDar’sboys—manyofwhomhadtheirrootsliketheirleaderintheTJI—andSalahuddin’sboys.TheSalahuddinpeoplebeganbumpingoffMajidDar’speople,startingwiththosewhoparticipatedinthe3AugusttalkswiththegovernmentofIndia,Hamid

TantrayandFarooqMircha.And,ofcourse,itincludedthemurderofMajidDarhimself.FazlHaqQureshiwasalsolatertargetedandshotandcriticallywoundedwhilecomingoutofamosqueinSrinagaron4December2009.HewasluckytosurviveandcontinueinthemoderateHurriyat,stillverymuchavotaryofdialogue,eventhoughhewasoneofthefirstKashmiri

separatiststoindulgeinviolenceinSrinagar,beingpartoftheinfamousal-Fatah.

MajidDar,inthemeantime,wasbeginningtorealisethatthejobofgettingpeopletogether,persuadingthemthattalkingwasapositiveandbeneficialstepforthem,forKashmiris,wasalittlemoredifficultthanitmighthavelookedfromacrosstheborder.TheHurriyatinparticularwasso

muchunderthecontrolofPakistanthathecouldnotprogress.ThenhemusthaveunderstoodthatwhatheneededtodowasgobacktoPakistanandtalktotheISItoloosenitsreinsontheseparatists.

Whenwordfiltereddown,wesawnologicingoingbacktoPakistanbecausehewasnodoubtapersonanongratathere.OnereasonwasthatMajidDar’sceasefire

hadstartedachainofevents,includingPrimeMinisterVajpayee’sannouncementofaunilateralceasefireduringRamzan,whichwasduringSeptember2000.

HowthathappenedisthatYousufTarigami,theloneflag-bearerfortheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist)inKashmirandassemblymanfromKulgam,cameandmetmeatmyofficialresidenceone

morning.‘Eidiscoming,’hesaid.‘Kucchkarwadijiye.’

‘Ceasefiretohhuatha,’Itoldhim.‘Hizbhasbackedout.Whatshouldwedo?’

‘Whydon’tyouhaveaunilateralceasefiredeclared,’Tarigamisuggested.

ItookittoVajpayee,andtheideaappealedtohim.ARamzanceasefirewasannounced,andthisreallycaughtthefancyofKashmiris.Itwasoneofa

seriesofpronouncementsthatendearedVajpayeetoKashmirislongafterheleftoffice.Aboveall,itwasacriticalfactorthatimprovedtheatmosphereforthe2002assemblyelectioninJ&K,whichwasasuccess.

IntheISI’spanickedeyes,itwasfurtherdamnationofMajidDar,ifmorewasneeded.InDecember2001,SalahuddinthrewhimoutoftheHizbulMujahideen.And

whenheletitbeknown,afterthe2002assemblyelection,thathewouldgobacktoPakistan—hewassupremelyconfidentthathecouldgoanddealwiththeISIanytimehewantedto—theyhadhimkilled.

Infact,theideaofhisgoingtoPakistanwasadangerousone,andoneworriedthathewouldbekilledthere,inPakistan;buthewaskilledrighthere.Of

course,itwasdelayedabit,tillMarch2003,duetotheISI’sassassinationofAbdulGhaniLoneinMay2002(whichwewillcometointhenextchapter),andtheISI’sneedtowaitforthingstocooldownafterLonewasmurdered,butintheendMajidDarwaskilledheresothattheblamewouldnotfalldirectlyontheISI.Andalso,tosendeveryoneinKashmiramessage:nevertocrossthe

ISI.Whenwebeganreceiving

hisdecisiontogobacktoPakistan,tousinR&AWitwasincomprehensible.

AcommonfriendtoldDar,‘Don’tgoback.AsfarasPakistanisconcerned,you’refinished.Youwillgetintotroublethere.Youmightneverbeabletocomebackout,orworse,theymightjustkillyou.’

Thatprobablysteeledhis

resolvetoreturn.Therewaspreciouslittle

anybodycoulddotosavehim,becauseMajidDarwasonhisown,underground,andweinthegovernmentonlyoccasionallyheardthathehadbeeninsuch-and-suchplace,orthathehadmetso-and-so.Thoughwehadsuccessfullymanagedhisreturn,oncehewasbackhewasafreeperson.Plushewasunderground.

HiswifeShamimaBadroolatersaidthatitwasBrigadierRiaz,theISIofficerwhohadhelpedmakethecasewithintheISItoletMajidDarcrossover,whowhippedupanatmosphereagainstMajidDarinPakistan.Shamimasaid,andthere’snowayofverifyingthis,thattheISIplanB,ifhisassassinscouldnotgettohim,wastokidnapherandthesonthathedotedon.

ThethreattohimgrewsoseriousthatoneofMajidDar’smenwarnedhim,duringthelastfewdays,againstvisitingSopore.OnFriday,21March,oneofhisfriendsinSrinagartoldhimso:‘AapSoporematjaye.’

On22March,hespentthedaywithhisHizbcolleagues.

One23March,hewenttoSopore,despiteallthewarnings,becausehesaidhe

hadtogoandsaygoodbyetohismotherwhomhelovedimmensely.ItissaidthatwhilehewasinhidinghismotherwouldsendhimhisfavouriteWullarfishpersonallycooked.Amother’sloveandhisownover-confidencecontributedtohistragicend.Andaround11a.m.,hewasshotdead.

WeassumedtheHizbkilledhim,theboyswithallegiancetoSalahuddin,on

ordersfromtheISI.WhentheISIfeltthetimewasright,MajidDarwasputdown.Itwasunfortunate,tosaytheleast,becauseifhehadbeenaroundwhentalkswiththeHurriyatcameoutintotheopenin2004,MajidDarwouldhavebeenahugeassettoeveryone;hehadleadershipqualities.

Worse,though,waswhathappenedtohiswife.Foron28November2006,shewas

shotatherhouseinChhanpora,Srinagar,andthoughshesurvived,shewasleftparalysed.Again,IsuspectedtheHizb,andwhatIwastoldwasthatmanymilitantswerestillsettlingscoreswithherforMajidDar’sreturntoKashmir.IheardthatMajidDar’sowndivisionalcommanderwasinvolvedintheshooting;yetwhyshouldhisownmenkillMajidDar’swife?

TheHizbboysknewthatshewasthereasonhecameback,andtheywereconvincedbytheISIthatShamimawasanIndianintelligenceagentwho,duringthesevenoreightyearsoftheirmarriedlifeinPakistan,workedonhimtoreturn,therebycleavingintotwowhatusedtobethepremiermilitantgroup,HizbulMujahideen.

Theshootinglefther

wheelchair-boundforlifeandinabadstate,bothemotionallyandfinancially,yetstillthisgutsywomanwenttoPakistaninJanuary2014andconfrontedtheISI.ShesaidthatshetriedtomeettheISIchief,buthedidn’tmeether;instead,shemetBrigadierRiaz,whoapologisedandsaidthatMajidDar’sdeathwasagreatloss.AformerlieutenantofMajidDar’s,ZafarBhat,later

revealedthatMajidDarhadsomelandinPakistanandthatsheprobablywentbacktodisposeofit.PerhapsthiswastheunfinishedbusinessthatMajidDarsometimesspokeof.BasicallyhewantedtogobacktoapprisetheISIofthegroundsituationinKashmir:totellthemtherewasnootherwaybutdialogue.It’sdoubtfulthatwewilleverknowthecompletestory,butsuchisthemessy

businessofespionage.Therewereother

Kashmiristhatwewouldhavelikedtohavebroughtbackhome,butwhenmytenureendedon31December2000,therewereguyswhowereleftoutinthecold.

OneoftheguyswhomIhadverymuchinmindwasIrshadMalik.Ifyouremember,IrshadMalikwasthesecretarygeneraloftheUnitedJehadCouncilin

MuzaffarabadandacolleagueofourfriendFirdousSyed,whocaughtupwithIrshadwhenhevisitedPoKandPakistanin1994.

IrshadhadbeenapractisinglawyerinBaramulla,wastheorganiserofthedistrictbarassociation,andactuallyworkedforthegovernment,representingthelocalcooperativebank.HehadbeensympathetictoShabirShah’sPeople’s

Leagueformanyyearsandwasarrestedin1982forsomeminordisturbanceon14August,whichisPakistan’sindependenceday.In1987IrshadwasaskedbytheMUFtocontestthe1987elections,thoughhewasnotconfidentenough.TheMUFhadwantedhimtocontestindependentlyandsplittheNCvotesothattheMUFcandidatewouldwin;Baramullaconstituencyhada

55:45rural-urbanratio,andthecountrysidewaswheretheNCwasstrong.TheMUFwasconfidentoftakingtheurbanvote,butIrshad,notconfidenthecouldachieveanything,declinedtheiroffer.

OneofIrshad’sfriendsatuniversitywasacommercestudentnamedAijazDar;DarwasoneofthefoundingmembersoftheJKLFwhowouldlatergainnotorietyasthefirstmilitantkilledwhen

hewasshotdeadduringanattackontheresidenceofthedeputyinspectorgeneral,A.M.Watali,inSeptember1988.Aijazhungaroundtwootherstudentswhowouldlaterbecomeprominentmilitants,ShakeelAhmedBakshiandHilalBeg.ThatwashowIrshadstartedmeetingmilitantsandbecamefamiliarwithmanyofthem.

ImetIrshadmorethantwodecadeslater,inLondon,

wherehehadsoughtasylumin2004afterfleeingPakistanoutofdisillusionment.Irshadtoldmethatwhenhelivedathome,inBaramulla,hisbestfriendwasafellownamedShahidAliShah,whocamefromanimportantNCfamilyandwasthenephewofKhwajaMubarakShah,aformerstateministerandMPfromBaramulla,andknownasoneofSheikhAbdullah’strustedlieutenants.In1989

and1990,asmentionedearlier,militantswhoburstuponthesceneweretargetingvariousgroupsofpeople,oneofwhichweremembersofmainstreamparties.InJanuary1990,somemilitantscametoIrshad’shouseinBaramulla,lookingforhisfriendShahidAli.

ThemilitantstoldIrshadtoguidethemtoShahidAli’splace.TheringleaderwasPrinceKhan,whowas

Nayeem’sbrother;IrshadknewNayeemofcourseasacloselieutenantofShabirShah,andsinceNayeemwasadistantrelativeofhis.Healsorealisedthatthesemilitants,ledbyPrinceKhan,weregoingtokillShahidAliandhadsurroundedhishouse.Thus,tosavehisfriend,Irshadsaidhewouldjointhemilitants.Fortunately,asShahidAliwasunavailable,themilitants

wentaway.Onethingledtoanother,

andinJune1990,attheageoftwenty-fourandhavingfatheredadaughterwhowasnowfifteenmonths,hecrossedtheLoC.Assoonashedidsohewept,theweightofthemomentcomingdownonhim.Herealisedhemightnevergohome(hestillhasn’tbeenabletoreturntoKashmir);thathehadlosthisidentity,hisdaughter,his

roots.Hiscompanionduringthecrossing,anotheradvocatenamedAbdulSalamRather,toldhimtocheerup.

InDecember1990–January1991,theJehadCouncilwasformed,andabouttenofthemilitantrepresentativesgatheredinIslamabadtodiscussitsformationandwhowouldsitonthecouncil.Irshadwasselectedasthesecretarygeneral,andwhenthetime

cametochooseachairman,aveteranmilitantnamedAzamInquilabispokeupandtoldthegatheringthattheyhadtodecidewhoitwouldbe;andthenhewalkedoutoftheroom.Obviouslyhismessagewasthattheyshouldpickhim.Sotheydid.

TheISI,whenitlearntofthis,wasnotamused.TheISI’sKashmirgroupofficerssummonedacoupleofthemilitantrepresentativesand

askedthemwhatwasgoingon.Basically,accordingtoIrshad,theISIwantedtotalcontrolofthejehadisandanythinghappeningwithouttheirknowledgewasunthinkable.TheconsequencewasthattherewasaKashmiriJehadCouncilandaPakistaniJehadCouncilforsometime,untiltheISIrealisedhowbadtwocouncilslookedandgotthemtounify.Thewholeepisode

wastellingofPakistan’strueintentions;afterall,thiswasaKashmirimovement.ItwasthebeginningofIrshad’sdisillusionmentwithPakistan.

WhenIwasinR&AW,FirdousremindedmeofhisfriendIrshad.‘IrshadMaliksebaatkariye,’Firdoussaid.‘IrshadMalikkolaaye,he’skeentocomeback.’

Thiswasearly2000.‘Tellmeaconnection,’Isaid.‘Tellmeaway.’

‘Ihavetoldyou,’Firdoussaid.‘Abaapdekhe.’

ThenIheardthatIrshadwasgoingofftoLondonin2004,wherehewouldseekasylum.Butbythattime,Ihadleftthegovernment;IwasinthePMO,andhadleftwhenVajpayeelostpower.Forwhateverit’sworth,ifIhadbeeninapositiontobringhimback,Iwouldhave.WhenImethimadecadelaterinLondon,wechatted

foranhourandahalf,andinthattimehesaidsomanythings.Heisawealthofinformation.ButIalsorealisedwhenImethimthathewasbetteroffinLondonthanhecouldeverbeinKashmir.

Theotherthing,whichreallyoughttohavehappenedbuthasnot,isthereturnofSalahuddinhimself.AfterMajidDar’sassassinationSalahuddinshowedan

inclinationtoreturntoKashmir:contactwasevenestablishedwhichonlyconfirmedhisseriousintent.

OvertheyearsafterDar’sreturn,Salahuddinshowedgreatkeennesstoreturn,thoughsomepeopleintheValleywerenotwillingtotrusthim.Infact,hehadshownaninterestlongbefore,sometimein1995,inaconversationto,ofallpeople,SyedMirQasim,the

CongresschiefministerofJ&Kfrom1971till1975(whenSheikhAbdullahtookover).

IwasinteractingquitealotwithMirQasimfrom1994to’96,becauseQasimwasagreatsupporterofFarooqAbdullahandIwasworkingongettingthepoliticalprocessrevivedinthemilitancy-hitstate.Qasimwouldtellme,wemustkeeptalking.‘Sabsebaatkariye,’

hesaid.‘DoctorSahebkokhushrakhiye.’

AndQasimtoldmeonedaythathegotacallfromSalahuddin.

Iwastakenaback.Whatdidhesay?

‘QasimSaheb,hamematbhooliye,’Salahuddinapparentlysaid.‘Ihaveheardthatyouaregettingeveryoneintothedialogue.Ifyouareinitiatingdialoguepleasedon’tforgetme.’

ThenthereisthestoryofSalahuddin’sson.

OneofSalahuddin’sbigconcernswashisson,whohadqualifiedformedicalcollegeadmission,butinJammu,notinSrinagar;possiblythegradesrequiredforadmissionforSrinagarwerehigher.ButtheboyandhisfatherweredesperatethathesomehowgetintoSrinagar.SoSalahuddinreachedouttoeveryone,and

hespoketomyIBcolleague,K.M.Singh,whowasinchargeoftheIB’sSrinagarunit(apostIheldfrom1988to1990).

K.M.alsohadagoodequationwithFarooqAbdullah:theyreachedouttooneanotheroften,theyunderstoodeachother,andtheytrustedoneanother.K.M.wenttothechiefministerwiththeproposal,andsaid:‘Sir,yehekkaam

kardijiye.’Farooqagreed—whichin

itselfisastorythatrepeatedlytakesplace,thatofFarooq’sultimatenationalism,particularlywhenissuesofnationalsecurityareinvolved.ManypeopledoubtFarooq,evenprimeministerssuchasNarasimhaRaoandVajpayee,butthoseofuswhosawFarooqupcloseandoveraperiodoftime,knewthatofalltheKashmiris,

FarooqwastheoneKashmiriwhowasalwaysthereforIndia.HesaidtimeandtimeagainthatKashmir’saccessiontoIndiawasfinalandirrevocable,theonlyKashmiritodoso.

Salahuddin’ssongottheadmission,andSalahuddincalledK.M.upandsaid:‘I’meternallygratefultoyou.’

Wordslikethatshouldbecapitalisedon,butunfortunatelyweneverdid.

WecouldhavebroughtSalahuddinback,hewaswilling,butitwasjustamatterofwhentobringhimin.Oneofthosethingswheretimingwasonarazor’sedge.Perhapswewastedtoomuchtime.Bythetimethismatterofhisson’sadmissionhappened,IwasnolongerinR&AWbutinthePMO,wherethefocuswasthe2002electionsratherthanbringingindividualsback,even

someoneasbigadealasSalahuddin.JustimaginewhatabigthingitwouldhavebeeninKashmirifSalahuddinhadreturnedandbegunadialogue—for,afterall,hewasapoliticalperson.

AfterIleft,however,R&AWdidnotshowthesameinterestinKashmir.WhateverexcitementtherewasinR&AWoverKashmirwasbecauseofme,andthebaggageIhadaccumulated

andcarriedoverfromtheIB.IwasabletodoalotbecauseIhadagoodequationwithmybatchmatewhowastheIBchief,ShyamalDatta.

By2001,Salahuddinwasreadytocomeback,andIadvocatedithundredsoftimes.Possiblythechiefafterme,VikramSood,hadotherinterests;andhispeoplemighthavethoughtthatsinceIwashandlingKashmirgenerallyfromthePMO,

therewasnoneedforthemtogetinvolved.C.D.Sahay,whowaschiefafterSood,shouldhavehadeveryreasontobeinterestedbutsomehowitwasoneofthosethingsthatneverhappened.Ineverintervenedbeyondapoint.That’soneofthethingsaboutthespyagencies—onceyou’reout,you’reout,andforgoodreason,consideringthesensitivityoftheworkwedo.

OneofthethingsIrshadMalikharpedonwasthattherearestill2,400KashmirisinPakistan,mostofwhomaremarriedandsettled.Outofthose,about2,000areunhappywiththeirmeagreexistenceandthehostileenvironment.Theresthavedonewellforthemselvesandarehappy.Allofthemwerekidswhentheywent,butthatwastwenty-fiveyearsago.Wecoulddoverywellby

bringingthatdisgruntled2,000back.Theywanttocomehome.

OmarAbdullahaschiefministerhadspokenofarehabilitationprogramme,butweinIndiahaven’tbeenabletoworkitout.Itshowsourlackofconfidence.Sogoahead,tellthoseKashmiris:we’renotinterestedinyou,it’snobigdealtousifyourotthere.Yetyoucan’tdothateither.

IwasonaTVnewsshowafterIleftthePMO,possiblyin2005or2006.Somefellowscametomyhouseandsaid:‘HumKashmirpeaapkainterviewlenachahatehain.’

‘Kyainterviewlenachahateho?’Iasked.

‘Kucchbaateinhain,’theysaid.

‘There’snothingtotalkabout.’Iwasreadytoputdownthephone.

‘Salahuddinbhihainissinterviewmein,’theysaid.SoIsaid:

‘Okay,I’mready.’TherewasSalahuddin

fromPakistan,therewasayoungandarticulatejournalistfromSrinagar,andtherewasme.Wetalked,andtheinterestingpartofthatconversationwasaboutdialogue,soIsaid:‘SalahuddinSahebshouldalsothinkaboutdialogue.’

Inresponse,hesaid:‘Hamareliyetohtablepejagahhinahinhain.’

Iassuredhimtherewasspaceatthenegotiatingtableforhim.‘Tablepetohbahutjagahhain,SalahuddinSaheb,’Isaid.‘Tablepehameshajagahhotihain.’

‘Lekinhamaresetohkoibaatbhinahinkarta,’Salahuddinreplied.

SoIsaid:‘SalahuddinSahebjaantehainbaatkaise

hotihai,that’snotabigissue.’

Andhelaughed.ButSalahuddinkeeps

sendingmessages.EvennowIgetmessages.Thereareguyswhocometomeandsaythatthefellowwantstocomeback.AndIpassthisthingontothegovernment.Ipresumesomeonefollowsitup,butIhavenoidea.Thethingisreally,morethananything,howmuchclarity,timeand

effortyouarewillingtoputintoanoperationlikethis.Onlythenwilltheycometoyou.

Yettwentyyearslater,ourfriendisstillthere,strandedinPakistan.

8

‘THISMOVEMENTISAN

EXPERIMENTANDITWILL

PASS’:A.G.LONE

Pakistan’sfailedgambleinKargilalsohadanimpactontheseparatistsinKashmir,asitdidwithMajidDar.OnesuchmanwasAbdulGhaniLone,theloneveteranpoliticianamongtheseparatists.Inthelateautumnof1999,afewmonthsafterKargil,LonereturnedfromatriptoAmerica,viaDubai,achangedman.InDubai,hehadameetingwiththeISI’snumbertwoman,Maj.Gen.

JamshedGulzarKayani.LonetoldMajorGeneralKayani:‘ItistimeforadignifiedexitforKashmiris’,fromtheirmovement.

TheISIofficialwasdismissive,asISIofficialsalwayswere—theyneverwantedtohearwhattheKashmiristhought,theyonlywantedtheirplansexecuted—andsowhenLonereturnedtoIndia,Isoughthimout.

Itmightsurprisealotof

peoplebutwhenIspenttwoyearsinSrinagaronanIBpostingfrom1988to1990InevergottomeetLone.ItwasagraveomissionbecausethosedayswewereobsessedwiththeFarooq–RajivrelationshipandLonehadsidelinedhimselffromthemainstream.WhenIthoughtaboutitlateronIaskedmyselfwhatthehellIwasdoinginSrinagar.Inallhonesty,atthatpointIwas

spendingmostofmytimewithFarooqAbdullah,theNationalConferenceandtheCongress,andonedidn’tmoveverymuchbeyondthat.Itwasalsomybrieffrommythenboss,M.K.Narayanan,tokeepFarooqontherightsideofDelhisoalotoffocuswentthere.

IttookmemaybefiveyearstounderstandthatthebusinessofKashmirismuchbigger,thatitisnotjustthe

Abdullahs—thoughtheyarekeytothewholething—andthatthereismoretoit.

TherehadbeenopportunitiestomeetLoneSaheb.InSrinagartherewasabusinesscommunityofPunjabis—notjustSikhs,butHindusaswell—wholeftalongwiththeKashmiriPanditsintheexodusof1990.BeingaPunjabiIhadfriendsinthisgroup.Somewouldsay,‘Doyouknow

LoneSaheb?’‘No,Idon’t.’‘Aaphamaresaathtaash

khelo,LoneSahebtaashkebahutshaukeenhain.’

‘Whatdoesheplay?’Iasked.

‘Heplaysrummywithus.’

Obviously,Lonewasfondofgambling.

ThefactofthematterwasthatLoneSahebwasaproudKashmiriofhumbleorigins,

andathearthewasaliberal—asweremanyKashmirisofthatera.Helikedhisdrink,heusedtogotoSrinagarClub,andheplayedcardswithhisPunjabifriends.Therewasaninspector-generalofpoliceinJ&K,AmarKapoor,whodiedinserviceofaheartattackandhewasabuddyofLone’s.

Infact,someonesuggestedthatatonetimeLonemighthavebeenan

atheistandacommunist.Whileresearchingthisbook,ImetanexpatriateKashmiriinLondon,aneducationistnamedAbdullahRaina,aboutwhomthereismoreinthenextchapter.RainasaidthatthereusedtobesomethinginKashmircalledthe‘NoGodFederation’,andthatLoneSahebwasamember.

IcheckedwithLone’ssonSajadaboutthis,andheclaimedthatthiswasjusta

lotofJamaatipropaganda.‘Wastheresuchathing?’Iasked.

‘Yeah,’Sajadsaid.‘Itwastalkedabout,butDadwasnotapartofit.Hewasnotanunbeliever.’

‘Allright,’Isaid.‘Washealeftistorarightist?’

‘Yeah,’Sajjadsaid.‘Hewasaleftist,hewasasocialist.’

AsRainaputit,Lonewasadifferenttypeofperson

fromwhathebecameandwhatmanythinkhewas.Hestartedhisinningslongago;borninavillageinKupwarainMay1932,LoneobtainedalawdegreefromAligarhMuslimUniversity,anditwasduringhisearlydaysasalawyerthathewasdrawnintopolitics.AshetoldPakistan’sNewslinemagazineinaninterviewin2001(publishedafterhisdeathin2002),therewasajudgeinwhosecourtin

Handwarahearguedmanycases;thatjudgedrewhimasideonedayandsaid:‘IfMLAsaretryingtointerveneincases,itisduepartlytothefactthatthereisnoonetoopposethem.Youarethefirstpersonfromyourareatohaveeducatedhimself.Youareanadvocatenow.Youmustcometotherescueofyourpeople.’

LonethusjoinedG.M.Sadiq’sDemocraticNational

Council.SadiqwastobecomethelastprimeministerofKashmir,andthefirstchiefminister,headingaCongresspartygovernmentfrom1965tillhisdeathinDecember1971.HewasaMarxistwithareputationforhonesty,whichwasararequalityinpubliclife.LonewasimpressedwithSadiq’shonestyandhisargumentthatitwasfutiletofightthemightygovernmentofIndia.

‘Instead,hearguedthatweshouldbecomepartofthesystemandpersuadeIndiatorecognisethatpeopleinKashmircannotberuledbyforce,’Lonelatersaid.

LonejoinedtheIndianNationalCongress,andenteredtheJ&Kassemblyin1967,whenSadiqwastheCongresschiefminister,andtwoyearslaterwasmadeajuniorminister.ManyKashmirisblameSadiqfor

theerosioninKashmir’sautonomy;andevenLone(muchlater)blamedhisformermentor:‘In1964thebiggestblowtoourautonomyoccurredduringSadiq’sgovernment.’Thebigblowwasthechangeinnomenclature,fromprimeministertochiefminister,andfromSadr-e-Riyasattogovernor.SadiqalsoenactedlawsthatcircumventedtheArticle370,whichservedas

abridgebetweenJ&K’sautonomyandtheIndianConstitution.

Ironically,RainatoldmethatwhenLonewasthestate’shealthandeducationministerunderSadiq’ssuccessoraschiefminister,SyedMirQasim,in1972,hewenttoBombayandapparentlysaidthatArticle370wasanemotionalbarrierbetweenJ&Kandthecountry,andshouldbe

abrogated.(ThiswasreportedinCurrent,theperiodicalrunbyD.F.Karaka.)

Again,IcheckedthiswithSajad,whosaidhisfathermighthavebeenmisquoted;thathemighthavesaidsomethinglike‘Throwitinthesea’or‘Tohellwithit’,etc.Interestingly,Sajaddidnotsaythatthisepisodedidnothappen.

In1973,LoneleftMirQasim’scabinet.‘Ifinally

cametotheconclusionthatthesystemwastryingtocowmedown,thatIcouldn’tcontributeanythingtomycause,’hetoldNewslinemagazinemanyyearslater.‘Ibelievedthen,asIdonow,thatIndiacannotretainthisterritorybyforce.IfIndiahadanychancetoretainKashmir,thenIndiawouldhavetoconvincethepeople.’

Thencamethe1975accordbetweenSheikh

AbdullahandPrimeMinisterIndiraGandhi,andSheikhSahebtookovertheJ&KgovernmentfromtheCongress.ThoughLonewasstillintheCongress,SheikhSahebtookhimin‘asaspecialtalent’.LonebelievedthattheSher-e-KashmircouldconvincehispeopletoleavebehindtheirreservationsaboutjoiningIndia.However,healsobelievedMrsGandhiwouldnevergiveSheikh

Sahebafreehandtorule,soin1976heissuedastatementsayingMrsGandhioughttodetachherselffromthelocalCongressparty,andallowittojointheNationalConference,tostrengthenSheikhAbdullah’shands.Forthis,hewasexpelledfromtheCongress.

LonewasstillpartoftheNCbut‘cametotheconclusionthattheoldmandidn’thavethegutsand

couragetodoanything’,asheputitwithreferencetoSheikhAbdullah,inthesameinterview.‘Hehadlosthisfire.HewasnowratherafraidofNewDelhi.Afterbeinginjailsolong,hewasalsounderpressurefromhisfamilyatthetime.’LonepartedwayswiththeNCandfoughtthe1977assemblyelectiononaJanataPartyticket.Hewon.However,in1978helefttheJanataPartyandfoundedthe

People’sConference(PC),dedicatedtotherestorationof‘internalautonomy’inKashmir.

TobefairtoLone,anyoutsiderwhohasjoinedtheNationalConferencehasnotfounditeasytosurvivethere,aswesawwithFirdousSyedinchapterfive.AsNizamuddinBhat,anMLAfromBandipore,putit:‘Lonejoinedthemainprovisionstorewithgreatfanfarebut

ultimatelyhadtosetupagrocerystoreacrosstheroad,thePeople’sConference.’

ThoughLonewasbusywiththePC,hecamebackintothelimelightfollowingthe1984dismissalofChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullahbyJagmohanontheordersofMrsGandhi.Farooq’sreplacement(andbrother-in-law)G.M.Shah,whosplittheNCbutwaslookingforfurthersupportinthe

assembly,offeredLonethepostofdeputychiefminister.

Lonerefused.Tohim,thiswholeepisodewas‘anti-people’.Notsurprisingly,duringthenexttwoyears,LoneandFarooqgrewcloserandstucktogether,totheextentthatFarooq’smother,BegumAbdullah,oncepubliclysaid,‘Theyaremytwosons.’Thisbonhomielasteduntiltheendof1986,whenFarooqandthethen

primeminister,RajivGandhi,enteredintoapoliticalaccord.ItwasabigdisappointmentforLone,andheandFarooqpartedcompany.

Graduallyatthispoint,asKashmirdriftedtowardsseparatism,sodidLone.Heandhispartywouldstillbepartofthepoliticalmainstreamoverthenexttwoyears,contestingthe1987electiontothe87-seat

assembly.Atthattime,FarooqAbdullahjoinedhandswiththethenMirwaiz,MoulviMohammedFarooq(fatherofthecurrentMirwaiz),inwhatwasknownasthe‘DoubleFarooq’accord.ThetwoFarooqswantedtoropeLoneintothis,andMirwaizMoulviFarooqevensuggestedtoLonethatiftheirparties,thePCandtheAwamiActionCommittee(AAC),joinedhands,they

couldbetotheCongress-NCwhattheRSSwastotheBJP.

Indesperation,MirwaizMoulviFarooqevensuggestedtoFarooqAbdullahthatLonebetakenbackintotheNCandbeappointedgeneralsecretary.TowhichFarooqsaid:‘Iagree,Lonewillmakeanexcellentgeneralsecretary,butwhowillcontrolLone?’

LonewasalsoofferedapartintheMUF,the

oppositioncombinethattookontheNC–Congressinthe1987election,andwhichwonfourseatsamidthechargesagainsttherulingpartiesofrigging.LonedidnotjointheMUF,sincetheycouldnotreachanagreementonthenumberofseatshewouldcontest.HencethePCcontestedonitsown,anddidnotwinanyseats.Lonelatersaidthathadtheyreachedanagreementonseats,the

MUF–PCwouldhavewontwentyseatsdespitetherigging.Intheevent,militancybeganandtheKashmirmovementgatheredmomentum,andLone’sinvolvementinseparatismdeepened.

Hishousebecameahidingplace.Oneyoungmilitant,YasinMalikoftheJKLF,usedtovisithimfrequently.Infact,Yasin,whowaswantedforthe

murderoffourIndianAirForcepersonnel,amongothers,wasfinallyarrestedinAugust1990fromthehouseofZahoorWatali.ZahoorwasthebrotherofA.M.Watali,theDIGwhosehousewasattackedinoneofthefirstmilitantevents,inSeptember1988.ZahoorcamefromthesamevillageasLone;theirfamilieswereclose;andZahoorwasLone’smanFriday—andhiscontactwith

theISI.Theviolenceandstreet

demonstrationshadtakencentrestagein1990,andinthatbriefspanthatJagmohanwasgovernor,duringhissecondtenuretherewasageneralsweepofseparatistpoliticiansincludingformermembersoftheMUFsuchasSyedAliShahGeelaniandProf.AbdulGaniBhat.LonewasarrestedinMarch1990,andwasinjailforovertwo

years.Hewasreleasedinthelatesummerof1992,anduponreleasehehadabrainwave:ofsettingupaconglomerationofallseparatistoutfits,whichwouldbecalledtheAllPartyHurriyatConference,Hurriyatmeaningfreedom.

HediscussedtheideawiththeISI.Afterhisreleasein1992,hetravelledtoSaudiArabia,wherehemetaBrigadierSaleemand

broachedtheidea.Itwasnotaverypleasantencounter.‘I’mnotusedtointeractingwithpeopleinuniform,’LonetoldBrigadierSaleem.‘I’vebeenaministerinKashmir,we’vehadademocraticsystemthere,howeverflawed.’

‘You’dbettergetusedtomeetingpeopleinuniform,’BrigadierSaleemsaid.‘Becausewecalltheshots.’

Lone’srelationshipwith

theISIwouldalwaysberough.

LonerosetohishighestprominenceintheHurriyat.HewastheonetruepoliticianintheHurriyat,andtherestoftheHurriyatleadershipenviedhimforhispoliticalskillsandsagacity.Sinceitincludednearlythirtyoutfitswithdifferingaims—somewereforindependence,somewereforaccessiontoPakistan,andsomeeven

wantedKashmirtojoinaglobalcaliphate—Lonesuggestedthatasafirststeptheyputasidetheirdifferingaimsandfocusonthebasicissue:thatKashmirwasadisputedterritory.‘LetusfirstpersuadetheIndiansthattheyshouldconcedethatKashmirisadisputedterritoryanditsfutureisyettobedecided,’Lonetoldhiscolleagues.‘Oncetheydoit,thencomesthequestionofhowwewill

solvetheissueofthisdisputedterritory.’

Theonlyotherpersonwhohadlongpoliticalexperience,thoughhealwaysoperatedfromthemargins,wasSyedAliShahGeelani.Notsurprisingly,whentheHurriyatwasformed,andduringtheearlyyears,thetwoofthemwereclose.Itwasonlyovertimethattheydevelopedacutedifferences:Geelaniinsistedtheir

movementwasareligiousmovement,whereasLonewouldsay,no,itwasapoliticalmovement.

Indeed,whentheLashkar-e-Toibabusinessbeganinabigway,peoplelikeGeelaniusedtosay,‘Yehhamaremehmaanhain.’

‘Theyarenotourguests,theseTalibanandall,’Lonewouldrespond.‘Wedon’twantthemhere,they’renotourguests,peoplecoming

hereandkillingKashmiris.’Thiswasasorepoint

betweenthetwo.Whenthe1996assembly

electionwasannouncedafteralongspellofgovernor’srule,LoneprobablyfeltthatseparatistpoliticswaswhatwouldstilldominateinKashmir.PeoplelikeMuzaffarHussainBaig,whowasthestate’sadvocategeneralinthelate1980s(andwhowouldin2002jointhe

People’sDemocraticPartyandbecomethedeputychiefminister)joinedLone’sparty,thePeople’sConference.Lone’simpressionwasprobablyreinforcedbythefactthattheNationalConference,whichhadbeentargetedbymilitantsin1990,wasinvisible.SoheapproachedFarooqtourgehimnottoparticipateinelections.

Farooqwasapologetic.

‘Can’tbackout,’hetoldLone.‘I’vegivenDelhimyword.’

AndasourfriendinPakistan,IrshadMalik,latertoldme,the1996electionwasamasterstrokethatbrokethebackofmilitancy.HadFarooqnotagreedtoparticipate—hadtheelectionnotbeenheld—militancywouldhavecontinuedanothertenyears,perhaps.(Thiswasnotthesame,however,as

sayingthatKashmiriswerepoliticallysatisfied.)Asitwas,militantswerecomingoutfromthecold,Kashmirisweregoingtoelectedpoliticianstosortouttheirdailycomplaints.Andthen,ofcourse,theKargilwarhappened,whichwasabigjolttoKashmirisbothinPakistanandathome,forthereseemedtobeamisalignmentbetweenPakistanandtheonecountry

thatcouldmakethingshappen,theUSA.

Lonewentonalongtripin1999andhevisitedAmerica.HereturnedinNovember,aroundDiwali,andthenmadeacoupleofstatementsthatsoundedprettyreasonable.TheAmericanshadprobablymadeitcleartohimthatthemilitancywasbunkumandthattheyweren’tgoingtosupportitanymore.

LonewascrucialintheHurriyatifwewantedtomoveforwardpoliticallywiththeseparatists.Therefore,whenhebeganspeakingreasonably,itlookedlikeagreatopportunity.Itwastimetoreachouttohim.

IhadmetLoneinjailseveralyearsback,butthat’sneverthesamething.Frankly,Ididn’tknowhimthen,andhemaynothaveevenrememberedmyface.

SoItoldoneofourofficers,atallfellow,‘GopickupLoneSahebandbringhimhere.’

‘How?’theofficerasked.‘Whatareyouaskingme

how,youknowwherehelives,gogethim.’

SotheofficerwentwithabasketoffruittoLoneandsaid,‘Sahebwantstomeetyou.’

Lonewasasmartguy.Heunderstood.

Inthebeginning,Iwould

talktohim,buthesaidnothing.Zero.Heprobablydidn’ttrustme,asIwastheR&AWchief.

Lonegraduallyopenedup,buteventhenhespokelittle:verymeasured,fewwords,buteverythinghesaidwasmeaningful.Hewasatypicalpolitician,theonlyoneamongtheseseparatists.HewasabitlikeVajpayee;Vajpayeeusedtospeakevenless.Heunderstoodpolitics.

InKashmirhewasregardedasoneofthesmarterpoliticians,maybethesmartestafterFarooq;maybeevensmarter.Hewasinthatleague.

Nonetheless,herespondedpositively,andwecontinuedadialogue,rightuntiltheendin2002.Hewouldtalkaboutpoliticsandthemovementanddialogue.Hewasquitehappytalking.Hewashonestenoughto

acknowledgethatthegunhadultimatelyfailed,andthatKashmirisneededtomoveon.LonewastotallyfedupwithPakistan.

OneoftheinterestingthingsLonesaidwasthathethoughtthemovementwasasortofanexperiment,andthathedidn’texpecttoomuchfromitthoughKashmiriswouldemergewiseroutofit.Itwasafascinatinginsight,Ifelt.

OnedayinNovember2000,Lonevisitedandsaid:‘Iwantapassport,IwanttogotoPakistan.’

‘Lonewantsapassport,’ItoldBrajeshMishra.‘Dedijiye,kyahai.’

Hegothispassportwithintwodays.

LoneneededapassportbecausehehadfixedthemarriageofhissonSajad,thenabusinessmaninDubai,toAsma,theonlydaughterof

theJKLFchairman,AmanullahKhan.ItwasabigdealinPakistan,asitinvolvedthecomingtogetheroftwopoliticalfamilies,anditwaswellattendedbyVIPs.Itwasalsothefocusoftheinternationalmediabecauseon19November,thefirstdayoftheweddingwhena‘rukhsati’washostedbyAmanullahKhaninRawalpindi,PrimeMinisterVajpayeeannounceda

unilateralceasefireforRamzan,tobeginfrom26November.Lonehostedareceptionthenextday,inIslamabad,wherethisceasefirewasthetalkamongtheguests.

Afewdayslater,LonemetPakistan’schiefexecutive,Gen.PervezMusharraf.TheGeneralaskedhim,‘HowarethingsinKashmir?’

‘Don’tworryabout

Kashmir,lookafterPakistan,’Loneapparentlyreplied.‘Yourradicalswillbitethehandthatfeedsthem.’

Musharrafrespondedbylaughing.

Yearslater,intheinterviewtoNewslinemagazinementionedearlierinthechapter,LonerecalledhismeetingwithMusharraf.‘Wespentmorethananhourandahalftogether,’Lonesaid.‘Hewasinterestedin

discussingVajpayee’sannouncementandwhetherIndiawasopentogenuinedialogue.IthinkitisunfortunatethatMusharrafcametopowerasamilitarydictator...iftheIndianscooperate,MusharrafisstillthebestmanonthePakistanisidewithwhomtheIndianscandealonKashmir.Heisapracticalman.HecanreachasettlementonKashmir.’ThisiswhateveryKashmirileader

exceptGeelanibutincludingOmarAbdullah,whometMusharraf,wastosay.

ItisverysignificantthatLonecametotheconclusionthatMusharrafcouldhavesettledwithIndiaonKashmir,whileweingovernmentwerestillwonderingwhetherornottotrustthissoldier.Yearslater,in2014,whileaddressinghislastpressconferenceasprimeminister,DrManmohan

Singhwouldbemoanthefactthattheyhadalmostclinchedadeal.

LonealsospoketoMusharrafabout‘ownership’oftheKashmirissue.‘WesaidtothePakistanisthattheyshouldtrytheirlevelbesttohelpKashmirgetoutfrombeinganIndianpossession,butindoingsotheyshouldnotexpressapreferenceforanyoption,’Lonesaid.‘Otherwise,they

wouldcreateproblemsforourfreedomstruggle.’

Infact,LonewenttothedinnerpartyhostedinhishonourbytheJamaat-e-IslamiinPoK,whereheaskedthePakistanisiftheyhadahiddenagenda.‘Wouldyoualsoliketotakeusoverandoccupyourland?’heasked.HeexplainedthathisquestionwasinrelationtotheceasefireofferedbyVajpayee,towhich

Kashmirishadtohavetheirownresponse.Itwasalsorelatedtoforeignmilitants:‘Theyarewelcomesolongastheycometohelpus,’Lonesaid.‘Buttheymustnottakeuptheroleofthe“owners”ofthemovement.’

OnegroupoffolkswhoprobablydidnotlikehisquestionswastheISI.Asitwas,itwasannoyedwiththewayhewascold-shoulderingtheoutfit.

Forinstance,ISIchiefGeneralMahmudinvitedLonefordinner.Lonedilly-dalliedandthenfinallyhedidnotgo.ItwasarebufftheISIdidnotforget.Infact,theISIbegantobelievethatSajadwastheevilinfluenceonhisfather;thatmaybeSajadwasincontactwiththeIndians.Forhispart,theelderLonethoughtthatMahmudwastoomuchofahawk,andsaidtheISIchiefwas‘cracked’.After

retirement,MahmudgrewabeardandjoinedtheTablighJamaat.Acolleagueofhisdescribedhimasagonecase.

ThatwasnotthelasttimethatLonemetMusharraf;theGeneral,whowasnowpresident,heldateapartyfortheHurriyatleadersinNewDelhi,whilehewasonhiswaytoAgraforasummitwithPrimeMinisterVajpayeeinJuly2001.

Attheparty,Loneis

supposedtohavesaid:‘We’retired,we’reexhausted,wecan’tcarryonlikethis.You’reonlygettingKashmiriskilled.’

TowhichGeelaniobjected.‘We’renottired,wewillneverbetired,’hesaid.EveryonestaredatGeelani,andwhathewasimplying:thatKashmirisshouldcontinuetogetkilled.

BythetimetheAgrasummithappened,Ihad

alreadyshiftedtothePMO.Mybriefwasnolongerexternalintelligence,andwhenIaskedfortheagendaIwastolditwasKashmirbutinparticularthe2002assemblyelection.SinceIhadalotoftimeatthePMOIwasmeetingLonemoreandmore,andIspoketohimaboutthecomingelection.

‘Yes,Iunderstandthatelectionsareimportant,’hesaid.The1996pollwasa

clearexample.‘Look,’Isaid.‘ThePM

wantstotallyfreeandfairelections.’‘Yes,’hesaid.‘Freeandfair.Itistherightwayforward.’

ItgottoapointwhereIsaid,‘Willyouhelpus?’

‘How?’heasked.‘Youcouldcontest,’I

said.‘Mytimeisover,butI

willhelpyou,’hesaid.‘Don’taskhow,letthetimecome.’

NowtherearepeoplewhothinkthatLonewaslookingtoparticipateinthe2002election;thathewantedtobechiefminister;andthathewasshotdeadbecausethePakistanisthoughthemightparticipateinelections.Itisalotofbunkum.Henever,evergaveanyindicationthathewantedtoparticipate.Thenotionthathewantedtobechiefministerisalsosilly;asnoone,notleastMufti

Sayeed(whogotthejob),thoughtthatanyoneotherthanFarooqAbdullahwouldbecomechiefminister.

Whathewouldsayisthatforelections,wewouldhavetolookforyoungerpeople;‘I’mtoofargonenow,’werehiswords.Hewashintingatthenextgeneration,andalsoatMirwaizUmarFarooq,thentheheadoftheHurriyat.

Lonefeltthathehadbeenthroughtoomuch.Hewould

turnseventythatyear,andafterallthathehadstoodforandspokenagainst,tobepartofanelectionwouldbeatotalturnaround,which,atthisstage,hecouldnotdo.Hewaswillingtohelpinthedemocraticprocess,butwithoutgettinginvolved.‘I’mwithyou,’he’dtellme.‘Thisisagoodideaandwewillhelpyouindirectly.’

Theotherthingwasthathewasthinkingofhis

politicallegacy.Hehadadaughter,Shabnam,andtwosons,BilalandSajad.Shabnamwasthebrightestofthem;Bilalwasaneasy-goingfellowwholikedhisgolf;andSajadwasmakingmerryinDubai,possiblyworkinginadisco.LonedecideditwasgoingtobeSajadwhowouldcarryhislegacyforward.Lonewouldhintthisandsay,‘Youguysshouldlookafterhim.’

Perhapshehadapremonitionofthethreattohim,andworried.

Lonewasfondofhisdaughter,forshewasalawyer,shewasworking,shewasserious,andshehadpoliticalambitions;quiteacontrasttotheboyswhowerehavingagoodtime.TheproblemwasShabnam’slifestylechoice,andLone,despitehisliberalism,wasquiteupsetwithit.Shehada

relationshipthatLoneopposedandtheyhadatiff,afterwhichsheleft.

Bilal,whoishappilymarried,wasnotambitious;hewashappybeingapartofthemoderateHurriyatafterhisfather’sdeath.ItwasadivisionthatthefamilydecidedafterLone’sdeath,thatBilalwouldbeinsidetheHurriyatandSajadwouldstayoutandtakecareoftheparty.Thatiswherehisfather

lefthim,andthatiswherehehascontinued.It’safairdistributionoflabourbecauseintheHurriyatyoujustneedtobethereandattendmeetings,butifsomeoneistomovethepartyforwardthenthatmanisSajad.Hence,hegothisfather’spoliticallegacy.

ByMarch-Aprilof2002,ChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullahgotwindofLone’scontactwiththePMO,andit

worriedhim.DuringthisperiodhesoughtLoneout.

‘IhavenoobjectiontoHurriyatparticipationintheelection,’Farooqsaidtome.‘Whydoesn’tLonejoinus,we’lltakehimwillingly.’

ThiswasquiteaturnaroundfromhisreactiontoMirwaizMoulviFarooq’ssuggestiontotakeLoneintheNCasgeneralsecretary;obviouslyLone’scontactswiththegovernmentofIndia

disturbedFarooq.ItissaidtheyheldasecretmeetingataresthouseinKokernag.Sadly,soonafter,Lonewaskilled.Politically,LoneandFarooqweremadeforeachotherbutunfortunatelytheyneverstayedtogetherlong.However,therewassufficientmutualregard.Inearly1990,whenreportswerefilteringinthatmilitantsweretakingshelterinLone’sresidenceinSrinagar,Iapproachedmy

colleagueM.N.SabharwalandsuggestedweraidLone’splace.Sabharwal,whothenunderstoodthedynamicsofKashmirbetterthanme,said,‘Relax.IwillneedtoconsultDoctorSaheb.’Henevergotbacktome.

LonetriedtoconvincetheHurriyatoftherelevanceoftheelection.Hetoldthemthatmilitancyhadalimitedshelf-lifewhichwaslongover.Yethecouldnot

convincethem.First,becausetheywerewell-behavedISIfollowerswhodidnotstepoutofline.Second,asLonecalledthem,theywerelikethenawabsofOudhwhodepletedtheirwealthyetcarriedonlikeroyalty;theHurriyathadalsogotwhattheycouldoutofmilitancytilltherewasnothingleft,andyettheycarriedon.TheHurriyatarguedbackthatelectionwasaflawedidea

whichwouldonlymakethempartoftheIndiansystem.TheHurriyatwasnotconvinced.

ThentherewasthenewforceofthePDP,ledbyLone’soldcolleagueandfriend,MuftiSayeed.TheygrewtogetherunderSadiqandMirQasim,andbothwereministersinthelatter’scabinet.AccordingtoSajad,however,MuftiwasLone’sfriend,butLonenevertrustedMufti.TheelderLone,in

fact,consideredFarooqtentimesmorereliable.

Muftiwantedatie-upbetweenthePDPandthePC,asthepartieshadcomplementaryinfluence:LoneheldswayintheKupwara–BaramullabeltinnorthKashmir,whileMufti’sstrongholdwassouthKashmir.Yetitnevermaterialised.Infact,afterMuftitookoveraschiefminister,heofferedSajada

ministershipifhejoinedthePDP–Congressgovernment,butSajadturneddowntheoffer.

AndthenLonemettheISIforthefinaltime,inApril2002.

On18April,LoneaccompaniedAsma,hisdaughter-in-law,toDubaiasshewasgoinghometoPakistanandatthetimetherewerenodirectflightsfromIndia.AlsoenroutetoDubai

werehismanFriday,ZahoorWatali,andMirwaizUmarFarooq.InDubaitheymetSardarAbdulQayoomKhanofPoK;GhulamNabiFai,theISI’sKashmiriinWashington,DC;andSyedNazirGilani,headingaBritishNGOcalledJ&KCouncilforHumanRights;allofwhomweretheretoattendaKashmirPeaceConferenceofthosewhowishedtoendtheviolence

andresolvethedisputepolitically.Infact,atthemeeting,LoneaskedSardarQayoomtourgentlyrequestthePakistangovernmenttowithdrawjehadigroupsfromKashmir.

HealsotooktheopportunitytomeetthenewISIchief,Lt.Gen.EhsanulHaq.HisfamilywasagainsthismeetingtheISI,astheyfelthewaswalkingintoatrap.

NonethelessLonewent,andatthismeetingcomplainedagainsttheHurriyat’spoliticalhandler,BrigadierAbdullah,whichisanoldandpopularcovernameforISIofficials.AsmentionedinthechapterwithFirdousSyed,theISIusedtohandleKashmirwithamilitarywingandapoliticalwing,eachheadedbyabrigadier.Lonehadaproblemwithhisparticular

Abdullah.‘LoneSaheb,wewill

changehimimmediately,’Lt.Gen.Ehsansaid.

ThenewpoliticalhandlerwasthemilitaryattacheatthePakistanHighCommissioninNewDelhi,JavedAzizKhan,andhewasgiventhecodenameofBrigadierRathore.(Nowretired,hecontinuestoadvisethePakistangovernmentonKashmir.)

BrigadierAbdullah

apparentlydidnottakekindlytobeingshuntedout.HemayhaveorderedthehitonLone,anditwaspossiblynotaconsciousdecisionbytheISIchief.

Asitwas,Lone’sencounterswiththeISIwereneverreallygoodduetohisallergytothemilitary.EventalkingtotheISIwaslikebangingyourheadagainstthewall:theofficerswouldlistentoyoureveryargument,

wouldsmile,nod,andthengobacktowhattheyoriginallysaid.

Thus,goingtoDubaiwasLone’sfatalmistake.InPakistanieyes,hewastoomuchofanIndian,toofargone.TheISImorethananythingdreadedthegeneralmainstreamingofKashmiris,ledbyLone.

LonehadspentaboutaweekinDubai.FromtherehewenttoLondon,wherehe

spenttwodays,andontoWashington,DC,wherehemetNationalSecurityAdvisorCondoleezzaRice;Faiwasalsoatthismeeting.Infact,LonehandedRiceanoteonKashmir.HiswifeHanefaandBilaljoinedhiminWashington.

Lonethenreturnedviatheeast,ashewantedtoshowHanefaaroundSingapore.HetravelledtoKualaLumpur,fromwherehewastogoto

Singapore,andstayedthenight,buthethengotanurgentsummonsfromMirwaizUmarFarooq.TheyoungMirwaizwantedLonetocutshorthisvisitandattendthetwelfthanniversaryoftheassassinationofhisfather,MirwaizMoulviFarooq.

SotheLonesneverwenttoSingapore.Instead,on18May,theyarrivedinDelhi,andon20Maytheyreached

Srinagar.Thenextafternoon,

accordingtohisdriverRashid,Lonesaidhisafternoonnamaaz,lefthishomeinSanatNagar,andataround2:15p.m.arrivedattheIdgahforthe‘barsi’.TherestoftheHurriyatleadershipexceptforGeelaniwasalreadyonthedais:MirwaizUmarFarooq,ProfessorAbdulGhaniBhat,andMoulviAbbasAnsari.They

allmadespeeches,andtheunusualthingthatdaywasLonedidnotmakeaspeech.Inbetweeneveryspeech,agroupofboysinthecrowdwouldshoutpro-Pakistanslogans.

ThelastspeechwasbytheMirwaiz.Ashewoundup,ataround4:30p.m.,someonestartedshoutingsomethingaboutagrenade.

Theleadersdecidedtoexit,andasLonewas

descendingfromthestage,abouttwentyshotsrangout.

Thecrowdranhelter-skelter,sonoonecouldgetalookatwhothegunmenwere.Rashid,whohadparkedLone’scarabout60yardsawayandhadaviewofthestage,pushedthroughthepandemonium,butbythetimehereachedLone,hewasdead.

Lone’stwoPSOshadalsobeenshot.ThoughLonehad

beenshotmultipletimesfromthefront,thePSOwhodiedhadbeenshotfromtheback.TheotherPSOwastakentohospital.

DriverRashidloadedthetwobodiesandtookthemtoSanatNagar.Whenhereached,Lone’swifewasonthefirstfloor;sherandownstairsandbeganweeping.Neighboursandlocalshopkeepersalsocame.AbdulGhaniLonewasno

more.Sajadwasovercome.As

helaterwroteinalocalnewspaper:‘[I]liftedtheshroudandtherehewas—myDad—lifeless,stonecold,eyesclosed,haircurledback,inastateofeternalslumber.MyDad’sjourneyoflifehadended.’Hewentaheadandnamedthekillers.‘IwasfilledwithangerandoutfrommymouthcametheinfamousstatementblamingtheISIfor

myfather’skilling.IwasunmindfuloftheTVcrewsandtheircameras.AndintheeveningitwasacrossalltheTVscreens.’

AndwhenGeelanicametoLone’splace,Sajadtoldhimtogetout.

ThenSajad’smother,Hanefa,tookhimaside.‘I’velostmyhusband,Idon’twanttolosemyson,’shesaid.‘Iwillnotallowaseconddeadbodywithbulletsinthis

house.Calmdown.’Hanefatoldhersonto

retracthischargeagainsttheISI,whichhedid.ThenextdayGeelaniwasallowedtoparticipateinthefuneralprocession.AfewdayslaterSajadwroteanarticleinwhichhesaid,‘evengrievingisdangerousinKashmirbecauseitcanleadtofurtherloss’,explainingwhyhebacktracked.YetitneverleftSajad’smind.Hewrotean

articleintheTribuneon29December2011titled‘IntheLandoftheMutes’,inwhichhewrote:‘Deathcomesinmultipleways,andsodoesmourning,thankstotheleaderswhohavemanagedtolearntoextractprofitfromtheenterprise.’ItwasclearlyareferencetoGeelani.

PrimeMinisterVajpayeegaveastatementsayingthatLonewaskilledbecausehewasworkingforpeace,and

thathiskillingwasasetbacktothatprocess.

YoumayrecallMohammedSayeedMalik,thejournalistwhowasMuftiSayeed’seyesandearsduringtheRubaiyakidnapping.HewroteanobitforLone,inwhichhesaid:‘Lonewasmartyredforbeingcourageousandforthright.Asastatesmanhehadthevisiontomoveforwardratherthanbeingboggeddown,not

markingtime.Unfortunatelywearecaughtinanagonyinwhichnooneknowswhokilledwho.

‘ThemonsterofdeathhashauntedKashmirforsolong...Wehavesufferedalotandcontinuetosuffer.Kashmirisarestillindoubtwhetherthekillerisdeadorroamingabout.UnlessKashmiristhinkindependentlythereisnohopeofmovingforward.ThisiswhatLonetaught

Kashmiris.’Oneoftheironicfallouts

ofLone’sassassinationisthatoncehehadsaidthattheHurriyatwouldbreakoverhisdeadbody;andayearafterhedied,itbroke.

TheISIusedtocreditR&AWwithsplittingtheHurriyat,butactuallyitwastheISIwhichsplittheHurriyat,foritwantedtobuildGeelaniup.Afurtherironyisthatin2014,theISI

wasstilltryingtogetthethreeHurriyatfactionstore-unite,butthatlookedunlikely,asthemoderateHurriyatpeoplearenottooenamouredwithGeelani.

InhisinterviewtoNewslinemagazine,whichwaspublishedafterhiskilling,LonehadspokenoftheneedforthegovernmenttoengagetheHurriyat:‘OnonesidethereistheAPHCthatsaysthatKashmirisa

disputedterritory...OntheothersideistheIndiangovernmentthatsays:“KashmirisanintegralpartofIndiaandaccessionisfinal.”...TheAPHCreflectstheviewofthemainpoliticalforcesinKashmirthatdifferwithIndiaonthesecrucialquestions.Therefore,theAPHCandthegovernmentofIndiaarethetwomainpartiesthatfaceeachother.So,ifthereistobeadialogueto

narrowdownthedifferencesortofindasolution,itmustbetheHurriyatandthegovernmentofIndiathatenterintodiscussions.’

Intheend,whentheHurriyatbegantalkingtothegovernment—toDeputyPrimeMinisterL.K.Advani—itjustfollowedwhatLonesuggestedearlier.

AsforthePeople’sConference,therewerealotofpeoplewhowerecloseto

Lonebutwhodriftedawaybecausetheydidn’tknowhowtodealwithSajad’shugeego.He’sinahurrytobechiefminister,andlikeotheryoungstersinKashmir,hedoesn’tliketositandlistentoadvice.Hehasapoliticallegacyandafuture.FollowinghismuchpublicisedmeetingwithPrimeMinisterModi,Sajadhasarrivedoncentrecourt.Nowitisuptohimto

demonstratehismettle;whetherhehasitinhimtoreachthetop.ItwillalsomakeBilalwonderwherehestandsnow.OnedaySajadvisitedandIaskedabouthisfriends.‘Ihavetwohandlers,bothofwhomareintouchwithPakistan,’hesaidcasually.‘OnehasjoinedtheNC,theotherhasjoinedthePDP.’

AccordingtoSajad,hisfatherrealisedthatKashmiris

hadadualityoftemperament,inthateachwouldsayonethingtoyouandsomethingelsetoanotherperson.Inthat,AbdulGhaniLonebelievedthattheKashmiris’worstenemywastheKashmiristhemselves.

ThereexistsathreattoSajad,toBilal,andtoothers.Lone’skillingwasoneofmanyinthe‘dirtywar’thatPakistanwagedinKashmir—thatsomeofficerswere

temptedtoretaliateto,asIwillmentioninthenextchapter.TakeMirwaizMoulviFarooq,whosebarsiLonewaskilledat;orMajidDar,whowaskilledafterLone,butdelayedonlybecausethereactiontoLone’skillingwasfarstrongerthantheISIanticipated.

OrthekillingofHurriyatleaderProf.AbdulGhaniBhat’sbrother;thisdeeply

alienatedProf.BhatfromGeelani.Indeed,GeelanibegantobecalledAmir-e-Jehad;somebegantocallhimBubJehad.KashmirisusedtocallSheikhSahebBub,whichtranslatestoDad.

9SPYVs.SPY

TheonepersonInevermetwhileIwasR&AWchiefwasmyPakistanicounterpart,theISIchief,apositionheldbytwosuccessivepeopleduring

mytenure:Gen.ZiauddinButtandGeneralMahmud,whowasburnedbythefactthatin2000weturnedMajidDararound.It’snotthatIwasoverlykeentomeettheISIchief,butitisstrangethatImettheCIAchief,theMossadchief,theRussianintelligenceservicechief—andeventheinscrutableheadoftheChinesesecretservice.

Meetingotherchiefswasapartofthejob.Oneneeded

tomaintainliaisonwithotherservices.Whatdidn’tmakesensewasneverliaisingwiththeISIchief.TheCIAandtheKGBneverstoppedtalkingtoeachotherevenduringtheworstdaysoftheColdWar;itisdocumentedthatduringtheCubanmissilecrisisattheheightoftheColdWar,USpresidentJohnF.KennedyandSovietpremierNikitaKhrushchevwerewritingandtalkingtoone

another.Whereaswe,atthedropofahat,stoptalkingtothePakistanis.

AfterIleftthegovernmentaltogetherIcontinuedtoadvocatethisinthevarioustracktwodialoguesbetweenIndiaandPakistanthatIjoined(thesearenon-officialmeetingsofretiredsoldiers,academics,bureaucrats,journalistsandotherswhichhelpingeneratingout-of-the-box

ideastobetterbilateralrelationsthatcan’totherwisebetakenupatofficialmeetings).Itwasn’tasifaR&AWchiefhadnevermettheISIchief—inthelate1980s,oneofmypredecessors,A.K.Verma,hadtwomeetingswithhiscounterpart,Lt.Gen.HamidGul.Thusitwasn’tahereticalidea,andcouldholdsomebenefits.IevenwroteapaperaboutitwithformerISI

chiefLt.Gen.AsadDurrani,whomIoftenmetatmeetingsofretiredintelligencechiefs.

ThePakistanishavebeenkeentomeet.DuringmytenureatR&AW,weusedtoforeverbegettingthesemessagesfromfriendlyintelligenceagencies:whydon’tyoumeetthePakistanis,theyarekeentomeet.SometimeswewouldhearitfromtheSaudis;sometimesfromtheIranians;and

sometimesfromtheSriLankans.Andonce,someoneevenasinnocuousastheSouthAfricanssaid:whydon’tyouandthePakistanistalk?Thethingwas,theAmericansandtheBritishwouldstayoutofallofthisthoughtheyweretheoneswhoactuallywantedthismeetingofthesecretservices.Itmusthavebeenoneoftheirwaysoftryingtogetthingsgoing.

OnedayIwentandtoldthenationalsecurityadvisor.‘Sir,yehmessagesaaterehtehain,’Isaid.‘Milketohdekhtehain,ismeharzkyahai.Dekhhile.’

‘Nahin-nahin,’BrajeshMishraresponded.‘Abhitimetheeknahinhain.’

PerhapshethoughtIwasn’thawkishenoughtobetalkingtothePakistanis.

Eventually,theR&AWchiefwasdispatchedtomeet

theISIchieftofirmupdetailsfortheceasefirethatPakistanannouncedinNovember2003;C.D.SahayandEhsanulHaqmetinJuly–Augustofthatyear,andaccordingtoSahay,itreallyhelpedthesituationinKashmirasinfiltrationplummetedinOctober2003;alongwiththesuccessfulandfair2002assemblyelectioninJ&K,itledtothedeputyprimeministerstartinga

dialoguewiththeseparatistsinJanuary2004.TheISIalsoacknowledgesthattimelyintelligenceprovidedbyR&AWaboutalikelyJaish-e-MohammedattackmayhavesavedPresidentMusharraf’slifein2004.Musharrafhimselfissaidtohaveacknowledgedit.Incidentally,twooftheJaishmilitantsinvolvedwerehangedinPakistanaftertheattackinaPeshawarschoolin

December2014.Andtherewasanothermeeting,betweenSahay’ssuccessorP.K.HormisTharakanandhiscounterpartAshfaqPervezKayani,wholaterbecamethearmychief.

LettingtheR&AWchiefandtheISIchiefmeetisanideathatmakessense.There’snoquestionofahiddenagenda,andinanycaseweknoweachother’sagenda—itissimplyeach

other.FromthePakistanipointofview,iftheintelligencechiefsmeetthentheleaderscanalsomeet;thearmychiefscouldmeetandthenyoucouldhaveasummitmeeting,foronethingfollowsanother.

Also,ifIgobyAsadDurrani’swayofthinking—whichishowintelligencepeoplethink—thenintelligencechiefscandosomuchfortheirgovernments

andtheirleaderswhichcanremainnon-attributable.Italwayshelpsthepoliticalprocess.

Infact,makingoneofR&AW’sIslamabadpostsanopenpostonareciprocalbasiswouldbeagoodidea.

Anopenpostisonewherethehostcountryknowsyou’reanintelligencemanandthatyou’rethereforcooperationandcollaboration.Asopposedto

theopenpost,ofcourse,istheundercoverposting,whichissupposedtobesecretandunannounced.InNewDelhi,theCIAhasanopenpost,asdoestheBritishMI6;theirrepresentativesinteractwithouragencypeoplehere.WehaveopenpostsinWashington,DC,inMoscow,inNewYorkandinParis.

Yes,Parissoundsoddsincethereisn’tmuchtodo

there,andtherewasamoveinmytimetogiveitup.Wehadbeenaskingformoreundercoverposts,andthegeniusesattheMinistryofExternalAffairssaidifyouwantanynewpostsyou’llhavetocutdownonexistingones.OneofourbrightguyssuggestedwegiveupParis.ThoughIhadneverservedinParisandwasleavingtheorganisationinsixmonths,IfeltParisshouldnotbelost;it

wasagoodrewardforservicerenderedtotheorganisation.Andnowwiththecurrentshiftintheglobalsecurityscenarioitwouldseemtheretentionofhighlevelintelligenceliaisonisabsolutelyessential.However,IwasaghastatthesuggestiontoclosedownParis.

Pakistan,ontheotherhand,isnoball.It’snotaneasyposting;thereis

watertightsurveillance,muchofitopenandmeanttoscareofffellowPakistanis,eventhosewhojustwanttosocialise.Oneofourguys—whodidgoodworkthere—mentionedanincidentwhereheinvitedseveralPakistaniacquaintancestolunchatarestaurantinIslamabad.Itwasafunlunch,butafterwardswhentheguestscameoutside,theyfoundawholebunchofplainclothes

menstandingbesidetheirmotorcycles,waitingforthem;andallofthemstoodinmenacingposeswiththeirarmsfolded.Eachoftheguestslookeddeflated,notlookingforwardtotheprospectofbeinggrilledabouttheirmeetingwiththeIndian.

Manydiplomats,includingsomeofours,haveevenbeenphysicallymanhandledbytheir

Pakistanihosts.Andtotopitall,oftenthepostinghasbeenfilledarbitrarily—youjustpicksomebodyandsay,gotoIslamabad,whichledmetosuggestthatIslamabadshouldbedeclaredanopenpost.ItwouldnotonlymakelifecomfortableforthepersonpostedtherebutalsoyieldgreateroutputifwewereinteractingdirectlywiththeISI.Sincewedon’ttalktoPakistan,howcanwe‘open’

anything;thestatusquocontinues.SuchisthemindsetandobsessionwithPakistanthatweretractevenfromso-calledISIagents.Thishasbeenanopinionaboutpostingsintherecentpast,whichledmetotellthechiefofthemomentthattheIslamabadpostingisawasteandthatthereshouldbeanopenpost.

Thisissomethingthatwouldbeveryhardforalot

ofpeopletoswallowbutlet’sfaceit,themostimportantworkR&AWdoesisintheneighbourhood,besidesmaintainingitsrelationshipswithWashingtonandMoscow.ThereisnopointinlookingatTokyoorJohannesburg,forinstance.Andinourneighbourhoodourmostimportantrelationship,ifitweretogetstartedandinstitutionalised,wouldbetheR&AW–ISIone

becauseitisoutofthisrelationshipthatyoucouldgetpositives.Alsoitwouldridusofthe‘hauwa’oftheISI.Wemakeitouttobemuchbiggerthanitis.AsaformermilitantcommanderwhospentconsiderabletimeinPakistantoldme,‘TherearesomeveryfineofficersintheISI,butnooneofDoval’sintellectorC.D.Sahay’soperationalacumen.’Ihavefoundthemnotverydifferent

fromusexceptthattheyarefromthearmy,whichcallstheshotsinPakistan,thereasonwhyISIiscalledastatewithinastate.DuringmyvisittoKarachiin2011aTVchannelaskedmewhatIthoughtoftheISIandIsaidIwouldlovetobeDGISI.

Otherrelationshipsaremerelycosmetic.TaketherelationshipwiththeCIA,forinstance:youmeetthem,haveameetingwhereyou

followascriptsayingthisiswhatwearedoing,thisiswhatishappening.Andtheyreciprocatewiththeirworldview.Butnoneofitgetsyouanywhere,becauseintheend,everycountry,everyagencyhasitsownagenda.

HenceifbothIndiaandPakistancouldgetpasttheircynicismandtheirhugedistrust,there’salotthatthetwointelligenceagencies

coulddotogether.Suchisourmindsetand

obsessionwithPakistanthatweshyawayevenfromso-calledISIagents;that’swhatmakeshandlingKashmirsomuchmoredifficult.Theiragentsshouldbefirsttargets.Whatevertheycoulddowecoulddobetter.WehadtheupperhandbecauseKashmirandKashmiriswereapartofIndia.EvenKashmirislivingacrosshaveneededourhelp.

Doubleagentsarethebestagents;thebusinessofintelligenceisaboutsinners,notsaints.AndthatiswheretheISIscoresoverusprofessionally;theynevergiveuponatargetevenifreckonedtobethemostIndian.ThatwashowtheyassiduouslypursuedSajadLonedespitehisparticipatinginthe2000electionswhenGeelaniwantedhisparty,thePeople’sConference,

boycottedbytheHurriyat.ThatwashowtheygotMajidDar’swifetoPakistandespitekillingherhusbandandmaimingherforlife.

Instead,wehavetoworkthroughothers,liketheAmericans.InchaptertwoImentionedthemeetingwithCIAchiefGeorgeTenet,whowaseasytogetalongwith;atadinnerthenighthearrivedheldatmyofficialresidence,heknockedbackafew

glassesofwhiskyandmadeabigshowofwhatapalhewas.(HeandhiswifeinvitedParanandmetoaccompanythemtotheTajMahalthenextday,inhisprivatejet;wewent,butinourownR&AWGulfstream.)TenethadcomeandtoldmethatweneededtocheckGeneralMusharrafoutourselves,andthatMusharrafwassomebodywithwhomyoucoulddobusiness.Rememberatthattimewe

stillhadthebitteraftertasteofKargil.YoucouldsaythatthiswasoneofthestepsthatledtotheIndia–Pakistansummitthefollowingsummerat,bycoincidence,Agra.

Similarly,wehadanotherAmericandropin:theheadoftheCIA’sCounter-TerrorismCentre(CTC),CoferBlack.BlackwasaveteranCIAhandwhomal-QaedatriedtoassassinatewhenhewastheheadofstationinSudanfrom

1993to’95.Hewasalsoblamedbythe9/11CommissionfornotinformingtheFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI)oftheentryintotheUSoftwooftheplanehijackers,whowereunderCTCsurveillancealongwithothermembersofal-Qaeda.

CoferBlackhadcometoIndiatovisitBrajeshMishra,andhewaspassedalongtoR&AW.Wehadaformal

meetingwithsomeofmyguys,duringwhichheaskedforaprivateone-on-onewithme.Duringthischat,hesaidthathisagencywasputtingheavypressureontheISItoreducetheviolence.Hethensaidthatwe,meaningtheIndianagencies,hadtoreciprocateandnotindulgeinanyviolence.SoItoldhim:‘Us?Weneverdosuchstuff.’

Therewereseveraltimes,though,whenwewere

frustratedwiththeviolence;particularlywhenwewereworkingoutarelationshipwithsomeoneinKashmir,andthatpersonwouldgetbumpedoffbytheISI.IthappenedwithtoomanyKashmiris,andinthepreviouschaptersIhavementionedAbdulMajidDarandAbdulGhaniLone.EachtimesomeonewaskilledbythePakistanistherewashugefrustrationandtherewere

discussions,attimes,oftheneedforatit-for-tatpolicy.ButitremainedonlyaninformaldiscussionbecausenogovernmentinDelhiwouldapproveofit.Thatthe‘BubJihad’isstillaliveandkickingdespiteallthemayhemthathehasbeenresponsibleforisatributetoourliberaltraditions.WhetherornotthishelpedusinKashmirisadebatablematter.Iamofthefirmbelief

itdidbecause,asMuftisaid,makingGeelaniamartyrwouldbecounterproductive.FarooqwouldhavebeenquitehappyandwillingtorollhimdowntheJhelum.

TheissueofretaliationcameupalsointhecontextofharassmentofourdiplomatsinIslamabad.Inearly1990whentherewasextremetensioninJ&K,bothMEAandR&AWfavouredmoreaggressivesurveillanceof

PakistanidiplomatsinDelhi.Butfromthecounterintelligenceviewpointitwouldbecounterproductive.Followingsomeonewhenheknowsheisbeingfollowedmaybeacrudedeterrentbutservesnointelligencepurpose.ForthesamereasonIbelievemakingpublicthetapedconversationsofMusharrafandAzizKhanduringtheKargilwar,whateverpolitical

purposeitserved,wasamistake.Itdriedupacrucialchannelofinformation.

EventhetalkofkillingDawoodIbrahim—theunderworlddonwhoissaidtohavemastermindedthe1993serialbombingsinMumbai,andwhosubsequentlyfledMumbaiandissaidtobehidinginPakistan—hastakenplaceoutsideofthegovernmentandhasnotbeensanctioned

byanygovernmentoftheday.

HenceinKashmir,althoughcounter-insurgencyoperationshaveexactedaheavytoll,andthoughtherearemanytakersforbumpingoffunsavourycharacters,wehavenotadoptedapolicyonextra-judicialexecutions.AsLoneSaheb’ssonSajadoncesaidtomeinapique,justifyingwhyitwastooriskyforaKashmirito

cooperatewithIndiaratherthanPakistan:‘What’sthemostyoucando,throwusinjail?TheISI-walaswillshootusdead.’

Thatbringsupthequestionthatifwedidn’thaveatit-for-tatpolicytokill,thenhowdidwegetpeopleonourside.Andthesimpleansweris:sellingpeacethroughasustaineddialogue.Thereisnobetterway.Peoplemayfindit

difficulttobelievethatthereputedMossadchief,EfraimHalevy,whoincidentallywasmycontemporaryandwhomImetinTelAvivin1999,wasafirmvotaryofdialogue.HeunderstoodthatthePalestinianmilitantfaction,Hamas,couldneitherbedemolishednorcoweddownandthattalkingwastheonlywayout.Thatiswhatsomesensiblepeopledoandthatiswhatwedid:talk,talkand

talkalmostendlessly.Intheenditisallabouthumanrelationships;littlegestures,likeasurprisebirthdaycake,goalongwayinbuildingfriendships.Operationsrequiresensitivehumanjudgementandafeelforthequarry.

WhenIleftthegovernmentin2004,oncetheNDAlostpower(Ididn’tresignduetoanypoliticalaffiliationbutduetowhatI

thoughtwaspropriety;itwillcomeuplaterinthebook)IwasmadethevillainoftheNDA’sKashmirpolicybyseveralwhothoughtIwasthrowingaroundmoneytoofreely,bribingmywaythroughKashmir.PeopleintheIB,myformerorganisation,andhigher-upsapparentlytoldKashmiris,‘Dulathasspoiltyou.’Maybe.ButformorethanthelasttenyearssinceIleftthe

government,KashmirileadersincludingseparatistsstillvisitmeregularlywhenIhavelittlemoretoofferthanteaandsympathy.

UsingmoneytowinpeopleoverisperhapsthemosteffectivetoolatthedisposalofintelligenceofficersnotjustinKashmir,andnotjustalloverthesubcontinent,butallovertheworld.Mostagentsarepaidagents.IfinKashmir,for

instance,youfindsomeonewhoisworkingfortheISI,youjustofferalotmoremoneythanitdoes.PerhapshewillbeafraidofgettingkilledbytheISIbutattheveryleastyouhaveneutralisedhim.Corruptingapersonbygivinghimmoneyisnotonlyalotmoreethicalthankillinghim,butalotsmarterinthelongrun.Andnoonehasyetcomeupwithabetterwayofdealingwith

Kashmir.MoneyinKashmirgoesbackalong,longway.

ThemostimportantR&AWposts,apartfromIslamabad,arebasicallytouristspotsintheeastandwestwheremoneyandsecretsfrequentlychangehands.OnavisittoanimportantNorthAfricancountryinthesummerof2000,theintelligencechiefsaidthatLondonwastheheadquartersofinternational

terrorism.IwastakenabackbutmostintelligenceagenciesrecognisethatLondonremainsthehubbecausedissidentgroupsfromallovertheworldhavecongregatedthere.Totheircredittheykeeppeopleunderstrict,ifdiscreet,watch.

OncewordofourtalkingtoKashmirisgotout,expatriatesalsogotintotheact.ThefirsttoarrivewerethethreefromLondon.There

isastoryofthreeKashmirisinLondon—AbdullahRaina,KhurshidHassanDrabuandA.MajidTramboo—whocamevisitingIndiainJanuary1994.DrabuandTramboowereimmigrationbarristers.Tramboowasfromawell-knownbusinessfamilyinKashmirandhehadmarriedaPanditgirlfromAmritsar.Rainawasaneducationistwhohadspenttwenty-fiveyearsteachingatSopore

degreecollege,wherehewasacontemporaryofHurriyatleaderProf.AbdulGhaniBhatandofSaifuddinSoz,previouslyacourtierofFarooqAbdullahbutlateramemberoftheCongressparty;whenRainaemigratedtoLondon,heandhiswifegotjobsasteachers.ThesethreemensetupinLondonwhatwascalledtheKashmirCouncilforHumanRights,ofwhichbarristerTramboowas

thegeneralsecretary.InsyncwiththegeneralchangeofmoodamongKashmirisinKashmirandinPakistan,thediasporaKashmiriswerealsoconcernedaboutthedestructiveviolencethatwasgoingnowhere,andtheyhadalsodecidedthatenoughwasenough;somethingneededtobedonepolitically.

Raina,DrabuandTramboofigureditwasbettertogotoPakistanfirstandsee

whatthethinkingwasthere,asalsoseekPakistaniclearance.TheylandedinIslamabadandstayedattheHolidayInn,andinevitablymettheISI:Brig.FaisalDar,theheadofthepoliticalwingoftheKashmirdesk,andthechief,Lt.Gen.JavedAshrafQazi.TheISIguys,unsurprisingly,cuttothechaseandaskedthemtobePakistaniagentsinLondon,tellingthemtodosomething

similartowhatAyubThakurwasdoingfortheISI.

AyubThakurwasanuclearphysicistwhowasborninShopianintheValley,andwhohadbeenstrippedofIndiancitizenshipjustafewmonthsearlierbecausehewasanISIagentinLondon.AsalectureratKashmirUniversityinthelate1970s,hewasalsoaleaderoftheIslamiJamiat-e-Talabaandorganisedprotestsagainst

Indiain1980forwhichhehadtospendtimeinjail.Afterthathemigrated,firsttoSaudiArabia,wherehetaughtforsixyears,thentoLondon.InLondonhesetuptheWorldKashmirFreedomMovement(WKFM).Intheyearsafter9/11,theUSA’sFBIwouldidentifyThakur’soutfitsasbeingfundedbytheISI.

WhentheISIsuggestedthattheyreturntoLondonas

itsagents,Raina,DrabuandTramboodeclinedsayingthattheywerequiteclearthattheywantedtoremainneutral.ThethreesaidtheyonlywantedtodealwithKashmir,andthattheywerenotinterestedinPakistanandjehad,etc.‘WeareagentsoftheKashmiripeople,notofPakistanorofIndia,’theytoldtheISI.Theyweresimplylookingforabreakthroughthatwouldleadtoforwardmovementin

Kashmir.ThethreearrivedinDelhi

andapproachedusintheIB’sK-group,sayingexactlythesamethingtheysaidtothePakistanis:‘Wearewell-wishersofKashmir,’theysaid.‘WearetoldthegovernmentofIndiaisthinkingofrevivingthepoliticalprocess.Maybewecanhelp,weknowsomeofthesepeople.’

Theywantedpermission

tomeettheseparatistswhowereinjail:AbdulGhaniLone,SyedAliShahGeelani,YasinMalikandShabirShah.Wesaid,sure,goahead.

Raina,DrabuandTramboometLoneandGeelaniinTiharJail,andbothofthemsuspiciouslyasked:‘Howcomeyou’vebeenallowedtomeetus?’Theygavesomecock-and-bullaboutgoingasfriends,andtheyallchatted.Thenthe

threemetYasin,whowasattheAllIndiaInstituteofMedicalSciences(AIIMS)duetohiscardiacproblem;andtheywenttoJammu,whereShabirwasincarcerated.TheyalsovisitedSrinagarandtalkedtoabunchofpeople.

Whentheyreturned,theyrecommendedthatYasinshouldbereleased.TheysaidthatYasinandShabirwerepositive,butYasinwas

extremelypositive,thathewasreasonableandcooperative.ThentheywenttoPakistan,wheretheyprobablyreportedwhathappenedhere.

Raina,DrabuandTramboowerebackinDelhithatSeptember,bywhichtimeYasinhadbeenreleased(andShabirwasonthevergeofbeingreleased).ThethreesaidthatYasinneededsupport—we’llgettoYasin

indetail,laterinthebook—andthatheoughttobestrengthened.TheyagainvisitedSrinagar,theytalkedtopeople,andwhentheyreturnedtheyspokeofmoney.

AsIsaid,moneyisaneffectivetool,butinthiscasethequestionofmoneycausedafallingoutbetweenthethreeBritishKashmiris.Drabueventuallybecameanimmigrationjudge,andafter

retirementhebecameanadvisortotheMuslimCouncilofBritain,whichhehadhelpedfound.AsforRaina,Imethimagainin2014inLondon,wheretheoldfellowcamelookinglikeFatherChristmas,whitebeard,whitehair,whiteeverything.

Gradually,TramboowentastrayasfaraswewereconcernedandcrossedovertotallytotheISI.Hesetupa

KashmirCentreinBrussels,doingwhatThakurdidinLondon(andwhatGhulamNabiFaididinWashington,DC).Trambooalsoeventuallybecameanimmigrationjudge.Iheardfromhimin2011,whenhiswifehadabereavementinAmritsar,oneofherparentshadpassedaway.Tramboowastryingtogetavisaandgetherhome;sooutoftheblueaftersomanyyears,he

calledmeup.IhappenedtobeinLondonholidayingsoIspoketothehighcommissionthere,andIspoketofriendshereinDelhi,sayinggivetheladyavisaevenifyoucan’tgivethatbloodyTramboobecausehe’sontheblacklist.Shedidn’tgetavisa;there’salimittowhatyoucangetdoneonceyou’reoutofthesystem.TramboocalledmefourorfivetimesandIhadtostoptakinghiscalls.Hesent

amessagethroughsomeonethatheneverthoughtDulatwouldnottakehiscalls.

MoneyinKashmirgoeswayback,eventoSheikhAbdullah’stime.Afterall,whywasSheikhAbdullahdismissedasprimeministerofJ&Kin1953?OneoftheallegationsintheKashmirconspiracycaseframedagainsthimandMirzaAfzalBegandtwenty-twoothersin1958wasthathewasgetting

moneyfromPakistan.Obviouslymuchofthiscasemusthavebeenpaddedup,Idon’tknowhowmuch,butitcouldn’thavebeenpaddedwithoutthegermoftruththattheSher-e-KashmirhadcontactwithPakistan,andhadmoneycominginfromthere.Whileinjail,SheikhcomplainedthatKashmirhadbeencorruptedbyDelhibribingpeopletokeeptheminpower.

SheikhSahebwasinjailforelevenyearsandthenhewasreleasedfor‘diplomaticreasons’,asthecourtwastold.HeandPrimeMinisterJawaharlalNehrureconciledandthelattersentSheikhSahebtoPakistantoseeifasolutionwaspossible.NehrudiedwhileSheikhSahebwasinPakistanandnotlongafterhereturnedhewasagainthrowninjail.Thistime,PrimeMinisterLalBahadur

Shastri’sgovernmentsaidthatSheikhAbdullahhadhadcontactwiththeCIA.

Thus,sinceSheikhSaheb’stime,anybodywho’sbeenontherightsideofDelhihasbeengettingmoneyfromDelhi.It’sassimpleasthat.

EventheformergovernorofJ&Kintheearly1980s,B.K.Nehru,acousinofthenprimeministerIndiraGandhi(hisgrandfatherwasMotilal

Nehru’selderbrother),saysinhismemoir,NiceGuysFinishSecond,thatwhenChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullahwassackedin1984(byB.K.Nehru’ssuccessorJagmohan),thenewgovernmentwasformedbyspendingalotofmoney.G.M.Shah,Farooq’sbrother-in-law(whosulkedwhenFarooqwasmadeCMafterSheikhSaheb’sdeathbecausehefeltheshouldinheritthe

politicallegacy),neededthirteendefectorsfromtheNationalConference.ThemoneywentinanIBbag,andwasdistributedbyabigbusinessmanwhousedtobeaCongressMP,TirathRamAmla.Theyusedtocalleachpacketofmoneya‘bullet’.B.K.NehrusaysthatShahwasforeverrunningoutofbullets,anddemandedfromMrsGandhimoreandmorebullets.

Ifthiswashappeningin1984,thenwhywouldtheCongresspartyitselfactsoinnocentaboutspendingmoneythirtyyearslater?WhenIwenttoSrinagarinMay1988,oneofthefirstthingsIlearntwasabouttherelationshipbetweenKashmirileadersandmoney.

Yetifmoneyisinplay,thenthecorollaryisthattheagentgoestothehighestbidder.Indeed,Kashmirisare

aheavilylayeredpeople,anditisnotoutofcharacterforaKashmiritobeintouchwitheitherIndiaorPakistan(orevenboth)atsomepointoftime.It’snoteasytodeciphertheKashmiripsyche,oreventowinKashmiriconfidence:centuriesofforeignrule,fromtheMughalstotheAfghanstotheSikhs,havemadethemnaturalagents.Bynow,itisintheirDNA.

WhenIwaspostedto

Srinagarin1989,IusedtohearstoriesoftheearliestIBguyspostedtoKashmir,becauseofwhom,aswellastheexploitsoflong-servingIBchiefB.N.Mullik,theIBismadeouttobemuchbiggerandmoresinisterthanitactuallyis;thattheIBistherealauthorityinKashmir;thatitcontrolseverything.WhenIreachedSrinagar,itwassomethingtofeelkickedabout,butitalsoweighs

heavilyonyoubecausenobodytrustsyou.ImetMullikonlyafterIjoinedtheorganisation,longafterhehadretired.Hestruckmeasasaintratherthanaspook.Nonetheless,Mulliklaidthefoundationsofthemodern-dayIntelligenceBureau.

OntheotherhandPakistanhasalwayshadalobbyinKashmir;ithasalwayshadcontroloversomebodyorotherin

Kashmir.ThatlobbytodayistheAllPartiesHurriyatConference,whichisaPakistanicreation.ThecontrolovertheHurriyatmayhaveloosenedabitwhenMusharrafandVajpayeeweremakingtentativestepstowardspeacebuttightenedagainwithinsecurityreturningtoIndia–Pakistanrelations,andsomebodyorothergettingkilledforit.

Ourideaasmentioned

earlierwastoreachouttoasmuchofKashmiraspossible.TheironythesedaysisthatDelhihasstoppedpayingattentiontoKashmirdespiteitsimportancetousnationally;whereasthePakistanis,whohavefranklyrealisedthattheyhavelostoutinKashmir,stillhaveassetstherewhoaretotallycommittedtothem.There’snobodyinKashmirmorecommittedtoIndiathan

FarooqAbdullah,butthereseemtobealotofpeopleinIndiawhosimplydon’trecognisethatandarereadilydismissiveofhim.

TheISIstrategynowinKashmirisveryclear—itisnotgoingtolosecontroloftheseparatists.Soitisquitesimple:tosolvetheprobleminKashmiryouhavetoworkontheseparatistsandwinthemover.

InthattheISIhashanded

Indiawithseveraladvantages:accordingtoourfriendandformermilitantFirdousSyed,theKashmirimovementdegeneratedintoamercenarywarduetoPakistan’sill-treatmentofKashmiris,andduetoISIarrogance.Foreignerswereused,aswerecriminals.Kashmirishavesuffered.NowitissuchthateveryoneisperceivedtobeeitheranISIagentoranIB/R&AW

agent.Kashmirishavelearnedtoadapt;andattimestheyout-bluffbothsides.Butattheendoftheday,ISIarrogancehasbeengreaterthanIndianarroganceandthishashelpedusinKashmir.Thatisnottosaythatwedidnothaveourfrustrationsorcouldgetdonewhateverwewanted.AsaKashmiriseparatistoncesaidtome,whetherinflattery,jestorfrustration:‘Aapnetohbadi

hamdardisaypechanathaKashmirko...lekin...yahankisiyasatkahaalnapoochiye:ektawaifhaitamaashbeenonmain.’(YoudemonstratedgreatempathyinunderstandingKashmir...but...politicsinKashmirislikeanautchgirlinthemidstofspectatorsderivingvicariouspleasurefromherplight.)

Onbalance,withregardtoPakistanandKashmir,it

wasaprettysatisfyingstintatR&AWandmytimewaswindingdown.ItwouldhavebeennicetohavebeenachieflikeMullikorR.N.Kao,thefirstR&AWchief,whowasinthesaddleforeightyears;thereissomuchthatcouldbedone.Ihadonlyayearandahalf,andittookmesixmonthstogetusedtothewholethingandfortheguystheretogetusedtome.Bythetimeyousettledownand

getintothegroove,time’sup.TheBritishhaveagood

system,wheretheirMI6chiefhasafive-yeartenure,andinmostcasesaknighthoodonsuperannuation.Itgoeswiththejob.ImettheSpanishambassadorwhileIwaswritingthisbook,andhesaidtheirchiefalsohasafive-yeartenure.Thetroublewithoursystemisthatifsomeonegetsfiveyears,whathappenstotheotherguys,ofwhichthere

aresomany,lookingatachanceatthetopjob.SoIsupposeasacompromisetwoyearsisn’tbad,particularlyifyouhappentohavegrownupintheintelligencecommunity.

WhiletherewasalotofresentmentwhenIjoinedR&AWbecauseIwasanoutsiderandIdidn’tknowanyonesaveafew(IknewC.D.Sahayfrombefore,forinstance,ashehadaposting

inJammuandwaskindenoughoncetoinvitemetodinnerwhenIvisited),whenIleftthingsseemedtobeokay.Therewasnogrievance;quitetheopposite,forafterIleftIwasonceaskedtodoacadrereviewforR&AWbyBrajeshMishra;C.D.Sahay,chiefafterVikramSood,whohadsucceededme,hadbeenpressingforit.‘He’sgottime,’BrajeshMishrasaidaboutme.‘He’llheadthe

cadrereviewcommittee.’Thereweretwoothers

fromR&AWonthecommittee.Wemetonandoff,discussingthingsandtherewereacoupleofpointswewereindisagreementon.Sahaykeptpressingmetofinish,andItoldhimitwouldgetdoneoncewearrivedatanagreementonthosepoints.

ImentionedinchaptertwotherootoftheproblemsatR&AW:themismatch

withintheagencybetweenpeoplefromdifferentbackgrounds.R.N.KaoandhisdeputyK.SankaranNairnevergaveawaytoresolveit,andasaresulttherewasallkindsofgroupismanddemoralisation,mainlybetweentheIPSofficersandthenon-IPSofficers.Thecadrereviewwasbasicallyanattempttoworkoutacompromisetothisgroupism.

Ourreportwasalmost

readybutIhadnotsigneditorpresentedit,andayoungsteronthecommittee,whowasfromtheRAS,saiditwasnotfair.‘Iwilladdadissentingnote,’hesaid.

‘Ifyouwanttoaddit,you’rewelcometo,’Isaid.‘ButIwouldadviseyounotto.Itwon’ttakeyouanywhereandsomebodysomewherewillonedayholditagainstyou.’Andtheydid.

AfterSahayretired,his

successorP.K.HormisTharakan,askedmetodoareviewofmycadre.Withthechangeinthinkinginthegovernmenthewantedachangeinmythinkingtoo.More‘balance’ashecalledit.SoImadeafewamendmentsandreturnedthereporttohim.ThefactisthattherewasafeelinginR&AWthattheRASwasbeingdiscriminatedagainstandthatanon-IPSofficerwould

nevermakeittothetop.InthatsensemysuccessorVikramSood(fromtheIndianPostalServices)broughtabreathoffreshairandhopefortheRASevenifitwasshortlived.

Interestingly,BrajeshMishrawasinclinedtobringinanotheroutsidertoheadtheorganisationafterme.Oneday,acoupleofmonthsbeforemysuperannuation,whenIwaspressinghimto

decideonmysuccessor,hesaid,‘Howwouldyoureacttoanoutsider?’‘Don’tdoit,sir,’Isaid.‘Howcanyousaythat?Youwereanoutsider,’hecountered.Isaid,‘Exactly.Iknowwhatitislike,that’swhyI’msayingit.It’snotfaireithertotheofficerortheorganisation.’BrajeshneverraisedthematteragainandVickySoodbecamechiefandagoodchieftoo.

CabinetSecretaryPrabhat

Kumaronceaskedme:‘DulatyouhaveservedinboththeIBandR&AW,howwouldyouratethetwoorganisations?’Isaidtohim,‘Institutionallythereisnocomparison—theIBisfarolder,morecohesiveandsolidbutmantoman,persontoperson,R&AWisjustasgood.’ThisbringsmetothelargerissueofR&AW’sroleandexistenceasanintelligenceorganisation.

Whatailstheorganisation,inmyview,isitsowninabilitycompoundedbythegovernment’sambivalenceinchartingaclearcourseforit.Thereforeinternaldebatesandbickeringcontinueandinevitablyflowintothepublicdomain,confoundingtheexistingconfusion.RajivGandhihadoncesaidthatintelligenceorganisationscouldnotbetreatedliketherestofthebureaucracy.Itis

timethegovernmentsettledtheseissuesonceandforall—whobettertodoitthanPrimeMinisterModi.

TheultimatecomplimenttoR&AWwaspaidbytheformerISIchief,AsadDurrani,atoneofourtracktwomeetingswhenhesaid,‘R&AWisasgoodastheISIifnotbetter,’addingwithachuckle,‘Whatwedobrazenlyyouachievebystealth.’

InNovember,amonthbeforeIretired,BrajeshMishraaskedmetoaccompanyhimtoBeijingforanofficialvisit.Hegotmeaninvitetomeetmycounterpart,whomIhadalreadymetoncebefore,duringanofficialvisitinMay.

TheChinesegiveagooddinner—BrajeshMishraandIweretakentoavast,emptyrestaurantandweweregivensomevile,horriblepaint-

removertodrink,whichwedeclined—butwhenitcomestotalkingbusinesstheydonotanswerinahurry.‘Verygoodidea,’myChinesecounterpartsaidtoasuggestionImadeaboutIndian-Russian-Chineseintelligencecooperation.‘Weneedtimetothinkaboutit.’Oneverythingtheysaid,goodidea,letusstudyit.Exceptterrorism—everytimewementionedit,theChinese

becametense.Itisagrowingproblemforthem.

(TheRussians,ontheotherhand,wherethetrilateralcooperationsuggestionoriginated,arefilledwithbonhomie.WhenIvisitedMoscow,mycounterpartlandedupatmyguest-houseinthemorningwithabottleofvodka.)

Anyway,itwasagoodvisitandIknewBrajeshMishraenjoyedthetrip.More

thanoncehetoldM.K.NarayananthatwhiletheagenciesweredoingwellR&AWwasmoreproductivethantheIB,andNarayananofcoursecomplimentedmethoughI’mnotsurehewashappyatR&AWbeingratedhigherthantheIB.Despitethistideofgoodwillfromthenationalsecurityadvisor,Iwastotallyunpreparedforwhathappenedon24December2000(remember,

onmypreviousChristmasEveasR&AWchief,IC-814washijacked).

ThatafternoonIgotacallfromAshokSaikia,theestablishmentofficerinthePrimeMinister’sOffice,sayingthathehadtofixmycontract.

‘Contractforwhat?’Isaid.

‘ContractforjoiningthePMO,’hereplied.‘Ican’tbelieveyoudon’tknow.’

Iknewnothingofthesort,soitwasallthemorereason,hepointedout,thatIgooverandmeethim.

Therewasnothingextraordinaryinthecontract,anditwasthesameasBrajeshMishra’s,inthatunlikeothergovernmentservantswhoserveatthepleasureofthepresident,weweretoserveatthepleasureoftheprimeminister.(ThisiswhyIdecidedtoquitafterthe

governmentfell.)Apparently,myinduction

hadbeendiscussedbytheprimeministerandhisprincipalsecretarythreemonthsearlier,inSeptember,whenVajpayeewasinMumbaiforhiskneeoperation.

‘IjustmetBrajeshMishrayesterdayandhedidn’tsayawordtome,’Isaid.

JustthenBrajeshwalkedintotheroom.

‘Thanksforthejob,’Isaid.‘IwasjusttellingAshokthatyoudidn’ttellmeaboutitevenyesterday.’

Hehadagoodlaugh.Iwassurprised,becauseI

waslookingforwardtoretirement,tobefreeofallofthis,tojustchillingout.Instead,come1January2001,IwasgoingtobeworkingfromthePMO.

10

FROMCOLDWARTOHIGHPOLITICS

LessthanaweekafterjoiningthePMOIreceivedacallon

theRAX,whichisthegovernment’ssecurephonelineforseniorofficialsandministers.Ontheotherendwasawoman’svoice;thecalldisplayshoweditwascomingfromtheprimeminister’sresidence,at7RaceCourseRoad(RCR).Iwasfoxed.

‘Welcometothefamily,’shesaid.

ItwasNamitaBhattacharya,knownbyhernicknameGunu,andshewas

theprimeminister’sadopteddaughter.

‘Nowthatyou’rehere,we’rereassured,’Gunucontinued.‘Pleaselookafterthetwooldmen.They’reyourresponsibility.’

Shewasnotonlyreferringtoher76-year-oldfatherbutalsotohis72-year-oldprincipalsecretaryandnationalsecurityadvisor,BrajeshMishra;butinanycase,whatshesaidwasnotas

importantasthemerefactofherreachingouttome.Iwastouched,andthankedherforcalling.

ThePMOinVajpayee’stimewasonebighappyfamily,andhadarelaxedatmosphere.Ofcourse,partofitwasthekindnessthattheprimeministershowedmeinthefiveandahalfyearsthatIwaswithhim—twoinR&AW,andthreeandahalfinthePMO—butitwasalso

hisfamilywhomademefeellikeoneoftheirown.

Inthis,Gunuwastheanchorasshewasthehostessofthehouse,andshealwaysmetmeandmywifewarmly.ThesamewentforherhusbandRanjan:hewasanobviouslysmartfellowwhowassaidtohavewieldedenormouscloutthoughupclosehecameacrossashumble.HeandIgotalongwellandoccasionallyplayed

golftogether,justthetwoofus.

Infact,itwasRanjanwhooncetoldme:‘BrajeshjitrustsandreliesonyoumorethanevenShyamal,’hesaid,referringtomyoldbatchmateShyamalDatta,DIB,whowaswidelyknowntohavefreeraccesstothetopandwasmuchclosertothefamily.ShyamalwastheonewhogotmetoR&AWandhadmeappointedchief.In

anycase,atleastfivetosevenofushadanice,comfortablerelationshipevenwiththefamily.

Vajpayeewould,atleastonceinsixmonths,inviteallthefamiliesfromthePMOforamealoradinner.Youwouldgetgoodfoodandagooddrink:itwasasupremelyrelaxedaffair.

ThefirstPMOlunchthatIattended,though,wasnottheprimeminister’sbut

BrajeshMishra’sathisresidenceinSafdarjungLane.ItwassoonafterIjoinedR&AWandIwonderedwhowouldbeattheprincipalsecretary’slunch.IwasexpectingthirtypeopleorsobutwhenIreachedtherewere150peopleincludingtheprimeminister.‘Bloodyhell,’Ithought,seeingthepoliticiansinattendanceandthinkingthiswastobeaformalaffair.Itturnedoutto

belikeanygardenparty:drinkswereservedfreely,therewasnohypocrisy.Unfortunately,forreasonsIneverunderstood,BrajeshMishraneverhadapartyafterthat.Buttheprimeminister’spartiesforthePMOcontinuedregularly.

Alongwiththepartyingtherewasalsowork.WhenIjoinedtheprimeminister’sofficeonthefirstdayof2001,IaskedBrajeshwhatI

wassupposedtodo.‘Anythingyoulike,’Brajeshsaid.‘ButwewantyoutofocusonKashmir.’

ThoughthebriefwasnotyetspecificIwascontentbecauseIhadspentalotoftimeonKashmiranditwaswhatIenjoyeddoing.

AfewdayslaterwehadalongerchatandIasked,‘Okay,whatinKashmir?’

‘Electionsarecomingupnextyear,’theprincipal

secretarysaid.‘Wewantasmuchparticipationaspossible,asmanypeopleasyoucangetin.’

‘Okay,’Isaid.‘Andtryandgetthese

separatistsin,’headded.Whatmorecouldoneask

for?KashmirhadalwaysbeenmyfavouritesubjectandnowIwouldbedevotingallmytimetoit.Whataddedtothesethreeandahalfyearsbeingagreatexperience,

possiblythebestperiodinmycareer,wasthatonesaweverythingfromclosequarters.

TherewerepeoplewhohadproblemswithmybriefonKashmir,beitwhenIheadedR&AWorwhenIwasinthePMO.WhywasImeddlinginKashmir,itwasaninternalmatter?ButBrajeshMishraencouragedit,andevenwhenIwasinR&AWhewouldtellme,

everythree-fourmonths:‘Bhai,wohKashmirpePMkothhodabriefkardena.’

TheIBwasnotveryhappyaboutmymeddling,butitcarriedonthroughoutmystintinR&AWandthePMO,andonlyendedwhenDrManmohanSinghcametopowerandM.K.Narayanantookoverashisnationalsecurityadvisor;NarayananmadeitcleartotheR&AWpeoplethattheywouldnot

meddleinKashmir.Sadly,alotofKashmiriswerethendumpedbyR&AW,andmanyofthemaredissatisfiedtoday.

Thosewhocribbedaboutmyinvolvementweretechnicallycorrectbutthefactofthematterwas:theyweren’tdoinganything.SowhatwastheproblemwithmydoingsomethinginKashmir?AsIsaid,Brajeshneededtostopmeifthatwas

thecase,andsay,lookatPakistaninstead.ButheencouragedmetohandleKashmirwhenIwasinR&AWandgotmetothePMOtospecificallydealwithit.IwasofficeronspecialdutybutunofficiallyreferredtoasadvisoronKashmirinthePMO.WhateverlittleourproblemsmayhavebeenShyamalDattaandIgotalongfamously(Iwasafterallbeholdentohimformy

job)andtheIBandR&AWhadagreatrelationship.

BrajeshMishrainthatregardwasagreatboss.Hegavethebrief,buthowIdiditandwhenIdidit,heneverinterfered.Iwasfreetodothingsmyway.WehadhititoffbackwhenIjoinedR&AW,andfromthereitonlygotbetter.Hemademefeelcomfortableandcomplimentedtheorganisationonacoupleof

occasions.Occasionallyhemight

say,‘you’reoversteppingsomething’,or‘you’rebecomingtooprominent’.Forinstance,therewasatimeIwenttoSrinagarandamajorDelhipapersplashedastoryonitsfrontpagethatIhadgonetoKashmirtoconduct‘golfdiplomacy’withtheseparatistsandotherKashmiris.Actually,wheneverIwenttoSrinagar

duringthosedaysIplayedalotofgolf,andifanyoneaskeditwasagoodcoverstory.OfcourseIdidnotgojusttoplaygolfbuttomeetsomeoneordiscreetlytakecareofsomegovernmentalbusiness.WhenIreturnedtoDelhiandbriefedBrajeshMishra,hetoldmethatIhadbecometooprominent.‘Takeiteasyforthenextthreeweeks,’hesaid.‘Idon’twantanynews.’

InourPMOtherewasnodoubtwhothebosswas—whichhasnotbeenthecaseinsomeotherPMOs.Here,Brajeshvirtuallyranthegovernmentfortheprimeminister;hewaseverything.Nowonderheisregardedasoneofthemostpowerfulprincipalsecretariesevertoserveaprimeminister.AndofcoursehewasIndia’sfirstnationalsecurityadvisor.Withsomuchpowerhe

eclipsedeventhecabinetministers.

EveryonewhoworkedinthePMOandwhoworkedwithhimnevercomplainedaboutBrajeshMishra.Hewasgoodwithpeople,hewasclear-headed,quickontheuptake,quickondeciding,heknewhowtogetthingsdoneandheneverwastedtime.Youcouldbesittingwithhim,andifyouoverstayedbytwominutesorhewasto

meetsomeoneelse,hewouldtellyou,‘Someone’swaiting,I’lltalktoyoulater.’

AndyetBrajeshMishrawasanextremelyrelaxedperson,thoughparadoxicallyhefounditdifficulttorelax.Helovedhisdrinkandsmokedalot,whichwasbadforhim.Thedoctorstoppedhimbuthewouldstillsmokethreeorfourcigarettes.Hewasnotasocialnamby-pambydrinker.Hedrank

everywhereandheonlydrankhisScotch.Also,hewouldtalkabouthow,whenhewenttoNewYork,thefirstthinghewantedtodowasgoandlistentosomejazz.HelovedjazzandoftenspokeofthejazzclubsinNewYork,whichhefrequentedwhenhewasourpermanentrepresentativetotheUnitedNationsfrom1979to1981.

Atthesametime,

however,youwouldneverseehiminanythingbutasafarisuit(orasuitinwinter).Itwasamazing.Itravelledwithhimafewtimes,oncetoIsrael,oncetoChina,andevenontheflightwheretherewerejustthetwoofus,hewouldnoteventakehistieoffatnighttosleep.OnanElAlflightfromBombaytoTelAviv,forinstance,hetookoffneitherhisjacketnorhistie.Ifound

thatfunny.(Fortherecord,theonlytimeIworeasafarisuitwasforabriefwhileduringmypostinginKathmandu;safarisuitshadjustcomeintovogue,inventedbytheChinese,Ithink.)Hiswifeusedtojokeaboutit:‘CanyoueverimaginehiminaT-shirt?’sheaskedme.‘Henevergetsoutofhissafarisuit.’

Unlikeotherbureaucrats,BrajeshMishradidnotliketo

beseenstruttingaround.Hedidn’tencouragepoliticianstocomeandmeethimunlessitwastheoneortwohewascomfortablewith:ArunShourieandArunJaitley,whoinanycasecouldn’toffendhiminanyway.Hedidn’tlikepoliticiansandhedidn’tattendpoliticalfunctions,eveniftheprimeministerwasgoing.BrajeshandVajpayeehadanunderstanding:yourunyour

politicsandI’llrunthegovernment.Andtheygotalongamazingly.

Whichwasnotthecasewiththemostpowerfulministersinthegovernment.It’sstrangethatthemostseniorministersinthegovernmentdidnotseeeyetoeyewithBrajeshMishra,beitHomeMinister(andlaterDeputyPrimeMinister)L.K.AdvaniorForeignMinisterJaswantSingh.Anditdidn’t

seemtobotheranybody,leastofallVajpayee,whoofcoursewasanaccomplishedpoliticianandhadagoodequationwithJaswantSinghandevenwithAdvani.

BrajeshMishrawasverydemocraticandsometimesIwonderedwhyattimeshewouldwastehistime.‘Everyoneisentitledtohissay,solethimhavehissay,’hewouldtellme.

Forinstance,anew

organisationwascarvedoutofR&AW’sAviationResearchCentre(ARC)calledtheNationalTechnicalResearchOrganisation(NTRO),modelledontheUSA’sNationalSecurityAgency.TheARCdirectorwastoheadtheNTRO,andtherewasalotoffrictionbetweenR&AWandtheNTRO;asithappenedbackin1968betweentheIBandtheR&AW,theywere

arguingovercupboards,chairs,officers.Idon’tknowwhyithadtobecreated,theARCwasdoingfine.

TherewasabigflapabouthowmanyairplanestheNTROwouldget.ItoldBrajesh,‘Sir,takeacall,endthisnonsense.’Buthewasveryopenaboutit,verydemocratic,willingtolisten.Hegaveeveryonetimeandahearing.Andthingsgotsortedout.

Ifhedidn’twanttoseesomeone,hewouldpalmthatpersonofftome.Hedidn’tsufferfools.Andifhehadtoputoffacallonsomething,hewouldsay,‘IwillhavetoaskthePMaboutthis,’whichwashisstandardline,popularamonghisowncolleagues.

InthePMOIwasfreetomeettheprimeministerwheneverIwanted;evenifIwantedtomeethimeverydayIcould,butIdidnotneedto

norwouldhehavewantedtomeetmeeveryday.HeneverrefusedanappointmentnorwouldBrajeshmeddleoraskwhyIwasgoingtomeetthePM.Allappointmentswerelistedonhistableandhewouldmerelynotethatyouhadameetingthatparticularday.Hemighthaveoccasionallyasked:‘Koikhaasbaathai?’

OnnormaldaysBrajeshMishrainteractedwiththe

primeministereveryevening.VajpayeefunctionedoutofhisresidenceandrarelycametohisSouthBlockoffice,soifanyofushadtomeethimwehadtogotoRCR.InBrajesh’scaseitwasnotaquestionofhimbriefingtheprimeministerbecausetheykneweachothersowell.Itwasaquestionofsittingdownanddiscussingamatter.SoattheendofeverydayBrajeshwouldleaveofficeat

about6:30p.m.—hedidn’tsitlate,likealotofpeopledo—andhewouldgotoRCR,wherehewouldspendhistimedependingonhowmuchtimeVajpayeehad.Heprobablywoundupandreachedhomeat8:30to9:00p.m.mostevenings.

Youmightwonderhowthegovernmentfunctionedatallinthiseasygoingmanner,butthetruthis,inourcountrythegovernmentfunctionson

itsownandinVajpayee’stimeitfunctionedsmoothlydespitethefactthattherewasacoalitiongovernment.Vajpayeemanagedthecoalitionverywell:hewasgoodwithpeople,hewasgoodwithwords,andaboveallhehadasenseofhumour.

Once,forinstance,therewasatimewhentherailwayminister,MamataBanerjee,wassulking.Shewasamoodypersonwhocouldbe

verydifficulttogetthroughto.IwitnessedoneexampleofVajpayee’speopleskillsattheairport.Mamatahadstormedoutofacabinetmeeting,andthenVajpayeewentonatripabroad.IwasstillinR&AWthenandinthosedayswehadtogoandstandinlineattheairporttoeitherseeofforreceivetheprimeminister—moreonhisreturnthanhisdeparture—incasehehadabrainwaveor

somethingandyouwererequired.

Attheairporttheofficialswerelinedupononesideandthepoliticiansontheotherside.Forthepoliticiansitwaspurelyoptionalwhowent.ButonthisoccasionMamatawasattheairportandshewasfirstinline.AsVajpayeecameinshebentdowntotouchhisfeet,aswasherhabit.Hecaughtherhandandgaveherahug.Thatendedall

problemswithherparty,theTrinamoolCongress.Vajpayeecoulddothat.

Vajpayeewasnotonlyaveryastutepoliticianbutapoetandphilosopheraswellandanunparalleledorator.Ihadtheprivilegeoffirsthearingthegreatmanin1978whilepostedasfirstsecretaryinourembassyinKathmanduwhenasforeignministerVajpayeespokeatafunctionoftheNepal–BharatMaitree

Sanghstartingwith‘Jisdeshkekanker,kankermeShankarho—’whichsentthecrowdsintoraptures.Vajpayeemesmerisedthepackedhouse;mostoftheNepalesewomencameoutwithmoisteyes.NotonlyinKathmandubuteverywherehewentandspokeasinLahorein1999andSrinagarin2003heheldthecrowdinthrall.

VajpayeefulfilledPlato’s

idealoftheperfectstateinwhich‘philosopherswerekingsandkingsphilosophers’.

MyonlyreservationwasthatVajpayeetookhistimeindecidingthings,particularlyinimportantorcrucialmatters.Youwouldneverbeabletotellthatfrommeetings,whichheneverallowedtomeanderuselessly;hewouldsitthere,munchinghissamosaandjalebis,but

ensuredthemeetingwasquickandbusiness-likeandover.Ifhehadtosaysomethingormakearemark,hewoulddoso;otherwiseitwasthankyouverymuch.

PerhapshisdecisionsnowtookalongtimebecauseofKargil,etc.,andhehadtofacethatcriticism.VajpayeetheforeignministerwhowenttoPakistan,whenhewasmuchyounger,andVajpayeetheprimeministerweretwo

differentpeople.Nonetheless,Vajpayee

wasneveronetoallowhimselftobeledbythebureaucracy.Thebureaucracyanticipatesthingsandtriestobe‘hismaster’svoice’.InVajpayee’sgovernment,however,youneverfeltanunnaturalswingtotheright;itwaslikeanyothergovernment.Indeed,itwasafriendliergovernment,ahappierone,andIdon’tthink

thebureaucracyhadabettertimethanduringVajpayee’stime,thoughtheremighthavebeentheoddguywhofelthewasbeingdiscriminatedagainstbecausehewaswiththeCongressorsomesuchthing.

Forinstance,ifyouleaveittobureaucrats,thingslikerelationswithPakistanwillnotimprovenomatterhowmuchyoumaypersonallywanttoimprovethem—a

clearexampleisDrManmohanSingh’sten-yeartenureasprimeminister.WhenVajpayeetookthebustoLahore,itwasnotabureaucraticdecision;itwasn’tawhimeither,butitwasadecision‘driven’bytheprimeministerhimself,withthesupportinghomeworkbeingdonebythebureaucracy.AndwhowouldhavethoughtthatwithintwoyearsofKargil,Vajpayee

wouldinviteandtalktoGeneralMusharraf.

Inhis‘purepolitics’approachofnotbeingledbyhisbureaucrats,Vajpayeetomymindshowedseveralsimilaritieswithhispredecessor,P.V.NarasimhaRao(recallthatVajpayeeheadedathirteen-daygovernmentin1996aftertheCongressgovernmentledbyNarasimhaRaolostpower).Thetwoofthemwerekeen

onabreakthroughinKashmir,andinthisbothwerewillingtolookbeyondFarooqAbdullah:inthemid-’90s,NarasimhaRaoplacedhishopesonShabirShah,while,asweshallseeinthenexttwochapters,VajpayeefavouredOmarAbdullahoverhisfather.

TheothersimilaritythatpeopletalkaboutisthatbothNarasimhaRaoandVajpayeewerenudgedalongintheir

PakistanandKashmirinitiativesbytheAmericans.Thoughthosewhoarguethisseemtomakealogicalcasefortheirassertion,IneversawanythingthatsuggestedthisnordoIhaveevidencethatsuchwasthecasewitheitherprimeminister.Perhapsthissuggestioncomesfromthosequarterswhoarethemselvesunwillingtocredittheseprimeministerswithoriginalthinking.

NarasimhaRaowas,likeVajpayee,asmartstrategistandmustbegivencreditforacoupleofthings.Foronething,aftertheshockofthemilitancyeruptingin1990,whateveropeningweinthegovernmentmade—talkingtoallKashmiris,nomatterwhotheywere—thecreditgoestoNarasimhaRao.Hisapproachwasnotatallhamperedbyanybaggage.Therewasatimewhenseparatistsor

KashmirisgoingtothePakistanHighCommissionwouldbeharassedbythepoliceandagencies.InMay1995,PakistanpresidentFarooqLegharicametoDelhiforaSouthAsianAssociationforRegionalCooperation(SAARC)summitandheinvitedtheHurriyatleadersforameeting.WeattheIBdidourbesttotryanddissuadethem;theresultwasthattwowent,twodidn’tgo,

onereportedsick,andMoulviAbbasAnsarilandedupat2p.m.foran11a.m.meeting,sayingthathehadgoneshoppingandhadgotlostinanauto-rickshawcomingtoChanakyapuri,whichisthediplomaticenclave.Itwascomical.

‘What’sthebigdeal?’NarasimhaRaoasked.‘Iftheywanttogothere,letthem.It’snotabigdeal.’

Thisopening-upstartedin

NarasimhaRao’stime.Beforethat,anyonewhovisitedthehighcommissionwassuspect.They’dbesearchedorfriskedorwhateveritis,andfollowed.Soallthatstopped.NarasimhaRaosaid,nahi,aanedijiyejaanedijiye.Whyarewedoingthis?Thereisnoneed.

PerhapsitwasbecauseNarasimhaRaowasn’ttooimpressedwithintelligence

work(ortheofficersthatbroughthimintelligence).PartofitmighthavebeenbecausehispredecessorasCongressprimeminister,RajivGandhi,wasimpressedbytheintelligencecommunity,andhistenureisrememberedasthebestithaseverbeenforIndianintelligence.ButitwasmostlyduetoNarasimhaRao’snotionofintellectualsuperiority,andtheattitude

thattherewasnothingnewthatthespookscouldtellhim.

Inanycase,NarasimhaRao,whohadoverseenthe1992assemblyelectioninPunjabafterwhichtheKhalistanmovementlostmuchofitssteam,wasdeterminedfrom1994onwardsthatdemocracyberevivedinJ&K.Thisgovernor’srulebusinesswillnotdo,heapparentlyfelt,referringtothearrangement

inJ&Kfrom19January1990,whenFarooqAbdullahresignedfollowingtheappointmentofJagmohanasgovernor.Wehavetogetbacktothepoliticalprocess.IfyouwanttonormaliseKashmir,thatistheonlyway.

AndinNarasimhaRao’smind,revivingdemocracydidnotmeangoingbacktotheAbdullahfamily.Hedidnotseethatasmovingforward.Hewasonefortalkingtothe

Kashmiris,andifhecouldropeseparatistsorevenmilitantsintothepoliticalprocess,thenthatwouldbedreamfulfillment.Onthisjob,hedeployedhisyoungtelecommunicationsminister(andfrom1993to1995,thejuniorministerforhomeaffairs),RajeshPilot,andtheDIB,D.C.Pathak.

RajeshPilothadalreadyhadsomeinvolvementwithKashmirduringRajiv

Gandhi’stime,whenhewasajuniorministerinchargeofsurfacetransport(1985–89).Atthattime,PilotwasasortofmessagecarrierbetweenNewDelhiandFarooqAbdullah,andheassistedRajivGandhiinthe1986CongressaccordwiththeNationalConference.That’showIgottoknowRajesh—IusedtomeethimafterIwaspostedtoSrinagar,andwegotalongquitewell.Ifound

iteasytotalktohim.Theonlythingwas,

GovernorK.V.KrishnaRaocouldnotstandPilot.GeneralRaowasaformerarmychiefwhowasappointedtotheJ&KRajBhavanforasecondstintinMay1993,succeedingGarySaxena(aformerR&AWchiefwhowouldalsodoasecondstint,from1998).Garywasagreatmanmanager:thoughanintelligenceservicesman,he

gotalongwellwithKashmirisandwiththearmy.Hecouldhave,inmyopinion,helpedaKashmirinitiativefromRajBhavaninSrinagar,hadhebeenasked.

KrishnaRao’simportance,perhaps,wasthathehadagreatrelationshipwithFarooq.Itwasasortoffather-sonrelationshipthattheGeneralsaidformedbecausehewasthecorpscommanderinJammufrom

1974to’78,whenSheikhdidtheaccordwithIndiraGandhiandthentookoveraschiefminister.

BesidesnotlikingPilot,KrishnaRaowasalsoallergictothehomesecretary,K.Padmanabhaiah.Inanothersmartmove,NarasimhaRaosetupaDepartmentofKashmirAffairsthathehimselfheaded;thesecretarywasPadmanabhaiah,andthisgaveKashmiris

encouragementthattheirmatterwasbeinghandledatthehighestlevelofgovernment.Tohiscredit,PadmanabhaiahalsovisitedKashmirseveraltimes,whichismorethanwhatcanbesaidaboutotherhomesecretaries.

PadmanabhaiahandRajeshPilot,though,wereonthesamewavelength.Thisbringsupaninterestingstory.PilotwasveryclosetoK.P.S.Gill,thePunjabpolicechief

creditedwithleadingthefightagainstmilitancyfromthefront,andin1996hewantedtosendK.P.S.toKashmirasgovernor.K.P.S.,however,preferredtogoasdirector-generalofpolice.Therewasavacancy,soPilotgottheballrolling.ButassoonasKrishnaRaogotwindofit,heimmediatelyfilledthevacancybyappointinganofficerhewasnotfondof,M.N.Sabharwal.Justtopre-

empttheseguys.SuchwerethefunandgamesinKashmir.

NarasimhaRaowasaveteranatbalancingoutpeople.InMarch1994,forinstance,whenIndiawasunderalotofpressureinternationallybecauseofKashmir,therewasanimportantmeetinginGeneva,Switzerland,ofthefiftiethsessionoftheUnitedNationsCommissionforHuman

Rights;afewmonthsearlier,in1993,USassistantsecretaryofstateRobinRaphelhadquestionedthefinalityofJ&K’saccessiontoIndia;atthesametimePakistanprimeministerBenazirBhuttosaidtheKashmirdisputewasan‘unfinishedbusinessofPartition’.Bothstatementshadcomeduringahigh-profilestandoffbetweenthearmyandJKLFmilitantsat

theHazratbalshrineontheoutskirtsofSrinagar.NarasimhaRao’sbrainwavewastosendtoGenevaadelegationheadedbytheleaderoftheopposition,whoatthattimewasVajpayee,andwhichincludedFarooqAbdullah.IndiapresentedaunitedfronttotheworldonKashmir,andthishelpedrelievethepressureinternationally.

However,whatever

balancingNarasimhaRaomighthavedone,RajeshPilotwaskeytotheKashmirbreakthrough.Theprimeministerknewthatthiswasayoungsterwhospokehismind;whowasopen,frankandambitious;andwhohadafuture,perhapsevenasprimeminister.NarasimhaRao’sthinkingdidnotalwaysmatchPilot’sthinking—infact,hewantedtogomuchslowerthanPilotdid,and

thusdidnotfullytrusthim,oftenusingtheseniorhomeminister,S.B.Chavan,toslowhimdown.Pilotwaspreparedtodoatthattimewhatnootherpersonwaspreparedtodo:takealittleriskandtalktoKashmiris.WhichishowIgotintothiswholebusinessoftalking.

Thusthereweretwoparalleltracks:weintheIBhadbeguntalkingtoKashmiris,andwhenPilot

gotwindofit,hedidn’twanttogetleftbehind.Onthepoliticalplanehestartedhisownchannel.Infact,Pilotdeservescreditforbeingthefirstpoliticalinterfacewithseparatistsandmilitants,longbeforeAdvaniasdeputyprimeministerbegantalkingtotheHurriyatin2004.Thissortofinterfacewasalothairierthen—Pilot’scarwasshotatonacoupleofoccasionsinSrinagar—but

PilotwasmeetingKashmiris,havingthemhangaroundathishouse,lettingtheyoungstersknowthatthiswasapointatwhichyoucouldcomein.

TheIBdidn’twanttobeleftoutoftheloop,sotheDIB,M.K.Narayanan,askedmetotieupwithPilot.Everythinghappenedalmostsimultaneously:ifweweretalkingtoXandY,andwethoughtwewouldtalktoZ

later,PilotwouldalreadybetalkingtoZandhispeople.TherewerenosecretswithPilot,whofeltthiswasallinthenationalinterest,andwhotriedtoropeinaKashmir-knowingteamofbureaucratslikeWajahatHabibullah,anIASofficerwhowasfondofJKLFleaderYasinMalik.

TheJKLFboysgotalongwithPilotandalotofthatgangwasalwayshangingoutatPilot’shouse,thoughI

neversawYasinathisplace.(Asaministerhecouldnotgovisitanyoneinjail.Thatwasourjob.)Theywereclosetohimandtheylikedhisopenness.UnlessyouhavesomeempathyforKashmiris,andsometimeandpatiencetolistentotheirbitching,youwon’tunderstandathingofwhatisgoingonoverthere.Pilotwaswillingtolisten,andwaswillingtosay,ifthatisso,whatcanwedofor

you?TherewasnobodyinDelhimoresympathetictoKashmirisortotheircause,inthegovernmentofIndia,thanRajeshPilot.

Wewerealwaystalkingaboutwhatwecoulddo,howwecouldmovethingsforward.OncePilotaskedmeonthematterofunemployment:‘CanyouthinkofanythingwecandofortheseKashmiriboys?’

‘Sir,there’ssomuchyou

cando,’Isaid.‘I’vebeentalkingtosome

corporatehonchos,’hesaid.‘I’vebeenwonderingwhetherIcangetthemjobsabroad,inDubaiandallthat.’

Itstruckmeasnotabadidea.WhathewassayingwasthatnotmanypeoplewerewillingtoaccommodateKashmirishere,atthatpointoftime,sohewaslookingatoptionsoutsideIndia,andhementionedDubai.

‘I’vealsospokentosomebusinesspeopleinBombay,’headded.‘I’mhopefulsomethingwillhappen.’

Wespokeduringcrises,asmentionedinchapterthree,duringtheal-Faranhostagesituation.AndRajeshspokeoftheprimeminister.‘Thisoldmanistoosharp,toobloodysmart,’hesaidonce.‘Callsmeandtellsme,“HomeMinister,howareyou?”MakesmefeelI’mthe

homeministerandthenusesChavantoundercutme.’HeunderstoodthewholegamewiththewilyNarasimhaRao.

Pilotwassimple,down-to-earth,straightforward;hewasambitious,nodoubt,andhemusthavethoughtthatKashmirwasagoodopportunity.EvenafterNarasimhaRao’sgovernmentleft,Pilot’sinterestcontinued;evenwhenhewasoutofpowertherewere

Kashmirisathisplace.Ifhehadnotdiedinthattragicaccident,inMay2000,hewouldhavegoneplaces.

Pilotneverforgotthathewasanairforceofficerandhadhisfriendsandlinksthere.Athispartiesandget-togethersyouwouldalwaysfindairforceofficersthere;itwasnormalfortheAirForceMarshalArjanSinghtobethere.AthisdaughterSarika’swedding—hisson

SachinmarriedFarooq’sdaughterSara,butthatwassometimeafterPilothadpassedaway—Iwassurprisedtofindthatwewereinvited,alongwithalotofotherpeople,butthattherewerenopoliticians.‘Idon’tseeanypoliticians,’Iremarked.‘Whenismadam(SoniaGandhi)coming?’

‘Ihaven’tinvitedanybody,’Rajeshsaid.‘IfIinviteonethenI’vegotto

invitethewholelot,andIdon’tneedthemhere.Ihaveinvitedonlyfriends.’

Hewasthatkindofaguy.Pilothadanexceptional

relationshipwithFarooq.Itcooledabitwhen,in1999,FarooqvotedinParliamentfortheNDAgovernmentandagainsttheCongress’smotionofno-confidence;theNDAfell,butreturnedtopowerlaterthatyear.PerhapsPilotexpectedFarooqtovotethe

samewaythattheotherNCMP,SaifuddinSoz,did.ThefollowingyearPilotdied.

Ironically,whenSaraandSachinmarried,Farooqdidnotattendthewedding—eventhoughitwastheweddingofhisfavouritedaughter.Itwasnotverycourageousofhim,andwhenIaskedhimhowhecouldhavedonethis,hehadnoanswer.(Incidentally,Omardidnotgo,eventhoughhewasinDelhi).Farooqdid

notdisapprove;hewasaliberal,andbesides,Omarhadmarriedanon-Muslim,Payal.

Inanycase,IvisitedPilot’splaceafewtimesafterhediedandoncethecrowdshaddisappeared.IsatwithSachin,whohadjustcomebackfromtheUS,wherehewasstudyingattheWhartonBusinessSchooloftheUniversityofPennsylvania,andIaskedhim:‘Whenare

yougoingtotakeupyourDad’smantleandjoinpolitics?’

‘No,no,notme,Uncle,’hesaid.‘Thisistoomuchforme.’‘It’sinyourgenes,’Isaid.‘You’recapable.’

Oncehegotintopolitics,IfoundKashmiriscomingandvisitingSachin.PerhapsitwastheSaraconnection,butithadtodowithhisfamily.PeoplehadalotofregardforRajeshPilot.

Inourtalkingtoseparatistsandformermilitants,thingsprogressedwithShabirShahtosuchanextentthatby1994,NarasimhaRaowasdreamingthatShabirwouldenterthedemocraticprocess.Hewashisbighope.Butaswesawinchapterfour,Shabirwasnotuptothetask,andinNovember1995,thenightbeforeNarasimhaRaowenttotheAfricannationof

BurkinaFaso,whenheaskedmewhetherFarooqwastheonlyoption,Ihadtoconveytohimthatnoseparatist,includingShabir,wasreadytoclimbaboard.TheNationalConferencehadbeenputtingpressureonDelhigivingsomepoliticalpackagewhichitcouldselltotheelectoratebeforeelections.SoItoldtheprimeminister:‘Yes,it’slikethat.’

NarasimhaRaowasso

keenonShabirthatwhenIreachedthestageoftalkingtohim,theprimeministeraskedmetomeetthefinanceminister,DrManmohanSingh.Iwentandmethim.Heaskedmewhatitwasallabout,soItoldhimweweretalkingtosomeKashmiris,someseparatists.Singh’squerywaswhetherFarooqknewaboutthis.‘I’mnotsureifthePMhasbriefedhim,’Isaid.‘ButmaybeFarooq

doesn’tneedtoknoweverything.’ThismadeSinghuncomfortable,thoughhedidmeetShabir.ThewholeideahadbeentomakeShabirfeelthattheengagementwasgettingserious;thatNarasimhaRaowaskeenonhim.ButShabirdidnottakethebait.

Famously,whileinBurkinaFaso,NarasimhaRaoannouncedthathewasreadytograntautonomyto

Kashmir,andthat‘sky’sthelimit’.ThoughmanypeoplethoughthewassayingthisforthebenefitofFarooqAbdullah(whichwillbringustotheNC’sautonomyresolutioninthenextchapter),atthebackofNarasimhaRao’smindwasShabirShah.Theprimeministerwasthinking,ifthisiswhattheseparatistswant,oriftheywanttobereasonable,thenhereisthe

spaceforustotalk,andhereisthespaceforaccommodation.Shabirwouldhavegotpoliticalconcessions,forNarasimhaRaowasinterested.ButShabirmissedthebus.

Bythetimethe2002electionrolledaround,itwastoolateforShabir.LikeNarasimhaRao,VajpayeealsowantedabreakfromthepastandhetoowantedtolookbeyondFarooq

Abdullah.ButwhereasNarasimhaRao’sdreamwastohaveaseparatistlikeShabirShahjointhepoliticalmainstreamandtakecontrolofKashmir,Vajpayee’snotionofabreakfromthepastwasdifferent.InlookingbeyondFarooqAbdullahhetoowantedagenerationalchange,butclosertohome.HisdreamwasOmarAbdullah.

11VAJPAYEE

CHOOSESOMAR

OmarAbdullahisFarooq’sonlyson,borninEnglandwhilehisgrandfather,SheikhSaheb,wasstillinjail(his

motherMollieisEnglish).Thoughhecamefromapoliticalhousehold—totheextentthatwhenhegraduatedfromLawrenceSchoolinSanawar,heenrolledatSydenhamCollegeinMumbaiandlivedattheresidenceofhisfather’spoliticalbuddy,SharadPawar—heenteredthecorporateworld,workingfortheOberoisforfiveyearsorso;itwasinthisjobthathemethis

wifePayal.TheyearsafterFarooq

wonthe1996assemblyelection—therebytakingthewindoutofmilitancybyprovidingaworkingdemocraticpoliticalsysteminthestateagain—wereaheadytime.HehadhismosttrustedbureaucratshelpinghimadministerJ&K,heandIdrewveryclose,andinthismilieuheandhiswifebegantothinkofhispolitical

legacy.FarooqsuggestedtoOmarthatheenterpoliticsandhiswifeMolliewasalsoagreeable.Afterall,politicswasinOmar’sgenes.

Anopportunityopenedupverysoon,whentheUnitedFrontgovernmentfellinNovember1997;theLokSabhaelectionwasheldinFebruaryandMarchthefollowingyear,andFarooqencouragedOmartocontest.Itwasalogicalfirststepfor

thehandsomeyoungman,ashewouldgetakindofacquaintancebeforetheinevitableencounterwiththehurly-burlyofpolitics.

NotallinthefamilywelcomedOmar’sentryintopolitics.Inparticular,Farooq’seldersisterKhalidawasextremelydistressed.Toherfamily,itmusthaveseemedlikedejávu.

KhalidawastheeldestofSheikhSaheb’sfivechildren;

hisotherdaughterSuraiyawastheyoungest.Khalidawasalsoherfather’sfavourite.Whenshewasonlyfourteen,backin1948,shewasmarriedofftoamantwiceherage,GhulamMohammedShah,otherwiseknownasGulShah.HewasaNationalConferenceloyalistandinSheikhSaheb’sEmergencyAdministrationintheimmediateyearspost-independenceheservedas

thecontroller,foodandcivilsupplies.WhenSheikhSahebreturnedtopoweraftertwodecadesofimprisonment,GulShahservedinhisstatecabinetasaministerinchargeofimportantportfoliossuchasfoodandcivilsupplies,transport,worksandpower.Tosome,includingGulShahhimself,itseemedhewouldinheritSheikhSaheb’spoliticalmantle.

WhatGulShahperhaps

didnotcountonwasthatafterthe1977assemblyelection,inthefinalfiveyearsofSheikhSaheb’slife,itwasthelatter’swife,BegumAkbarJehanAbdullah,whosepowergrew.ShewieldedalotofinfluenceinSheikhSaheb’slastdays.ShebecameamemberofParliamentafterSheikhSahebreturnedtopowerin1975,andduringhisfinalyears,thereweremany

rumoursofcorruptioninhisgovernmentthatdentedhisimageasastatesman,andsomehowmanyofthoserumourscouldbetracedbacktotheBegumandhercoterie.

BegumAbdullahwasoldschool,andanextremelycharmingandelegantlady,butshedidn’ttalkmuch.Shewascarefulaboutwhatshesaid.DuringmydaysinSrinagar,wheneverIheardher,sheshowedgreatrespect

fortheNehru–Gandhifamily,butinwhatevershesaidshewasdefinitelypartoftheolderguard,themoreconservativepartoftheNationalConference.

BegumAbdullah’sfavouritewastheireldestsonFarooq,whohadstudiedmedicineinJaipurandthenwenttoEnglandtotrainandthenpractise(wherehemethiswifeMollie,andwherehissonOmarwasborn).

Farooqhadreturnedandhismotherfeltthatheshouldinherithisfather’spoliticallegacy.ThisinheritancewasamatterofconcernsinceSheikhSahebwasnotinthebestofhealth—andevenPrimeMinisterIndiraGandhiwasseizedofthematter.Afterall,Kashmirwasanimportantborderstate,andalthoughPakistanhadbeendefeatedin1971,extracarehadtobetakenwithregardto

thegovernanceofIndia’sonlyMuslim-majoritystate.

IndiraGandhithoughtaboutitatlength,andby1980shehaddecidedthatitwouldbebestforallconcernedifDrFarooqAbdullahsucceededhisfather.Heseemedtobethemoretrustworthyoption.PerhapsshewasswayedbyFarooq’smodernoutlook,hisforeignexposure,andhiseasewithEnglishaswellaswith

KashmiriandUrdu.Perhapshishappy-go-luckyimagedidnotthreatenher.Afterall,GulShahhadbeenactivewiththePlebisciteFrontduringtheyearsthatSheikhSahebwasunderarrest.SheletSheikhSahebknowthatherpreferredchoiceforhissuccessorwasFarooq.

GulShahmighthavebeenasmarterpoliticianthanFarooq,buthewaswidelyregardedasabully.Another

factorthatmighthaveswayedSheikhSahebwasthefactthatGulShahill-treatedKhalida;shewouldcomehomeandcomplaintoherparentsaboutit.ThusultimatelyitwasBegumAbdullahwhotiltedthebalance,andFarooqwasappointedthepresidentoftheNationalConferenceinAugust1981.SheikhSahebpassedawayinSeptember1982,andFarooqtookover

aschiefminister.GulShahfeltcheated;hehadhadalonginningsinpolitics,andhewasseniortohisbrother-in-lawbothinageandinpolitics.Soheleftthegovernment,andinduecourse,theNationalConference.Khalida’sfamilyandFarooq’sfamilydriftedapart.

Aschiefminister,FarooqhobnobbedwithoppositionleaderssuchasN.T.Rama

Rao,JyotiBasu,ParkashSinghBadal,SharadPawar,andA.B.Vajpayee.ThisimpertinencewasnotwhatIndiraGandhihadexpected.Shehadanewgovernor,Jagmohan,appointed,whodismissedFarooqandreplacedhimwithGulShah,wholedasplinteroftheNCwhichwascalledtheNC(K)afterhiswife.(In1988,hisparty’snamechangedtotheAwamiNationalConference.)

GulShah’stenureisrememberedfortheheavyhandwithwhichheputdowndissent,andforwhichhecametobepopularlycalledthe‘curfewCM’.

FarooqpatchedupwithMrsGandhi’ssonRajivandin1986hereturnedtopower.GulShahwasoutinthecold,andBegumAbdullahdecidedthatthetwofamiliesshouldpatchup.EvenwhenFarooqAbdullahbecamechief

minister,hismotherranakitchencabinetthoughby1988itwasnotaspowerfulasithadoncebeen.Farooq,forhispart,would‘mummy’herandkeepheringoodhumour,butshedidnotmeddletoomuchinday-to-dayaffairs.OfcourseshedidnotapproveofwhatGulShahhaddonebutshecouldnotgoagainstherdaughtereither.Itwasadifficulttightropewalk.Butthoughshewasoften

aroundwhenyouvisitedFarooq’sresidence,sheneverspokewhilehersonwasspeaking.Theywereveryclose.

BegumAbdullahbeganinvitingKhalidatothechiefminister’shome,whereshelived.Khalidavisitedregularly,andhersonMuzaffarShah,whomeveryonecalledMuzy,camealong.By1988,MuzyhaddrawnclosetoFarooq,allthe

timesayingMamuthisandMamuthat.Farooqgrewfondoftheboy.Afterall,OmarwasawayatschoolandthethoughtofOmarenteringpoliticsdidnotenteranyone’sheadatthetime.Muzywasaround.

TherapprochementgrewsteadilyandIonceevensawGulShahatFarooq’splace,sometimein1997,soIaskedthechiefministerifthingshadbecomeokaywithhis

sisterandherhusband.‘Haan-haan,theekhai,’Farooqsaid.‘Politicallywecan’talignwitheachother,butthefamilyrelationshiphassettleddown,it’sfine.’

Bythistime,Muzaffarwasexpectingsomekindofpoliticalconcession,andhehadbeguntoeyeaseatinParliament.Whenitbecameknownthatinthe1998election(KashmirchosethreerepresentativestotheLok

Sabha,fromSrinagar,AnantnagandBaramulla)Omarwouldbecontesting,Khalida’sfamilyagainfeltshort-changed.Itwastheearly1980salloveragain,whenGulShahlostouttoFarooq;thistimehissonlostouttoFarooq’sson.

Khalida’sfamilymusthaveseenMuzaffarasaproperpolitician,whereasOmarhadspenthisformativeyearsoutsidetheValley;not

onlythat,OmarspokehaltinglyinKashmiri.Khalida’sfamilyletitbeknowntheyfeltthatthefactthatOmar’smotherwasEnglishwouldhurtthepartypolitically;andthentherewasthefactthatOmarwasmarriedtoagirlwhowasneitherKashmirinorMuslim.

ButnothingtheysaidcouldstopOmarfrombecomingmemberofParliament.Theinter-family

rivalryandhatred,whichhadbeenonthemend,deteriorated;andthepeoplearoundeachofthefamiliesonlyfuelledthesenegativefeelings.SinceMuzyalwaysthoughtheshouldgetsomething,beingGulShah’ssonandall,IapproachedFarooqsometimein2001—whentheideawasgainingcurrencythatOmarshouldtakechargeinKashmir—tosuggestsendingMuzyto

Parliament.ButFarooqexpressedhelplessness:‘Wecan’thavesomanyfamilymembersinthesepositions,’hesaid.

Inthecase,whenelectionswereheldagainin1999Omarwasre-elected,andbecausehehadvotedforVajpayee’sfirstNDAgovernmentintheno-confidencemotionsponsoredbySoniaGandhi’sCongresspartyearlierthatyear,the

NDAdecidedtoinducthimintothenewcouncilofministers,makinghimtheyoungestinVajpayee’scabinet.(NCMPSaifuddinSoz,inthatvoteofno-confidence,waspersuadedbyCongressleaderRajeshPilottovoteagainstVajpayee;thisangeredFarooq,whoinanycasehadnolovelostfortheGandhifamily,andSaifuddinSozhadtoleavetheNC.HethenjoinedtheCongress

party.)Omar’stenureinthe

commerceministrywasmarkedbygoodreportsabouthisperformance,andhealsoseemedtofeelcomfortableinDelhi.ItwaswhilehewasinthecommerceministryandIwasatR&AWthatacrisisemerged.ThiswastheJ&Kassembly’sdiscussion,inJune2000,ofthereportoftheStateAutonomyCommittee(SAC)recommendinggreater

autonomytothestate.Asmentionedbefore,the

J&Kassemblyelectiontookthesteamoutofmilitancy.ThemainreasonwasthattheNationalConferenceparticipatedintheelection.TheNationalConferenceparticipatedbecauseFarooqAbdullahagreedtoparticipate(recallthatAbdulGhaniLonehadtriedtodissuadehimfromparticipating);whilehewas

awayfromtheValley,theNChadstoppedfunctioningandgoneintohiding.FarooqgottheNCgoingagain;itwasnothingwithouthim.Atthesametime,Farooqrealisedthatifhispartywasgoingtobethealternativetoseparatismandmilitancy,thenhewasgoingtohavetodosomethingforhispeople—oratleastmaketherightnoises.The‘peacewithhonour’thatShabirShahand

otherscouldnotgiveKashmiris,hewouldgivethem.Afterall,NarasimhaRaohadsaid,fromBurkinaFasolessthanayearago,thatsofarasautonomywasconcerned,‘thesky’sthelimit’.

Thus,promptlyaftertheassemblyelection,on29November1996,thestategovernmentsetuptheStateAutonomyCommitteewiththefollowingtermsof

reference:

ToexamineandrecommendmeasuresfortherestorationofautonomytothestateofJammuandKashmirconsistentwiththeInstrumentofAccession,theConstitutionApplicationOrder,1950,andtheDelhiAgreement,1952.Toexamineand

recommendsafeguardsthatberegardednecessaryforincorporationintheUnion/stateConstitutiontoensurethattheConstitutionalarrangementthatisfinallyevolvedinpursuanceoftherecommendationsofthiscommitteeisinviolable.Toalsoexamineandrecommendmeasuresto

ensureaharmoniousrelationshipforthefuturebetweenthestateandtheUnion.

Thecommitteehadninemembers,includingDrKaranSinghasthechairman;heresignedinJuly1997,andtheNC’sGhulamMohiuddinShahtookoverinhisplace.

ThecommitteetableditsreportintheassemblyinApril1999,andinit

recommendedtherestorationofthe1952DelhiAgreement,inwhichtheonlythingsthattheUnionwouldbeinchargeofwouldbedefence,externalaffairsandcommunication.ItalsorecommendedthatArticle370oftheConstitution,whichgrantsspecialstatustothestate,bemadea‘specialprovision’intheConstitutioninsteadof‘temporaryprovision’.

Whilethiswastame

comparedtotheazaadidemandofmilitants,itwasanathematotheBJPanditsilk,whichhavealwaysstoodfortheabrogationofArticle370andputtingJ&KatparwithotherstatesintheUnion.TheNChadalwayswalkedthistightrope,withSheikhSahebadeptatwordingpoliticalmattersinsuchawaythatsatisfiedbothKashmirisandDelhi.Farooq,lookingaheadtothe2002

assemblyelection,knewhehadtodeliveronhispromiseswellintime,andso,on19June2000,theassemblywasconvenedforaweek-longspecialsessiontodiscussthecommittee’sreportandpassaresolutionacceptingit.

TheNDAwasnothappyabouttheturnofevents.‘Whatisyourfriendupto?’BrajeshMishraaskedme.

Ispoketothechiefminister.‘Thereisalittle

concernhere,everyoneisaskingabouttheresolution.’

WhatFarooqtoldthetopIBmaninSrinagar,K.M.Singh,wasthathehadcontestedthe1996electionbecausethegovernmentofIndiawantedhimtocontest,andatthattimehehadtoldthegovernmentthatheneededaplanktofightanelection.Autonomyhadbeenthatplank.Hiscommitteehadinfactbeendiscussingthe

matterwithGovernorGarySaxenawhilepreparingthereport;andnowanotherelectionwascomingup,sohisgovernmenthadtodosomethingaboutautonomy.

Furthermore,Farooqsaidtome,eversincethereportwastabled,hehadbeenpleadingwithNewDelhitoalsoappointacommittee,whichcouldhaveacoupleofcabinetministersonit.Heseemedtoimplythatsucha

committeecouldbeaneyewash,butatleastitwouldkeepautonomyinplay,tohelptheNCinthe2002elections.However,therewasnoresponsetohissuggestionfromtheNDA,andleftwithnochoice,Farooqwasforcedtomovethisresolutioninhisassembly.

‘Whyareyouworried?’Farooqasked.‘Everybodyhastobekepthappy.Tellthemnottoworry,the

resolutionwon’tgetpassed.Kucchnahinhoga.’

EventsapparentlyovertookthechiefministerandtheresolutionwaspassedbytheJ&Kassembly.AgainFarooqthoughtitwasnobigdealandhesenttheresolutiontotheUnionhomeministry,knowingfullywellthatthehomeministryheadedbytheNDA’sresidenthardliner,L.K.Advani,wasnotgoingtodo

anythingwiththeresolution.HefiguredtheNDAgovernmentwouldjustkickthecandowntheroad,givinghimbothanescaperouteandanelectionplank.

ButNewDelhiwasnothappyatall.MembersoftheNDAgovernmentwereupset,andacabinetmeetingwasimmediatelycalled.Itsummarilythrewouttheresolution,sayingitwasnotacceptable.

Farooqwasinfuriated.TheNDAgovernmentwasnotplayingpoliticswhenheneededitto,forhisownparty’swell-being;itwasalmostsymbolic,asifitwerebeingmorehardlinethanwasnecessary,shuttingtheKashmirisout,withoutsomuchasaconversation.TheDelhi–Srinagarrelationshipbecamestrained.

Farooqthreatenedtoresign,butmorethanthat,he

threatenedtopulloutoftheNDAcoalition.OmarwassummonedtoSrinagar,andtherewason10July2000ameetingoftheNCMLAs.Themeetingdiscussedwhatthenextstepshouldbe.Theatmospherewasverytense,bothinSrinagarandinNewDelhi.Themeetingcarriedontheentireday,andtheMLAsdecidedtocontinuethefollowingday.

Butthenextmorning,on

11July2000,BegumAbdullahdiedofacardiacarrest.Theladywaseighty-fouryearsold.Andthisunfortunateeventfortunatelysavedtheday.

K.M.Singhcalledupandsaid,‘Pleasehelp,thisisanopportunity.’

IwenttoBrajeshMishra.‘Farooqhaslosthismother,’Isaid.

‘Haan-haan,Advanijijaarahehain,’hesaid.

‘MaybesomethingmorethanAdvaniji,’Isuggested.‘MaybethePMshouldgo.’

BrajeshMishralookedatme.‘Youreallythinkso?’heasked.

‘Yes,Ithinkso.’‘Okay,’hesaid.‘Letme

speaktothePM.’Vajpayee,not

surprisingly,said,theekhai,jayenge.

‘Inthatcase,’Isaid,‘Iwouldalsoliketogo.’

‘Sure,’hesaid.Thedelegationincluded

DefenceMinisterGeorgeFernandes,Advani,andtheprimeminister.WhenwereachedSrinagar,theVIPstooktheirtimeincomingout,soIwasofftheaircraftaheadofeveryone.WhenIsteppedontothetarmac,thefirstthingthathappenedwasthatOmarAbdullahhuggedme.PeoplemighthavethoughtitunusualbecauseOmarwas

notnormallygiventodisplayingemotion,butonthisoccasionhewasrelievedtoseeus.

Thestrainovertheautonomyresolutionhadrattledhimcompletely.Atthattimehewasnotdreamingof,orevendistantlydreamingof,becomingchiefminister.Hejustdidn’twanttolosehisjobandhislifeinDelhi.Sowhenhesawme,herealisedtheprimeministerhadalso

come,andheknewthatthisgesturewouldendalltalkofsnappingtiesandsavetheday.

Anditdid.Farooqwasextremelytouchedbytheprimeminister’sthoughtfulnessatcomingtohismother’sfuneral.Theresolutioncontroversydied,alongwithBegumAbdullah.

Itdid,however,planttheseedofdoubtaboutFarooqAbdullahintheNDA

government’smind,andpossiblypushedVajpayeeintolookingbeyondFarooqforcuttingtheGordianknotinKashmir.Whilethisseedwasgrowinginhismind,IleftR&AWandreachedthePMO.

AsOmarwasFarooq’ssonandIwasfondofhim,Ilookedoutforhim.InthePMOIheardthattheprimeminister,duringhisnexttripabroad,wastakingsuch-and-

suchministeralong.IwenttoBrajeshMishra.‘Whydon’tyoutakeOmarononeofthesetrips?’Isaid.‘Helooksgoodandhe’saKashmiri.Itgiveshimgoodexposureanditalsosendsapositivesignal.’

BrajeshMishrawasagreeableandonthenexttrip,Omarwentalong.Thenhewentagain.Andagain.VajpayeehadachancetowatchOmarfromclose

quarters,andhestruckhimasabrightyoungfellow.ThemoreVajpayeeandBrajeshMishrasawOmar,themoretheylikedhim.Theymovedhimtotheexternalaffairsministry,whichwasasortofpromotion,wherehewasthejuniorminister.

AnotherepisodewhichsolidifiedVajpayee’spositivefeelingswasadinnerthatOmarhostedfortheprimeministerathisresidenceon

AkbarRoad.Itwasanexclusivedinnerfortheprimeministerandhisfamily:thePMwasthere,hisfosterdaughterandRanjan,BrajeshMishraandmyself;therewasOmar,hiswifePayal,Omar’sin-lawsandFarooq.

TherewasahightableatwhicheverybodysatexceptBrajesh,RanjanandI,whoweredrinkingatthebaroutside.Itwasapersonal,privatedinner,thePMwith

hisfamilymeetingOmar’sin-laws,andreinforcedpositivityallaround.

AndthegermoftheideathatOmarandFarooqshouldbeswitched,withOmartakingchargeinKashmirandFarooqsettlingdowninDelhi,mayhavebeenplantedduringthistime.Betweentheprimeminister,BrajeshMishra,andI’msureAdvaniwasinvolvedinthis,theydecidedtosuggestFarooq

AbdullahaninducementtoleaveKashmir:theydecidedtooffertomakehimtheVice-PresidentofIndia.

12VAJPAYEE’S

‘BETRAYAL’OFFAROOQ

ABDULLAH

Thesefactsarewell-known:

in2002,Vice-PresidentKrishanKantwasoncoursetobecometheeleventhPresidentofIndia.SuchpromotiontoRashtrapatiBhavanwasatraditionandthesixpreviousvice-presidentshadgoneontobecomepresident.VajpayeeandSoniaGandhiwereagreeabletoKant’scandidature—hewasoneoftheCongressparty’soriginal‘YoungTurks’andlatera

memberofthe1977–1980JanataPartygovernment—andhisnamehadbeenannouncedassuch.SeveralmembersoftheNDAgovernmentlikeHomeMinisterL.K.Advani,however,rememberedthatalongwithMadhuLimaye,KanthadbeenresponsibleforthefalloftheJanatagovernmentoverdualmembershipintheRashtriyaSwayamsewakSangh(RSS).

SotheyopposedKant.VajpayeethenhadtoproposelongtimecivilservantandTamilNadugovernorP.C.AlexanderastheNDA’scandidate,buttheCongressvetoedtheidea.UltimatelyA.P.J.AbdulKalambecamepresidentandprovedtobethemostpopularoneIndiahashad.TwodaysafterKalamwasswornin,abroken-heartedKantpassedaway,theonlyvice-presidenttodie

inoffice.Whatisnotwidelyknown

isthatVajpayeehadofferedFarooqAbdullahthevice-presidency.TheofferwasmadewhenitwasassumedthatKantwasgoingtobethepresident.Itmadesenseintheinformalformulathatpoliticiansfollowed:tobalanceoutthetwohighofficeswitheitheranorth-southoramajority-minoritycombination.

Theofferwasmadeatmyresidence,bytheprimeminister’sprincipalsecretaryandnationalsecurityadvisorBrajeshMishra,laterreaffirmed,accordingtoFarooq,bythehomeminister,L.K.Advani,andofcoursetheprimeministerhimself.Farooqwaselated.HislifeambitionhadbeentoonedaybecomePresidentofIndia,andthiswasthepenultimatesteptothatgoal.

ItdidnothappenanditwasthegreattragedyofFarooq’slife.Itwasabetrayal.

Thereweretwowaysoflookingatit,ofcourse.Oneisthatitwasanoutrightbetrayal.FarooqhastimeandagainbeenletdownbyvariouspeopleinNewDelhi.SuchpeoplehavearguedthatFarooqisfrivolous,thatheisunreliable,thathecan’tbetrusted,orthattheyjust

didn’tlikehim.Forinstance,NarasimhaRaofantasisedaboutsortingouttheprobleminKashmirbylookingbeyondFarooqatShabirShahbecauseRaosimplydislikedFarooq.RecallthathisonlyquestiontomebeforeheleftforAfricawaswhetherornotFarooqwasnecessaryfortherevivalofthepoliticalprocess.

IfVajpayeedidnotlikeFarooqitwouldbedifferent

fromNarasimhaRao’sdistaste.Afterall,VajpayeeandFarooqhadalotincommon.VajpayeeattendedtheoppositionconclavethatFarooqaschiefministerorganisedinSrinagarin1983.Thetwowerealsoofasimilarkind:thekindthatlovedfunandthegoodthingsinlife.TheironyisthatRao,in1994,hadabrainwaveanddeputedbothVajpayeeandFarooqtoGeneva,toan

importantmeetingoftheUnitedNationsCommissionforHumanRights,whereIndiawasundergreatpressureforitsdealingwiththemovementinKashmir.ItwasironicthatamanlikeFarooq,thoughttobeunreliable,wassenttodefendthecountryataUNforum.

Vajpayee,aswesawinthepreviouschapter,sawtheautonomyresolutionasadisappointmentevenifitwas

acompulsionforFarooq,whohadcometopowerpromisinggreaterautonomyandwouldhavetofaceanelectionthenextyear;forVajpayee,whoranacoalitiongovernment,balancinghisalliesandhisownNehruvianinstinctswiththehardlinersinhispartywasnevereasy,astheGujaratriotsin2002proved.TheautonomyresolutiononlyaddedtothepressuresonVajpayee.Hisnotliking

FarooqorthinkingthatFarooqwasunreliablewouldhavebeenlinkedtothisepisode.Oritwasdeepdowndislikethatcametotheforewiththisepisode.

TheotherwayoflookingatthebetrayalwouldbethatVajpayee,evertheChanakya,playedabiggergamewhenheofferedFarooqthevice-presidency.HelikedwhathesawinOmar,andhewantedtoswitchthefather-son

combinationbybringingFarooqtoDelhiandputtingOmarinSrinagar.Itwasamasterlypoliticalplay.ItwhettedOmar’sappetite,andwhenFarooq’scurrenttermaschiefministerendedheneverbecamechiefministeragain,eventhoughhewaspubliclywillingtodosoin2008.

True,manypeopleareofferedhighofficeandthencircumstancespreventitfrom

happening.WithFarooq,however,manyforcesinDelhiworkedagainsthim,unfairly.Iwonderif,assuchpeoplesay,FarooqisunreliablethenwhothehellinKashmirisreliable?

IsitacoincidencethattheoneKashmirithatPakistannevertriedtoapproach—becausehewastoounpredictable,thatis,hewastoomuchhisownman—wasFarooqAbdullah?Andthat

thepersonwiththehighestbountyonhisheadeversincemilitancyhitfullstridewasFarooqAbdullah?

Earlierinthebook,it’sbeenmentionedhowFarooqmadetheintroductiontohijackerHashimQureshi;howFarooqcamethroughwithafavourforSyedSalahuddin,thePakistan-basedHizbulMujahideenpreacherwhohasforlongwantedtocomebacktoIndia;

andheintroducedtotheRashtriyaRiflesaruralfolk-singernamedKukaParrey,whowentontoleadaforceofcounter-insurgents,theIkhwan-ulMuslimoon,whichwasoneofthearmy’ssuccesses.FarooqalsowasvehementlyagainstreleasingterroristsinhisjailsinexchangeforhostagesinboththeRubaiyakidnappingandtheIC-814hijacking,apositionmanyhave

advocatedasnationalpolicy.Farooqhasnevercitedanyofhisactionsthatwereofnationalsecurityimportancetomakeacaseforhimself,eitherprivatelyorpublicly.AndyetheiscalledunreliablebyvestedinterestsinDelhi.

OneofFarooq’sdefiningmomentscouldbeIndependenceDay,1989.Hewasthechiefminister,Gen.K.V.KrishnaRaowasthe

governor,andIwastheIBmanthere.Forjustoverayear,militancyhadtakenrootandrisenwithbombattacksandtargetedkillings.Becauseofthesteadilyincreasinglevelofviolence,itwasa15Augustlikenoother.TheceremonywasattheBakshiStadium,andduringthegovernor’sspeechwecouldhearbombsgooffsomewhereoutside.Yetthegovernorkeptspeaking.

WhenFarooq’sturncamehemadeamovingspeech.EssentiallywhathesaidwasthatKashmirwasanintegralpartofIndiaandthatitwasnotgoinganywhere,itwouldremainapartofIndia.ItmaysoundroutineforthosesittingoutsideofKashmir,butatthattime,whenthetideforazaadiinKashmirwasbuildingup,whenthemoodandatmospherewassuchthatnoonewouldpubliclyspeak

onbehalfofIndia,Farooq’sspeechstoodout.

Atthatfunctionthechiefministerwastoinspectthepoliceguardofhonour.Thedirector-generalofpolice,GhulamJeelaniPandit,hadarrangedajeeptotakeFarooqfromthepodium,wheretheguestsofhonoursatandwherethespeechesweremade,totheguardlinedupfurtheraway.Theideawasthatwithsecurityatrisk,

Farooqwouldtakethesaluteinthejeepandreturntothepodium.Yetwhenthejeepreachedtheguard,Farooqstoppedthejeepandhoppedout.HethendidabetterslowmarchthanPandithaddoneininspectingtheguard.Itwasimpressive.ThatwasFarooq.

Additionally,afewweekslater,inSeptember,FarooqwasattheHazratbalshrine,builtbyhisfatherSheikhAbdullahnotonlytohouse

theMoi-e-Muqqadas,arelicoftheProphetMohammed,butasabasesincetheJamiaMasjidindowntownSrinagarwasthebaseoftheMirwaizandhispro-Pakistansupporters.Farooqlookedatthecrowdandhewarneditagainstgettingintomilitancy.‘Bahutburahoga,’hetoldthem.‘Barbadilaoge,tumharima-behenelootjayengi.’Hewarnedthemthatviolencewouldonlybringruinto

Kashmir,anditwasprescient.Yetnoonelistened.

TheironyinallofthisisthatFarooqbecamechiefministerbecausehewasDelhi’spreference.MrsIndiraGandhiwasanxiousthathetakeoverfromhisfather,SheikhSaheb.AccordingtoB.K.Nehru,thegovernorofJ&Katthetime,sheevenwentandmetSheikhSahebwhenhewasill

andhadnottakenadecisiononwhetheritoughttobehisson-in-law,thepoliticalveteranGulShah,orhisson,whommanybelievedtobenon-serious.FarooqwasamemberofParliamentinDelhiandMrsGandhiapparentlywentandsaid,‘SheikhSaheb,don’tyouthinkit’stimewebroughtFarooqtoSrinagar?’

Farooq,however,wasnotcomfortablewiththeNehru–

Gandhifamilyfromtheverybeginning.Ifyoutakehisfamily’spointofview,thewholepost-1947relationshipofKashmirwithNewDelhiisoneoflackoftrust.SheikhAbdullah,alsoknownasSher-e-Kashmir,ledKashmirisagainstMaharajaHariSingh.WhenIndependencecame,HariSinghwastochoosebetweenthetwonewcountries,IndiaandPakistan,buthedithered

andPakistantriedtoforcetheissuebysendinginirregularsandtroopsinOctober1947.ThisforcedHariSingh’shand,andhesignedanInstrumentofAccessiontoIndiawiththelastBritishviceroy,LordLouisMountbatten,assuringhimitwouldbeconditionalonaplebiscite.

ItsuitedSheikhAbdullahtobepartofIndia.HewasclosetoPrimeMinister

NehruandnottothefounderofPakistan,MohammedAliJinnah,becauseofthedifferingphilosophiesofthetwomen,inawayareflectionofthephilosophiesofthenewcountries.Also,KashmirenjoyedaspecialstatuswithinIndia,inchargeofitsownaffairsexceptdefence,foreignaffairsandcommunications,withSheikhSahebasJ&K’sprimeminister.ForNehruKashmir

wasimportantasitwoulddemonstratetothoseMuslimswhohadnotgonetoPakistanthatIndiawouldtakecareofthem.

ButNehrucameundergreatpressurefromthosewhocameawayfromPartitionbelievingthatnoonerequiredanyspecialguarantees.ThustherewereaseriesofmovestoerodethespecialstatusandmakeJ&KlikeotherstatesintheUnion.

SheikhSahebfeltrepeatedlybetrayed,andin1953hewastoppledandjailed.Thepromisedplebiscitewasneverheld.Thatthereweretrustissuesisthushardlysurprising.

SheikhSahebwasthrownintojailforaseriesoflongstretchesspanningtwenty-threeyears.Hewentfreeonlyafterheenteredintothe1975politicalaccordwithPrimeMinisterIndiraGandhi.He

didsoonlywhenhesawIndiadefeatPakistaninwarin1971,leadingtothedivisionofPakistanandthecreationofanewcountry,Bangladesh.AndhewentaheadwiththeaccordonlyafterhissonFarooq,whohadqualifiedasaphysicianinEnglandandhadtheremarriedMollie,wenttoPakistanin1974andsoundedouttheleadership;ZulfikarAliBhuttotoldhimtogo

ahead,asPakistanwasinnopositiontohelptheKashmiricauseforpoliticaljustice.

Whatthe1975accordalsodidwassettleanydoubtsthatFarooqmayhavehad.Thus,fromthebeginningofhispoliticalcareerFarooqhasconsistentlyandrepeatedlysaidthatKashmir’saccessiontoIndiaisfinalandirrevocable.BeforeSheikhSahebdiedhehadinductedFarooqintohis

cabinet,andsoin1983FarooqbecamechiefministerofJ&K.TheywereheadydaysandoneofthethingsthatFarooqdidwashostanoppositionconclaveinSrinagarwhichgotIndiraGandhiallworkedup.ThesadthingwasthatsheandDelhiingeneraldidnotseemtoseethepositivesideofthisconclave,whichwasthatifIndianoppositionleadersweregoingtoKashmirandif

Farooqwasgettinginvolvedinsuchactivity,itwasonlyhelpinginthemainstreamingofKashmir.AndthathasbeenIndia’snumberonepriorityandultimateaiminKashmirsinceitjoinedtheUnioninOctober1947.

ButIndiraGandhididnotseeitthatway.ShewantedFarooqout.Hercousin,B.K.Nehru—whoinhisbookNiceGuysFinishSecondhaspointedoutthatFarooqwas

thefirstnationalisttoheadJ&K;hisfatherwascertainlynotanationalist,andtheotherswhobecamechiefministersweresimplyopportunists—didnotplayballsoshehadhimreplacedwithformerbureaucratJagmohan.JagmohanimmediatelydismissedFarooq,andthissetthetoneforFarooq’spolitics.Later,inhisbook,B.K.accusedherofputtingpartyandpersonal

interestsabovethenationalinterest.

ThefirstIhadheardofFarooqwaswhenheenteredintoapoliticalaccordwithRajivGandhiinDecember1986.IwasononeofmyassignmentsasthesecurityofficerforapresidentialvisittoBelgrade,thecapitaloftheerstwhileYugoslavia.SomeonebroughtGianiZailSinghacopyoftheTimesofIndiaandsaid:‘Dekho

Gianiji,kikhabaraayihai.’Thegreatnewshewanted

totellthepresidentwasthatFarooqandRajivhadreachedanaccord.GianijibeingGianijisaid:‘ThisisthebeginningoftheendofFarooqAbdullah.HewillmeetthesamefateasLongowaldidinPunjab.’

HarcharanSinghLongowal,asmentionedinthefirstchapter,diedwithinamonthofsigningthePunjab

accord.WhileGianijiwasnotsayingthatFarooq’sdeathwasimminent,whathewassayingwasthis:asaregionalpartywhywouldyouwanttohobnobwiththeCongress?Itwas,intheestimateoftheshrewdpresident,tantamounttopoliticalsuicideandwasnodoubtoneofthereasonsthatKashmirisrejectedmainstreampoliticsformilitancyashortwhilelater.

Iwastransferredto

SrinagarfromBhopalin1988,anddespitetheentreatiesbyArjunSingh,whohadagaininFebruary1988becomethechiefministerofMadhyaPradesh,IwentaheadwithmytransfertoSrinagar.WhileIwasgoing,theDIB,M.K.Narayanan,calledmeinandsaid:‘PleasemakesurethatDrFarooqiskeptingoodhumour,thatourrelationshipwithhimisokayandthathe’s

onourside.Pleaseseetothat.’

IcameoutoftheDIB’sroomandwenttohisspecialassistant,whoalsohappenedtobemyfriend,RatanSehgal.‘Ratan,’Isaid,‘IthoughtFarooqwasagoodguyfromwhateverIheard.Isthereaproblem?’

‘No,Idon’tthinkso,’saidRatan.‘ButRajiv(Gandhi)isverykeenthatwehaveagoodrelationshipwith

Farooq.’Thatwasbasicallymy

brief.ThewaythatPrimeMinisterRajivGandhilookedatit,FarooqwasthekeytoKashmir.Itissurprisingthatthissimpletrutheludedothers.

Ironically,intheyearsaftertheRajiv–Farooqaccord,whileIwasinSrinagar,andwhilemilitancygatheredmomentum,Ididnotseemuchbonhomieinthe

relationshipbetweenthetwo.Istillrecallthatthetwofamilies,theAbdullahsandtheGandhis,wentonaholidaytogethertosnowboundGulmargoncetheaccordwasdone.Therewasalotoffanfare:bothwereEnglish-speaking,bothhadforeignwives,theygotalongfamously.Yettherewasuneasiness.IthinkRajivandFarooqwerenotinlovewitheachother,andthattheyhad

adecent,civilised,gentlemanlyworkingrelationship.OnereasonthisworkedisthatNarayananwentoutofhiswaytomakeithappen.

Farooq,aftertheaccord,wheneverhecametoDelhi,felthewasn’tgettingtimewiththeprimeminister;thathecouldn’tmeetthePMwhenhewantedto.Ontheotherhand,Rajivfeltthattherewereotherswhocould

dealwiththechiefministerofJ&K,andthat’showtheyoung,up-and-comingministerRajeshPilotcameintoplay:RajivfeltitwouldbeenoughtointeractwithFarooqthroughPilot.ButthisattitudewouldpissFarooqoff.

Therewasanoccasionin1988whenIgotamessagefromtheIBheadquartersinNewDelhi,saying,‘Yourchiefministerhasn’tbeento

DelhiforawhileandthehomeministerwantstoknowwhytheCMisavoidinghim.’ButaSinghwasthehomeminister.

‘ButaSinghwasrememberingyou,’IsaidtoFarooq.

‘WhothehellisButaSingh?’heexploded.‘WhywouldIwanttomeethim?’

‘Whathappened?’Iasked.‘What’sthebigdeal?’

‘WhenIgotoDelhiand

whenIwanttomeettheprimeminister,I’mkeptwaitingandI’mtoldhedoesn’thavetimeforme,’Farooqsaid.‘WhyshouldIhavetimeforyourhomeminister?’Hewouldeventuallybemollified,butthiswasGianiji’spoint:oncearegionalpartyhobnobswiththeCongress,itmaynotbeahostilerelationship,butitwillneverbecomfortableforthesmallerpartner.

IwasfirstintroducedtoFarooqatafarewellpartythatthechiefministerthrewformypredecessorinSrinagar,K.P.Singh.Moreformally,though,IcametomeethiminMay1988,whenItookchargeandIhadtocallonthechiefminister.

ItwasnoteasygettingtoFarooq,especiallyaftermyexperienceofmeetingArjunSinghwheneverIwanted,orhavinghadagoodequation

withPresidentZailSingh.FortendaysnothinghappenedandIfeltirritated.IinquiredwithmyprivatesecretarythatIhadaskedforameetingwiththechiefminister,sowhathappened?Hesaid,‘Haan,sahebbusyhotohkaibartimebhilagjaatahai.’

SoIcalledupsomecolleagues,includingthethenadvisor(home)tothestategovernment,O.P.Bhutani,andthedeputyinspector

general(DIG)ofthecriminalinvestigationdepartment(CID),M.N.Sabharwal.ItoldthemIwantedtomeettheCMbutIwasn’tgettingtoseehim;ImadeitapointtosaythatIwascomingfromMadhyaPradeshwhereIgottomeetArjunSinghalmostassoonasIwanted,andthatheneverkeptmewaiting.Iwascalledhomethefollowingday.

Iwaswondering:howdo

youaddressthegreatman?DrAbdullah?Chiefminister?IaskedBhutani,whosaidDoctorSahebisgoodenough.ThatsoundedtoomuchasifIwasreferringtohiminthethirdperson,soIusuallycalledhim‘Sir’andgotawaywithit.

IarrivedathishouseonGupkarRoadandhewalkedoutandshookmyhandasifweweregreatbuddies.Hethensaid,‘Comeon,getinto

thecar.I’mgoingtoDelhi.’Hegotinbehindthedriver’swheel,Igotintotheseatnexttohim,andthesecuritydetailinthecarbehind.Andwedrovetotheairport.

Farooqloveddriving,stilldoes;hedoesn’tletanyoneelsedrive.Ashedrovewespokeaboutafewthings.Theconversationwasextremelypleasant,surprisinglyso.ThiswasthethingwithFarooq:hecouldmakeyouextremely

comfortable(andwhenthetimecame,hecouldmakeyoufeelextremelyuncomfortable).Oncewereachedtheairporthesaidwe’llcontinuethisconversationwhenIreturn,andthenhehoppedontohisflight.Hissecurityguysdroppedmeback.

ThetricktodealingwithFarooqwastonevertellhimwhatheshoulddo.Anyonewhosuggestedorhintedthat

theycouldtakehimforgrantedwouldfindouthowwrongtheywere.Otherwisehewasagreatpersontodealwith.Ineverhadaproblem.HeunderstoodthatIwastheIBguy,andthatifhecouldgetalevelplayingfieldwithDelhithroughme,thenwhatwastheproblemwithtalkingtoanIBguy?

Farooqalwaysstressedononething:pleasereportthetruthtoDelhi.Heevensaid

thispublicly.InOctober1988,theIBwascelebratingitscentenary,andaspartofthecelebrations,therewereget-togethersinvariousoutstations.Srinagaralsohadonesuchget-togetherwheretheDIBarrivedwithsomeofficersfromheadquarters.Wehadthechiefministerandthegovernorandsomeotherministersandpeople.Itwentoffquitewell.Farooqgaveaspeechandsaidthesame

thing:IexpecttheIntelligenceBureautoreportcorrectlybecauseotherwiseyouaredoingadisservicetothecountry,toNewDelhi,andtothegovernmenthere,whateveritmaybe.

TheIBhadasinisterreputationintheKashmirimind.PartofitwasbecausesinceIndependence,theIBhadbasicallybeenrunningKashmir,advisingthehomeministryandreporting

directlytotheprimeministeronwhateverhappenedthere.NehruwasparticularlykeenbecausehewasethnicallyaKashmiri,andKashmirhadbecomeadisputewithPakistanintheUnitedNations.B.N.MullikwasquiteactiveinKashmir,andhementionedasmuchinhismemoir,hintingthathehadasignificantroletoplayinthe1964recoveryoftheMoi-e-Muqqadas(therewereriotsin

Kashmirwhentherelicdisappeared).

IfanyoneinKashmirhadtoabuseapoliticalopponent,theywouldcallhimanIBagent.

TheAbdullahfamilyalsofeltthatalotoftheirproblemswereduetoKashmiriPandits,whohelddisproportionatelypowerfulpositionsinthegovernmentunderNehruandIndiraGandhi;theAbdullahsfelt

thatKashmiriPanditscarriedlotsoftalesbacktoDelhi,andwerethushighlyuntrustworthy.TheIB,inJ&K,hadafairamountofKashmiriPandits.OneshouldnotforgetthatwhenSheikhAbdullahwasarrestedaconspiracycasewasfiledagainsthim.ItwasputtogetherbytheIB.Itwentonforanumberofyearsbutnothingcameofit.Thus,therewasafeelingthatthese

IBguyswereuptonogood.SheikhSahebevensaidonce,Iwillseetoitthattheseguysarepackedofffromhere.

InmyrelationshipwithFarooqIthinktherewasadistrusttobeginwithofDelhiandoftheIntelligenceBureau.Overtime,hefiguredthattheIBwasokayandthathecoulddealwithit;hisrelationshipwithmealsoevolvednaturallyanditwasfairlygoodthoughIcouldn’t

claimthatFarooqwasabuddyofmine.Therewasacertainamountofrespect;IsawapositivesideofFarooqeventhoughalotofpeoplewerehighlycriticalofhim,allthetime.ButthewayIsawithewasaleaderofsomestanding,andwithoutFarooq,therewasnoNationalConference.

ButnotlongafterItookover,thefirstincidentthatdefinedthemodernerain

Kashmirimilitancyhappened,on31July1988,whenabombwentoffattheSrinagarClub,nexttotheAmarSinghclub.ThoughFarooqalwayswantedtoknowfromuswhatwasgoingon,healwaysknewwhatwasgoingon;hehadnumeroussourcesofinformation,whichisnotsurprisingconsideringhowdominanthisparty,theNationalConference,wasintheValleyforallthoseyears.

Andnotlongbeforethisincident,FarooqtoldapublicmeetinginAnantnagthatKashmirisneededtobecarefulasthingsweregettingbad.Hesaidsomethingnear100militantshadinfiltratedintotheValley.

ImmediatelyDelhiprickedupitsearsandaskedme,wherehasyourchiefministergotthesefiguresfrom?SoIaskedFarooq:‘Sir,youmentionedthat100

militantshavecomein.’‘DidI?’washisresponse.

‘Sowhat?’‘Sir,’Isaid,‘Delhi’s

asking.’‘Soletthemask,’hesaid.Iwenttothechief

secretary,MoosaRaza.Asitwas,Moosa’stimewithFarooqwasexcitingbecausehejustdidn’tunderstandFarooqanddidn’tknowwhattomakeofhim.

‘Sir,’IsaidtoMoosa

Raza,‘CMhassaidthereare100militantsherebutwedon’thaveanysuchinformationandnowhe’ssaidthisandDelhi’sgettingallexcited.’

‘Don’tworry,’Moosasaid,lookingworried.‘Iknowhesaysthesethingsandweoftenhavetolatercontradicthim.WhatI’lldoisthatfromnowonI’llgivehimsomepointsfromwhichtospeakortorefer.’

ThenexttimeFarooqhadapublicmeeting,Moosawentalongandgavehischiefministerapieceofpaperwithfiveorsixpointswrittendown.Farooqputtheslipinhispocketandbeganspeaking.Afterawhile,Farooqwasbacktosayingwhateverhefeltlikesaying;soMoosa,whowassittinginthefrontrow,franticallybegantopointwithonefingertohispocket,gesturingthat

thechiefministershouldreachintohisownpocketandpulltheslipout.FarooqlookedatMoosaandMoosa’sfinger.Hethencontinuedwithouteverreferringtothatslipofpaper.AsImentioned,Farooqneverlikedbeingtoldwhattodo.

DuringthoseyearsinSrinagarwhenIgottoknowFarooq,Isawthathewasnotnon-serious,asmanypeopleclaimed.Thefactofthe

matterwasthathedidnotsufferfoolsandhedidnotwastetimeonfools.Also,hedidnotlikenegativity.Whenmilitancywashottingup,thepolicechief,JeelaniPandit,gotonFarooq’snervesbecausehewouldeverydaygotohischiefministerwithalistofbadnews,ofterroristincidents.Farooqwantedtohearaboutmilitantsgettingcaughtoraboutapoliceplantocombatmilitancy.So

JeelaniPanditgotthesackandwasreplacedbyJ.N.Saxena,whohadbeenmypredecessorK.P.Singh’spredecessorinSrinagar.

TheotherthingwasthattherewasnohypocrisyaboutFarooq.Earlyon,aftermyfirstfewinteractions,Iwantedtocallonhim.‘Whatisthis“callonyou”?’hesaid.‘Comehomeandhavedinner.’

Therewasoneother

couplethereandassoonaswesatdownFarooqsaid,‘Willyouhaveadrink?’

‘Sir,’Isaid.‘IfyouhaveadrinkthenI’llhaveadrink.’

‘OfcourseI’llhaveadrink,’hesaid.

IwasonceaskedthatsinceIknewsomanyKashmiris,couldIsayhowmanylikedtohaveadrink?IrepliedthatIcouldsaywholikedhisdrink,butIcouldn’tsaywhodidn’t.That’show

theKashmiriis.Andthat’showFarooqis:helovesdoingeverythingandpeopletalkingaboutit.Hedoesnothidewhoheis.Beingadoctorhewasalwayscarefulabouthishealthandhisdrinkingwasrestrictedtoentertainmentwithfriends.

Farooqwasalsoverymuchafamilyman.IjoinedinMay1988andinMarchmywifeandIhadtosendourdaughterofftoboarding

schoolsincetherewasnoplacetosendhertoschoolinSrinagar.ShewenttoSanawar,whereFarooq’ssonOmarwastheheadboy.Thefounders’dayattheLawrenceSchoolisearlyOctoberandFarooqaskedmeifIwasgoing.Ihadplannedontakingleavetodoso,soFarooqsaid,‘Comewithmeandtellyourdepartmentthatyou’rekeepingawatchonthechiefminister.’OfcourseI

didn’ttakehimuponhisoffer.

HiswifeMolliewasverymuchapartofthingsanddespiteallthetalkofhiswomanising,sheputupprettywellwithhim.Shewastotallyapoliticalandstayedinthebackground,busyingherselfinworkatthenearbyhospitalonGupkarRoad.Shewascivilisedandthoughshenevertookinterestinpolitics,ifsheneededtoaccompany

thechiefministersomewhere,shewould.Nodoubtsheenjoyedbeingthechiefminister’swife,butsheleftSrinagarin1990whenthingswentoutofcontrol.Ithadbecometoomuchforherandshetoldherhusbandthatitwasnoplacefortheirgirlstogotoschool.(OmarwasalreadyincollegeinBombay.)FirstshespentsometimeinDelhi,athermother-in-law’shousein

SafdarjungLane;thensheleftforEngland.

AfterRubaiya’skidnapping,Farooqrepeatedlytoldthenewprimeminister,V.P.Singh,thathewouldresignthemomentJagmohanwasbroughtbackasgovernor.TheBJP,whichalongwiththeLeftsupportedtheNationalFrontgovernmentfromoutside,wasdemandingthedeploymentofJagmohanto

combatthemilitancy,whichhadgoneoutofcontrol.FarooqobviouslyhadbittermemoriesofJagmohan,whohaddismissedhimin1984andhadGulShahinstalledinhisplace.‘AnybodybutJagmohan,’Farooqtoldtheprimeminister.RailwaysMinisterGeorgeFernandesassuredFarooqthatitwouldn’thappen,butintheendneitherhenorV.P.SinghcouldstopMufti,ArunNehru

andJagmohanfromhavingtheirway,andtruetohisword,Farooqresigned.

IwasjettisonedthenfromSrinagarinMarch1990,nearlytwomonthsafterFarooqquit,becausethegovernorthoughtIwasFarooq’smanandhomeministerMuftiMohammadSayeeddidnotdisagree.IttooktwomonthstoreplacemebecausethingsweresobadinKashmirthatIB

officerswerereluctanttobepostedinSrinagar.AsImentionedinchapterfour,R.C.Mehtatookuptheassignment,andwhenhereachedheaskedmeifIwouldintroducehimtotheformerchiefminister.

FarooqwasstillinSrinagar.Iranghimupandtoldhimthatmysuccessorhadarrived.‘You’releaving?’heasked.

‘Yes,sir.’

‘Oh,boy,’hesaid.Thosewerehisexactwords.

FarooqagreedthatIcouldbringR.C.overforteabutaskedmetocomeanhourearlier.Ididandfoundmyselfchattingwitharelaxedman,amanwhospokeinanabsolutelyopenway.Andhesaidsomethingtomethatwascrucialtounderstandinghispolitics.

‘I’mnotlikefather,’Farooqsaid.‘I’mnotgoingto

followmyfather’spolitics.’Itwasquiteanadmission

becauseSheikhSahebhadbeenthelastwordinKashmir.Buthehadalsospentdecadesimprisoned.‘Idon’tintendtospendtwenty-threeyearsinjail,’Farooqsaid.‘I’vefiguredoutthattoremaininpowerhereyouhavetobeontherightsideofDelhiandthat’swhatI’mgoingtodo.’

Thereitwasinanutshell:

thesimpleandstraightforwardpoliticsofFarooqAbdullah.

HethenthankedmeandsaiditwassadthatIwasgoing,thatitwasallapartofthejob.Frankly,Iwashappytogetoutoftherebecausemilitancyhadmadethestressunbearable.Iwasrelievedtobegoing.

TheironyisthatonceFarooqdecidedtoresignhegotafranticmessagefrom

RajivGandhi,conveyedbyRajeshPilot.RajivwantedtomeetFarooqbeforeheresigned,becausetheCongresspartydidnotwantFarooqtoresign.PilotcametoJammuandpickedupFarooqandflewhimtoDelhi,butFarooqstucktohisgunsandsaid,‘No,I’mresigning.’

Fromthatdayon,Farooq’sworthwentupmanytimesinRajiv’sestimation,

andRajivwasalwayssayingFarooq,Farooq,Farooq.InMarch1990,RajivwentwithDeputyPrimeMinisterDeviLalonanall-partydelegationvisittoKashmir,andtheCongresspresidenthadalottosayonthattrip.HetoldthemediathattherewasagreatmessinKashmir;thattheNationalFrontgovernmentdidnotknowwhatitwasupto;andthatitwasresponsibleforFarooq’sresignation.

Here’sanotherirony:themanwithakeyroleinFarooq’sresignationandJagmohan’sappointmentwasHomeMinisterMuftiSayeed.OnceV.P.Singh’sgovernmentfellinNovember1990,tillFarooqwasre-electedchiefministerin1996,Muftihadonlyonerefrain:thattherewasnoothersolutiontoKashmirbutFarooqAbdullah.Irememberatleastsixoccasionson

whichhesaidthis,allreportedbythemedia.

FarooqwenttoEnglandandwouldcometoDelhiwhenhethoughtthatsomethingwasgoingtohappen.ButhewasmostlyabroadandImethimonce,in1993,athisSussexhome.Intheearly1990s,infact,therewereonlythreeconstantvisitorstoFarooqatSafdarjungLane.OnewasShiaclericandCongress

leaderMoulviIftikharHussainAnsari(theothertwowereaprofessoratJawaharlalNehruUniversityinDelhinamedRiyazPunjabi,andA.S.Dulat).LikeAbdulGhaniLone,IftikharhadbeenwiththePeople’sConferenceanddoneabitofparty-hopping.AsKashmir’stopShialeaderhehadextensivecontactswiththeIranians,whogavehimalotofrespect.His

cousin,AbbasAnsari,wouldlaterbeoneofthestalwartsoftheAllPartiesHurriyatConference.

Inthoselonelydaysoftheearly1990swhennoonewouldevenvisitFarooq,IftikharwasclosertohimthanevenFarooq’sfellowpartymen.AsamainstreamleaderIftikharwasthemostoutspokenagainsttheseparatistsandwouldrepeatedlytellme,‘Whyare

youwastingyourtimeonthesefellows,yehkissikaamkenahin.’Onthis,hisandFarooq’sthinkingmatched,exceptthatFarooqunderstoodDelhi’scompulsioninreachingouttoseparatistsandwasfinewithit—solongasitdidn’tcompromisehim.Iftikhar,ontheotherhand,wasmuchmoresuspiciousofourhobnobbingwithseparatists.

Asmentioned,Iftikhar

wasclosertoFarooqatthetimethaneventheNationalConferencepeople,becausetheNCleadershadallbutdisappearedduetomilitancyandthethreattotheirlives.(Severalwerekilled.)WithFarooqawayfromthescenethepartywashollow.Forallthetalkofitbeingacadre-basedpartyspreadalloverthestate,itwasnothingwithoutFarooq.Itwasdemoralised,andtheonly

personflyingthepartyflaginSrinagar,besidesFarooqAbdullahonGupkarRoad,wasSyedAkhoonfromBudgam.Otherwise,therewasnoNC.TherewasonlyFarooq.

WeweretryingtogettheNCbackinbusinessintheearly1990s,tellingitsleadersthatitwashightimetheycameoutofhibernationandbegangettingpoliticallyinvolved.Thiswas

particularlysoin1994and’95,whenseparatistslikeShabirShahandYasinMalikwerereleasedandtalkingpeaceandDelhiwastalkingpolitics.TheNCleaderswouldalwaysrespond:‘Yougetourleaderbackandthenwe’lltalkpolitics.’

BythenFarooqalsogotwindthatchangewasintheairandthathewasneededinDelhi,sohecamebackandstayedinsteadofreturningto

England.Thereisatellinganecdote

thatconcernsaLondon-basedKashmirinamedDrSirajShah,directorofahumanrightsgroupcalledKashmirWatch.Severalexpatriatesweregettinginvolvedin1993–94andtryingtogetthingsresolvedinKashmir.LikeNarasimhaRao,DrSirajwasalsohookedonShabirShah,believinghimtobetheultimatesolutiontoKashmir.

PerhapshehadheardontheKashmiris’networkthatthegovernmentofIndiawasmoreinterestedinShabir.

SoDrSirajmetShabirafewtimes,andthenonedayapproachedmeandsaid,‘I’vehadenoughofhim.’HehadbecomedisillusionedwithShabirandthoughttheseparatisttobeawasteoftimeandmoney.‘CanyouintroducemetoDrFarooqAbdullahinstead?’DrSiraj

askedme.Thethreeofushad

breakfasttogetherandDrSirajcameawayimpressedwithFarooq.‘ThisistherightmanforKashmir,’hesaidtome.‘Whyareyouwastingyourtimeontheseotheridiots?’headded,inreferencetotheseparatists.

DrSirajsaidevenhewantedtocomebacktoKashmir.‘Whenareelectionsgoingtobeheld?’heasked.

‘Doc,youwon’tfitinhere,’Isaid.

‘No,I’mfamiliarwithSrinagar,’hesaid.‘I’velivedthereallmylife.’

‘WhataboutyourEuropeanwife?’

‘ShecanstayinLondon,’DrSirajsaid,withoutmissingabeat.NowI’mtoldhedumpedherandmarriedanEnglishgirl.

ThepointwasthatKashmirisofallhues,

whetherabroadorhere,foundFarooqindispensabletoKashmir.Indeed,tillFarooqreturnedin1995andrevivedhisparty,therewasnopoliticalmainstreaminKashmir.WhichiswhyIrshadMalik—themilitantwhomIwishIhadbroughtbacktoIndiawhenIwasR&AWchiefandwhoisnowinLondon—saidthatthe1996assemblyelectionwasamasterstroke,becauseit

revivedthepoliticalprocessandbrokethebackofmilitancy.ItcouldonlyrevivethepoliticalprocessbecauseFarooqjumpedintothefray,whichhehadreservationsaboutrighttillthelastmoment;infact,hedidnotparticipateinthe1996LokSabhaelectioninJune,becausetheNChadnotmadeupitsmindabouttakingpart.AlotofeffortwentintopersuadingFarooqtoagreeto

taketheplunge.Farooq’sparty,ofcourse,

wontheassemblyelectionandwasinvitedtoformthegovernment.Aweekbeforetheswearing-inhewasbusymusteringhistroopsandwemetforlunchattheTaj.‘DoctorSaheb,’Isaid.‘I’mtoldthatin1983whenyouformedyourfirstgovernmentyouhadonlyahandfulofministersanditmadeahugeimpact.Whynotdothat

again,keepthecabinetsmall,andafterwardsyoucanexpandit?’Heagreed.

Theswearing-inceremonywasheldintheSher-e-KashmirauditoriumandwasattendedbytheCongresspresident,SitaramKesri,alongwithotheroppositionleaders.Ialsowent,andItookalongmyIBcolleagueAjitDoval,whowasbeingpostedinSrinagarandwhomIwantedto

introducetothenewchiefminister.Itwasamovingceremony.Whilehewasbeingswornin,theaudiencestoodupandgavehimastandingovation.Hebecameemotional.Hewasonstageandhebegancallingpeopleonstage,‘tumbhiaajao’,andintheendaroundtwentyfellowsgotswornin.

Amongthemwasonenon-NCmember:IftikharAnsari,whowasinthe

Congressparty.Duringtheceremony,FarooqaskedKesri:‘Inkohamaresaathaanedijiye.’SuchwasthegoodwillthatKesriimmediatelyagreed,andsaid,‘InkoNationalConferencemeinlelijiye.’

AnotherironyisthatFarooqandIftikharpartedcompanyovercasesofcorruptionthatwerelodgedagainstIftikhar;thecasesinvolvedascaminthe

cleaningoftheDalLake.Thetwofoughtagainsteachotherintheparliamentaryelectionof2009,andinhiscampaign,Farooqtookafewcracksathisformerfriend.‘ThankfullyIftikharisnotawomanoryoucanimaginethenumberofhusbandshewouldhavehad,’Farooqsaidonthecampaigntrail,lampooningIftikhar’spastparty-hopping.

IftikharpassedawayinSeptember2014,whilethis

bookwasbeingwritten.IwenttoseehiminMay;hehadbeensufferingfromcancerandhadgonetotheUSfortreatment.‘Yourfriendisgoingtolose,’hesaid.

‘Heisyourfriendtoo,’Isaid.

‘Thatheis,Iacknowledge,’Iftikharsaid.‘Buthedoesn’t.’

‘Areyouseriousabouthislosing?’

‘Hewilllose,’Iftikharsaid.‘Butevenso,Farooq’splaceinhistoryisassured.’

WhenFarooqreturnedtopower,H.D.DeveGowdawastheprimeministerandFarooqwasmostcomfortablewithhim.TherewasnomeddlinginJ&K’saffairsandthatwasthebestthingfromFarooq’spointofview.TherewasnopanicinDelhiwhenFarooq’sgovernmentsetuptheStateAutonomy

CommitteebecauseforsomebodylikeDeveGowda,whocamefromastate,andwhosegovernmentwasaUnitedFrontofregionalparties,discussinghowtoexpandastate’sautonomywasthemostnaturalthingintheworld.

ThosewerealsothebestyearsIhadwithFarooq.IthadtodowiththefactthatwhenIreturnedtotheIBheadquartersin1990,the

normalcourseofthingswouldhavebeentogoontootherassignments.Istartedonthattrack,butthankstomyDIBs,JoshiandNarayanan,IheadedtheKashmirgroupforeightyears,tillIjoinedR&AW.PerhapsFarooqfeltthatunlikeotherofficialsIwasn’taguywhohaddisappearedfromthescene.Wewouldthusmeetoften,eitherwhenhewasinDelhiorwhenI

wenttoSrinagar,andhadmanyadrinktogether.Thosewerethedayshereliedonme.

OnceFarooqcomplainedthathewasbeingpressuredbyDelhitogetanoutsideraschiefsecretary,andthattheUnionhomesecretary,K.Padmanabhaiah,hadhandedhimaslipofpaperwithseveralnamesonit.OneofthenameswasofafellowwholikePadmanabhaiahwas

aMaharashtracadreIASofficer.IaskedFarooq,‘Sir,whatisthis,doyouwantanoutsider?’FarooqadmittedthathewantedtheJ&KcadreIASofficerTony(Ashok)Jaitley,soItoreuptheslipandsaidgethimonly.

ThenTonycametoDelhiandmetmeattheIndiaInternationalCentreoneday.Whydon’tyoucomedowntoKashmir,thebosswouldlikeyouthereasDG,hesaid.I

wasn’tinterestedbecauseIhaddonemystintinKashmirandIwasn’treallyapoliceman’spoliceman.‘I’mbasicallyanintelligenceman,’ItoldTony.‘Idon’tknowiftheforcetherewillacceptme.’SoIdidn’tgobutitdidn’tmatter.FarooqandIhadarelationshipthatwheneverhehadaproblem,hewouldturntome.Itmademanypeopleuncomfortable.Soonafterhetookoveras

CM,Farooqwantedachangeofhispolicechief.‘Whywouldyouwantanoutsider?’Ienquired.‘Sabharwalknowstheforceandtheyarecomfortablewithhim.’‘Maybe,’hesaid,‘ButIamnot.Pleasegetmeanewchief.’SoIsuggestedGurbachanJagat,a1966Punjabcadreofficerwithalltheexperienceofdealingwithterrorism.JagatmadeanoutstandingDGandwent

placesafterthat,endingupasgovernorinManipur.Farooqsupportedhimateverystep.

Duringthistimehealsohelpedmewithmygolfgame.IhadlearnedgolfinSrinagar,fromanoldproattheoldcourseonMaulanaAzadRoad,whichwasburntdownduringmilitancy.ThegolfclubwasaplaceforgreatkebabsandIalsoknewacoupleofpeopleintheairforceandinthearmywho

werekeenongolfandwhogotmetolearn.

AfterFarooqreturnedaschiefministerin1996Iwouldplaywithhim.Ofcoursehe’sa4or5handicapwhereasIhadahandicapof24orso.Ineverluggedagolfsetupthere,hehadthree-foursetslyingathomeandwouldgivemeone.Farooqlovedhisgolfandanytimehecouldsqueezeouthewouldbeonthegolfcourse.He

usedtoteachme,sayingthisiswhatyou’redoingwrong,thisiswhatyou’resupposedtodo.IusedtotellhimIwasspoilinghisgame,buthewaspatient.HewasagoodteacherandIpickedupafewthingsfromhim.

Anditwasinthosedaysthatoneday,FarooqandIweresittingtogetheronaflightfromJammutoDelhi,withhisprincipalsecretary,B.R.Singh,sittingbehindus.

FarooqsuddenlyturnedaroundandtoldSinghthatonlyonethingremainedonhisagenda,andthatwastogetDulattotheRajBhavanasgovernor.Ilaughed.Thatwillneverhappen,Itoldhim.Thisstorywastoberepeatedmanytimesandmyresponsealwayswasthesame:itwon’thappen.AndforonceFarooqwaswrongandIwasright.

Inevitably,theUnitedFrontgovernmentfellandthe

BJP-ledNDAcametopower.SoniaGandhihadtakenovertheCongresswiththedepartureofSitaramKesri,andthoughFarooqhadneverquitebeenbuddieswithRajiv,withSoniatheequationwasabsolutelynon-existent.WhenshepulleddownVajpayee’sone-year-oldgovernmentin1999,Farooqdidnotsidewithher.

FarooqwasdeterminednottogowiththeCongress

andhewasreadytogowiththeBJPbecausehewasprobablythinkingaheadtothe2002election,andinhisthinkingtheBJPattheCentreduringtheelectionwaspreferabletohavingtheCongressinpowerinDelhi.HethoughttheBJPwasalesserevil.OntopofwhichwasthelackofequationwithSonia.Whilehewaschiefminister,onatleastfouroccasionswhenhecame

visitingDelhiandImethimatJ&KHouse,Iwouldsay,‘YoucometoDelhitomeeteverybody,butwhydon’tyoumeetmadam?’

Hisreactionwasusually,‘WhyshouldI?’

ButsidingwiththeBJPdidnothelpFarooq.Vajpayeewantedtoswitchbetweenfatherandson;OmarhadbeenpamperedbyDelhiandVajpayeethoughthewasjustripetogotoKashmiras

chiefminister.ItwouldbeagoodtimetogetFarooqout.

Farooqwasgivenalollipop:thathewouldbecometheVice-PresidentofIndia.Theprimeministertoldhimso.Thehomeministertoldhimso.BrajeshMishratoldhimso,atmyhouse:‘DoctorSaheb,whydon’tyoucometoDelhi?’

AroundMay,however,thewhisperinginDelhibegan.Farooqasvice-

president?He’snotserious!Wedon’tknowifhewillsitintheRajyaSabha.Talkwentaround.And,mostsignificantly,theRSSdidnotapproveofFarooqAbdullah.

InearlyMayIwasinSrinagarandreceivedamessagethatthechiefministerwantedtomeetme.Thetimegivenwas11:00andItookitforgrantedthatIhadbeencalledhome,butthenIwastold,‘No,Sahebne

officebulayahain,’whichisveryunlikeFarooq.Iwenttotheofficeandhesatmeacrossthedeskandsaid:‘Doyoubelievethattheseguyswillmakemevice-president?’

‘Whynot?’Iasked.‘Idon’tbelieveit,that’s

whyI’maskingyou.’‘Whatdoyoubelieve?’I

asked.‘Sir,you’vespokentothehomeministeraboutthis,haven’tyou?’

Farooqsaidyes.‘You’vespokentothe

primeministeraboutthis?’‘Yes.’‘Ifbothhavegivenyou

theirwordthenyouwillbethenextvice-president,’Isaid.

‘ButIdon’ttrustthem,’Farooqsaid.‘Idon’ttrustDelhi.’

ThemomentKrishanKantwasoutandAlexanderin,Farooq’sfearswere

confirmed.‘Theycan’tbothbeminorities,’hereasonedaboutthetwoconstitutionalposts.

Hewasprovedright.DrKalamoutofthebluebecamepresidentandFarooqhadtobeditched.TheNDAleadershiphadobviouslysaidtoFarooqwhatevertheyhadsaid,buttheywerenotsincereaboutwhattheysaid,anditdidnotbotheranyofthemtogobackontheir

word.Farooqwasditchedandthatwasthat.

ThatwastheendofFarooqAbdullah.

LaterthatyearhispartylostpowerinJ&Kandwhenitdidreturntopower,Omarwasleadingthegovernment.ForFarooq,however,2002provedaterribleyear.Hedidnotgetthevice-presidentship;thentherewasalotoftalkthathewouldbetakenintothecabinetasa

Unionminister.Aftertheelections,Iaskedhim,‘Whathappened,whydidyourefuseaministershiphere?’

‘Whichministership?’heasked.

‘Weren’tyouofferedaministership?’

‘Whatrubbish,’hesaid.‘Nobody’sofferedmeanything.Butnowthatyouaretalkingofministership,atleastgetmeahouse.Idon’tevenhaveahouseinDelhi.’

Eventhathedidnotget.OmarhadbeenallottedahouseonAkbarRoad—whereVajpayeeandhisfamilyhadoncehaddinner—soFarooqwastold:yoursonhasahouse,whydoyouneedone?

Notsurprisingly,Farooqwascutupatthatpointoftime.HewasdisgustedandhemighthavethoughtIwasapartoftheconspiracybutnevershowedit,thoughhe

mighthavehelditagainstme.IknowthatIwasabsolutelytakenbysurprise.

Bynow,thestorywithFarooqisprettymuchover.Bythetimethe2014assemblyelectionsweretobeannouncedhishealthwasnotgoodandhewasinLondonforakidneytransplant.WhilehewasaministerintheUPAgovernment,hewentonrecordinaninterviewtojournalistSaeedNaqviand

saidoutright,‘Delhidoesn’ttrustus.’Imagine,aministeroftheUnionsayingthat—inDelhi.

DelhihaswastedFarooq.Forinstance:PervezMusharrafwasonceinvitedtooneoftheDelhimedia’sconclavesafterhesteppeddownfrompower,andFarooqwasthere.FarooqwentuptoMusharraf,offeredhishandandsaid:‘MujheFarooqAbdullahkehtehain.’

ThepointhereisthatFarooqisoneKashmirileaderwhomthePakistanisarewaryof,andwhomtheywouldneverapproachdirectly.IfthePakistaniscouldbuyeverybodyintheValley,theonepersontheywouldstillbeunsureofwouldbeFarooqAbdullah.PakistannevermessedwithSheikhAbdullahafter1975becausehewastoobig.Farooqwasnotonlybigbutunpredictable,something

whichevenDelhineverunderstood.

Since1997,theSindhuDarshanfestivalhasbeencelebratedannuallyinLeh;itisafestivalthatL.K.AdvaniworkedhardtobringintoexistencetoworshiptheIndusriver.On1June2000,itwascelebratedwithgreatpompandevenVajpayeecamefortheinauguration.Ofthethreepeoplewhospokeonthatoccasion—Vajpayee,

AdvaniandFarooq—Farooqwaseasilythebestorator.Farooq,incidentally,hasalsobeentotheVaishnoDevitemplenearJammu.AndwheneverhelandsupatculturalfunctionsinKashmir,heissuretosingafewghazals—andbhajans.

YetwhenitcomestotheRepublicDayandIndependenceDayawardsandhonours,Farooqhasneverfigured.Hehasn’teven

gotaPadmaShri,whereasoneoftheIkhwanis—thecounter-insurgentswhoarenotmuchconsideredheroesinKashmir—receivedaPadmaShriafewyearsback.It’ssimple,someonerecommendedit,theIkhwanigotit.Peoplelaughed.

ThereweretimeswhenSheikhAbdullah’snamewasrecommendedforaposthumousBharatRatna,buthewasturneddown.

FarooqshouldhaveatleastbeengivenaPadmaVibhushanbynow.He’snotevenconsideredforagovernorshiporanambassadorialassignment.

FarooqisthetallestandmostmeaningfulKashmirileader.Hisnationalisticandsecularcredentialscanneverbedoubted.HewasthefirstchiefministertoadoptthePreventionofTerrorismAct(POTA),whichsomepeople

inIndiasayisalawthathasbeenmisuseddisproportionatelyagainstMuslims—andFarooqadopteditdespitebeingthechiefministerofIndia’sonlyMuslim-majoritystate.YettheUPAdidnotevenconsulthimonKashmireventhoughhewasamemberofthecabinet.ItisnotsurprisingthathewentonrecordtosaythatDelhididnottrustKashmiris.Itisnotsurprising

thathefeltbitterwhenbetrayedoverbeingmadetheVice-PresidentofIndia.Andthisfeelingofbetrayalwouldcarryovertothe2002assemblyelection,whenhelostpowerandsuspectedittobeaconspiracyofthegovernmentofIndia.

13

WARANDPEACE

BetweentheautonomyresolutionintheJ&Kassemblyandthevice-presidentialelectioninAugust2002,severalevents

happenedwhichhadtheirroleinVajpayee’smasterplanforcuttingtheIndia–Kashmir–PakistanGordianknot:the2001Agrasummit,the9/11attacksonAmerica,andtheattackonourownParliamentandIndia’ssubsequentmilitarymobilisationalongthewesternborder.Afterthisseriesofeventscoincidentallycamethe2002J&Kassemblyelection,whichwouldprove

tobeanothermilestone.VajpayeeandBrajesh

MishrahadtaskedmewithoverseeingacompletelyfreeandfairJ&Kassemblyelection,ifpossiblewiththeparticipationofseparatists.Ihadbeentalkingtotheseparatistsindividually,someforyears,somelikeAbdulGhaniLoneasrecentlyasduringmytenureatR&AW.TheonlyseparatistIneverspoketowasSyedAliShah

Geelani,whowasintouchwithanaideofmine.GettingthemintotheelectoralprocesswasanothermatteraltogetherbecausetheyweresotightlycontrolledbyPakistan—rememberthatwhenLonebeganmakingreasonablenoiseshewasshotdead—butthebriefhadbeengiven,soIgotonthejob.

Iusedtheopportunityofapubliclecturetomakethecaseforinvolving‘more

people’—awayofsayingthoseoutsidethemainstream,namelytheseparatists—andthecaseforcontinuingtalking.InFebruary2001IwenttoJammutodelivertheAmarKapoormemoriallecture.KapoorwasanIPSofficeroftheJ&Kcadreandfromthe1964batch,ayearseniortome,andasmentionedearlier,apalofLone’swhogotalongequallywellwithFarooq.Hewasan

amiablepersonandhadearlierservedwithusintheIB.Hehadbeentheadditionaldirector-generalofpolicefouryearsearlierwhenhediedsuddenlyofaheartattack;thislecturewasinstitutedinhismemory.IwasstillinR&AWwhenIacceptedaninvitationtodeliverthelecture,whichwascalled‘Kashmir,thewayforward’.

GovernorGarySaxena

wasaformerR&AWchiefandheinsistedIstayatRajBhavan.ThisisthetimethatonthewaytothelectureIwenttothechiefminister’sresidence,becauseFarooqwaspresidingoverthefunction,andIunsuccessfullypleadedthatformermilitantFirdousSyedbegivenanothertermasamemberofthelegislativecouncil.

ThelecturealsodidnotgodownwellwithFarooq

andtheNationalConference,becauseItalkedaboutdialogueandinvolvingtheseparatists.TheNCwasalwayswaryofDelhitryingtoreplacethembyseparatists.TheconcernthatNarasimhaRaowasactivelycourtingShabirShahmighthavebeenoneofthefactorsthattiltedthescalesforFarooqtoparticipateinthe1996assemblyelection.OurdialoguewithLone,as

mentionedearlier,alsomadeFarooqanxiousbeforethe2002election.

ImadementionofLoneandhisstatementsduringhisrecentvisittoPakistanforhisson’sweddingandonhisreturn;LonehadrealisedthefutilityofthegunandtheruinitcouldbringtoKashmir.Ireferredtohimas‘LoneSaheb’.

Thus,afewNCpeopledidnotstayforteathough

theydidnotgosofarastostageawalkoutduringthelecture.Theywerenothappy.‘YehLonekabLoneSahebbangaye?’oneoftheNCfellowsaskedme.

‘Itwasonlyoutofrespectforage,’Isaid.‘He’solderthanme.’

GarySaxenareadaboutitinthepapersthenextday.Heunderstoodwhatwasgoingonandhecomplimentedme.‘Tumacchabole,’hesaid.

‘Barabalancekarke.’Farooqwasnothappy,thoughIdidcomplimenthimwhilehesatonthedais.

Ifadialogueprocesswithseparatistshadbegunthenthegovernmentwantedapoliticalfacetotheprocess,inthewaythatRajeshPilotwasthefaceinNarasimhaRao’stime.TheNDAthusappointedthedeputychairmanofthePlanningCommission,K.C.Pant,asits

politicalinterlocutorforKashmirinApril2001.PantwasaseniorpoliticianwhohadspenthislifeintheCongressandwascreditedwithsuccessfulnegotiationswithTelanganaagitatorsinthe1970s.HeimmediatelysaidhewantedtomeettheHurriyat.

TheHurriyat,however,turnedhimdown.Thereasonwhichmoderateleadershavereiteratedfromtimetotime

astheoccasionwarrantsisthattheywanttodealdirectlywiththePMO.AtthetimeProf.AbdulGhaniBhat,amemberoftheMuslimConference(whichwasthepartythatSheikhAbdullahstartedbeforehechangedittothemoresecularNationalConference;itthenbecamethepremierpartyofPoK,ledbySardarQayoom)andaHurriyatexecutivemember,saidhewouldnotmeetPant

unlessanagendaforthemeetingwasmadeclearandsomethingwasgiveninwriting.

SomebrightsparkinthegovernmentimmediatelyputanadoutinthenewspapersinKashmirsayingPanthadbeenappointedinterlocutorandthateverybodywhowantedtotalktohimcouldmeethim.ThiselicitedmanysniggersintheValley,andtheHurriyatsaidnothanks.

Panthadalreadysethisvisitfor28May2001,andheaskedmetoarrangesomemeetingforhim.SoIcalledupmyoldfriendShabirShahandsaid,‘AaptohmiloPantSahebse,youarethemainplayerhereandthebiggestleader,soyoumustmeethim.’

Anyonegettinganegomassagelikethatwouldimmediatelysayyes,andShabirwasnodifferent,but

hesetacondition:‘Iwillmeethim,buthewillhavetocometomyhouse.’

ItoldPantandhesaid,‘Wohkaisehoga?’

‘Gaadimeinjayengeaap,ussemilenge,aisehihoga,’Isaid.WhichiswhatPantdid—hewentinacarandShabirspentsometimewithhim,sohisvisitwasn’tatotalwashout.Pantthensaidtome,‘NowyoumustgethimtoDelhitocometomy

place.’‘Yes,’Isaid.‘We’lldo

that.’ShabirdidcometoDelhi

andtoPant’splace,withalotofTVcamerasintow.Butthatwastheendofthat.

AyearlaterPantwassidelinedinAugust2002bytheformationofaKashmirCommitteeontheinitiativeofeminentjuristandpoliticalmaverickRamJethmalani,butthattoowentnowhereas

theHurriyatrefusedtoformallymeetthecommitteebecauseitwasnotsponsoredbythegovernment.Thiscommitteehungaroundtill2004butinanycasewasmaderedundantwheninFebruary2003formerbureaucratN.N.Vohrawasappointedtheinterlocutor.(ThoughtheHurriyatalsorefusedtomeethim,Vohrawasappointedgovernorwhenthepostopenedupin2008.)

Fortunatelythesix-monthrespitebetweeninterlocutorswaswhentheJ&Kassemblyelectiontookplace,inwhichobtainingbroad-basedparticipationwasmybrief.

Manythingshelpedcreatetheatmosphereforthe2002election,includingMajidDar’scomingbackfromPakistanandannouncingaceasefire,Vajpayee’sunilateralRamzancease-fireinNovember2000,andthe

2001Agrasummit.TheRamzanceasefire

lastedsixmonthsandwhenitcametoanendinMay2001theprimeministerexploredfollow-upmeasurestothissuccessfulinitiative.BothhisforeignministerJaswantSinghandhishomeministerL.K.Advanihavesaidintheirrespectivememoirs(ACalltoHonourandMyLife,MyCountry)thatthethreeofthemhadameetinginwhich

itwasdecidedtoputtheKargilmisadventureoftwosummersagobehindthemandinviteGen.PervezMusharrafover.Advanimadethissuggestion,hesays,followinghisinteractionswiththePakistanihighcommissionerhere,AshrafJehangirQazi.

Again,despiteAdvani’shardlineimage,hewastheonewhobroketheicewithQazi.Asthestorygoes,

followingtheKargilwar,PakistanwasinthedoghousehereinIndiaandthoughthehighcommissionerwentabouthisengagementshekeptalowerprofilethanusual.Atoneparticularfunction,AdvaniandQazicameface-to-faceandthehighcommissionerwasatalossoverhowtofacethehomeminister.HewasturningawaywhenAdvanisaid:‘Aapneudharmooh

kyonkarliya?’AndhemetQaziwithwarmth.

Thetwobegantomeet:veterantelevisionanchorKaranThaparsetupsecretmeetings(twentyofthem,accordingtoKaran)betweenAdvaniandthehighcommissioner.KaranThapar’sstorygoesbackto1998(aspublishedinhiscolumn‘SundaySentiments’inMarch2008.)Qazi,afriendofKaran’s,needed

someonetoestablishrapportwiththeNDAgovernment.KaranintroducedhimtoGeorgeFernandes,thendefenceminister,andthetwowouldmeetfordinneratKaran’splaceandbecamefriends.ButQaziwaskeentomeetAdvanisoGeorgesetitupandaskedKarantodriveQazitoAdvani’sresidenceinPandaraParklateonenight.KaranwaitedoutsidewhileQazimetAdvanifor90

minutes.OnthesecondoccasionKaranwasseenwaitingunderastreetlightbySudheendraKulkarni,thenVajpayee’sspeechwriter.WhenKulkarnisawKaranthelatterpasseditoffsayinghewaswaitingforafriendhavingdinnerattheAmbassadorHotel.Thereafter,Advani’sdaughterPratibhasuggestedthathewaitwiththem(herandMrsAdvani)whilethetwo‘A’s

met.Possiblynoonegotawhiffofthesemeetings.Alinkdeveloped,whichprovedusefulwhenVajpayeewasdecidingonthegovernment’snextmove,andwhetherornottoinviteGeneralMusharraf.Thefeedbackwasthatthegeneralwasequallykeentovisit,andsoaninvitationwasextendedforhimtocomeforasummitmeetinginAgrainJuly2001.Inpreparationforthe

meeting,GeneralMusharrafhadhimselfappointedpresidentinJune,sothathewasagenuineheadofstateandnotjust‘chiefexecutive’.

Thesummitdidnotproduceanything,andinfactPresidentMusharrafleftinahuff,withoutevenstoppingatAjmerShariftovisitthedargahashehadplanned.AshasbeenrecordedinnotjustJaswant’sandAdvani’smemoirs,butalsointhe

memoirsoftheforeignminister,AbdulSattar,andPresidentMusharrafhimself(Pakistan’sForeignPolicy,1947–2009:AConciseHistory,andIntheLineofFire),thestickingpointcameon15July,whenJaswantandSattarexchangeddraftsthattheotherhadproblemswith;basicallyMusharrafwantedtofocusonJammuandKashmir,whichVajpayeeandtherestofhisCabinet

CommitteeonSecurity(CCS),whomhehadtakenalongtoAgra,werewillingtodoprovidedtherewasequalfocusonterrorism—andthatdidnothappentooursatisfaction.Worse,ofcourse,wasMusharraf’sbelligerentpressconferencethenextmorning,whichprettymuchunilaterallydeclaredthesummitover.

Inhismemoir,Musharrafclaimsthathegaveanearful

toVajpayeeaboutsomeoneabovethetwoofthemwhocould‘overrule’and‘humiliate’themboth.Advanisaysthiswasanindirectreferencetohimself.Sattarinhismemoirfirstputstheblameonthe‘politicalaffairscommittee’,ashemistakenlycallstheCCS,andthenwritesthattheylaterheardthatitwasAdvaniwhotorpedoedthesummitbyrejectingafinaldraftthat

JaswanthadbroughttotheCCS.(Jaswanthimselfclaimsitwasacollectiverejection.)

Furthermore,MusharrafclaimsthatVajpayeesatthere‘speechless’listeningtohim.Obviously,MusharrafwascluelessaboutVajpayee’sways.Vajpayee’shabitwasnevertoutteraword,evenininternalmeetings,unlesshehadto;oftenitwaspuzzling.WhenIwastheR&AWchief,forinstance,therewere

manytimeswhenIspoketohimontheRAXphoneandthenwaitedalong,longtimeforaresponse,wonderingwhathadhappenedtotheoldfellow.AndJaswantinhismemoirsaysthatlaterheaskedtheprimeministerwhattranspiredinthefinalmeetingwithMusharraf,towhichtheprimeministersaidinHindithatnothinghadhappened:Musharrafkepttalkingandhekeptlistening.Musharrafthe

commandocouldnotfathomVajpayeetheChanakya.

IfAdvanihadtorpedoedthesummitbyvetoingthefinaldraft,theironywouldbethatithappenedduetoatacticalerrorbythePakistanis,whofocusedonpleasingonlytheprimeminister.Theybelievedhewastheirbestchanceatdiplomaticsuccess.PublicperceptionwasthatifthePakistaniswantedtodoany

businesshereithadtobeVajpayeeandnotAdvani—thehardliner.ThisispossiblywhyAgrafailed.HadtheykeptAdvaniingoodhumourthenperhapsitwouldnothavefailed.ThattheyignoredhimisironicconsideringthatQaziwasalmostafamilymemberinAdvani’shome,assomepeoplesay.

AninterestingstoryhaslatelyemergedfromMusharraf’svantagepoint.

Hehasapparentlytoldsomepeople,afterhelostpowerandfledPakistanforfirstDubaiandthenLondon,thatthemainculpritwasnotAdvani.ThevillainasheputitwasoneofJaswant’sjointsecretaries,VivekKatju.HewouldhavebeenassistingJaswantwhenthedraftstatementwasgoingbackandforth,proposinglanguagechangesthatwouldsatisfybothsides—asisthejobof

foreignministrymandarins.IfthePakistanisfeelhehadbeenintransigentinfindingcommongroundbeforeafinaldraftwassenttotheCCS,thenhowAdvanireactedbecomesamootpoint.WashethevillainthatPakistanismakehimouttobe?Whywouldhesabotagesomethingwhichwashisownbrainchild?AndwhydidHighCommissionerQazinotusehisfriendshipwith

Advaniratherthanputtingpressureontheprimeministerwho,accordingtoBrajeshMishra,foundhimselfalmostalone.QazicorroboratesBrajeshandprovidesgreaterinsightintowhathappenedinAgra.

AshrafQazitoldmeduringarecentvisittoDelhithatAdvaniwasthe‘architect’ofAgra.HesaidAdvaniwasawonderfulhumanbeingsolongasyou

panderedtohisvanity;hehimselfhadagreatrelationshipbecausehewasalwaysrespectfulofAdvani.Butheadded,theAdvaniofAgrawasverydifferentfromwhatheknewofhiminDelhibecausehehadsuddenlydevelopedallkindsofreservations.AccordingtoQazi,itallstartedbadlythepreviouseveningwhenAdvanicalledonMusharrafinRashtrapatiBhavanand

broughtupthematterofDawoodIbrahim.Qazisays,Musharrafwastakenabackandsaid,‘LetusatleastgettoAgra!’TheirchemistrynevertookoffandthiswastohaunttheAgrasummitthroughout.QazifeltthatMusharrafthegeneralcouldstillhavepulleditoffbutVajpayeethepoliticianfoundhimselfalonewithonlyJaswantSinghforsupport.AndQazisaidJaswantSingh

calledhimtwiceinAgratosaythatthedealwasdoneandyetitneverhappened.

PerhapsMusharrafregrettedthefactthathestormedoutofAgralikeanarmychiefanddidnotactlikethepresidenthehadbecomejustthepreviousmonth.Hemusthaveregretteditbecauseittookthreeyearstorestartthepeaceprocess.AsDrManmohanSinghsaidinhis

lastpressconferenceasprimeministerinJanuary2014,heandMusharrafnearlyclinchedadealonKashmirinlate2006orearly2007.Itwasawindowofopportunitywelost.SohadthefailureofAgranotstalledthingsforthreeyears,whoknowswhatmighthavebeenaccomplishedwhileVajpayeewasinoffice?

Intheenditputtoomuchpressureontheprime

ministerandoneenduringcriticismofVajpayeeisthathedidn’thavethegumptiontogothelastmiletogetsomethingthathereallywanted:apositiveconclusiontotheAgrasummit.AndwhentheteamreturnedfromAgra,therewashuge,palpabledisappointment.ThisisapointthatmostaccountsoftheAgrasummithaveskipped:thefeelingof‘soclose,yetsofar’sharedby

thetwooldmenrunningthegovernment.

‘Yaar,hote-hoterehgaya,’Brajeshsighedtome,shakinghisheadatthedonedealthatcameundone.‘Hogayatha,wohtoh.’

YettheAgrasummithaditspositivefalloutinKashmir,forwhenthingsaregoingpeacefullybetweenIndiaandPakistan,thenthatiswhentheKashmirifeelsmostoptimistic,andthis

helpedintherun-uptothe2002assemblyelection,becausethesummithelpedindiscussionswiththeseparatists.YoumayrecallfromtheLonechapterthatonhiswaytoAgra,MusharrafmettheHurriyat,andLonehadtoldhimthatKashmiriswereexhaustedandalsotiredofbeingkilled(thoughGeelanidisagreed).

TheattackonAmericaon11September2001alsohad

itseffectonKashmirandinpavingthewayforelections.Intheprocessthemilitancysufferedaseriesofsetbacks—firstwhenmilitantslikeFirdousandYasinMalikburntoutby1993or’94,thenwhenthepoliticalprocesswasrestoredbythe1996assemblyelection,andagainwhenPakistan’sKargilmisadventuredisillusionedthoseKashmirimilitantsstrandedinPakistan—then

9/11furtherclinchedthefactintheKashmirimindsthatnothingcouldbeexpectedfromPakistan.

Theeventsofthe9/11attackarewellknown.TheNDAgovernmentactedfastandopenlyexpressedsupport.Inastatement,theCabinetCommitteeonSecurityexpressedits‘greathorroratthiscrimethathasbeenperpetratedandhasoffereditsdeepest

condolencesandsympathytothepeople,governmentandthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica’.Thegovernmentfurthersaidthat‘terrorismisacrimeagainsthumanityandIndiaiscommittedtofightit’.ThefocusonterrorismwaswhatIndiahadwantedhighlightedattheAgrasummit,andnowitwasAmerica’sfocus.Kashmirwassuddenly,forthosearoundtheworldwho

hadsofarrefrainedfromseeingitso,aterrorismproblemaboveallelse.

Prof.Ghanitoldmethat9/11wasasoberingexperiencefortheKashmiris.‘Yehapnekonahinbachasakte,humeinkyabachayenge,’hesaid.Itwasquiteastatementforthemanwhousedtobethemostpro-PakistanoftheHurriyatleadersbyvirtueofbeingamemberofthePoKprime

minister’sparty.Immediatelyafterthe

attack,PresidentGeorgeW.BushfamouslygaveMusharrafachoice:‘You’reeitherwithus,oragainstus.’Forthemilitaryman,whosearmyhaddeeplinkswiththePentagon(andwhoseISIchiefwassittinginthePentagonwhenitwasattacked),thechoicewasano-brainer,eventhoughitwouldhaveserious

repercussionsinhiscountry,wheretherewasasectionofpeoplewithsympathyforthemanbehindthe9/11attack,OsamabinLaden.

‘WhocandependonPakistan?’Prof.Ghaniaskedme.‘Itcan’tlookafteritself,howwillitlookafterusKashmiris?NowthatMusharrafhasjoinedthewaronterror,PakistanisanAmericanstooge.Sohowwillithelpus?’

Ineffect,Prof.GhaniwasalsosayingthesamethingthatMajidDarsaidwhenhereturnedfromPakistan:thatthetapofterrorismcanbeturnedoffbyPakistananytime,andthatallthetaprequiredwasAmericanpressure.TherewasthusapartingofwaysbetweenKashmirisandPakistan:‘They’responsoringterrorismandalsofightingterrorism,’Prof.Ghanipointedout.‘It’s

acontradiction.’Thesetbackforuswas

the13December2001attackonourParliamentbyfiveterroristsoftheJaish-e-Mohammed,anoutfitformedbyMaulanaMasoodAzharafewmonthsafterhehadbeenreleasedbyIndiainexchangeforthehostagesofthehijackedflightIC-814.ItwasthefirsttimeeverthatsomeonehaddaredattackourParliamentanditwasn’tjust

anattackonanofficialbuilding,itwassymbolic.Astheysay,inademocracyParliamentissupreme.Itwasakintoanattackontheentirecountryanditspoliticalsystematonego.

OneofthePMOsecurityguardsrushedintomyroomwithnewsofthefiring.‘Sir,udhargolichalrahihai,MHAmeingolichalrahihai.’

Ididnottakehim

seriously.MHAwasjustacrosstheroad.‘Paagalhogayahaikya?’Iscoldedhim.‘Goandfindout.’

Momentslaterherushedbackinandsaid,‘Parliamentmeingolichalihain,attackhogayahain.’Hesaidwecouldhearitfromhere.

SoIopenedthewindowandIheardgunshots.

IbargedintoBrajeshMishra’sroomandsaid:‘Sir,Parliamentisunderattack.’

Iwasexpectingacommotionandactivity,buttheoldfellowwashavingasmokeandwatchingtheattackontelevision.‘Haan-haan,comeandsit,’hesaid.‘Watchit,it’sallhere.’

Iwastooexcitedtosit,sohereassuredme.‘Nobody’sgotteninside,’hesaid.‘They’realloutside.’

Hewasmonitoringtheattackfromhisroominamostcalmandcomposed

manner.Forme,itwasoneofthoseraredaysthatIdidnotgohomeforlunch.Butatquartertotwo,aswashispractice,BrajeshMishraleftthebuilding,thoughonthisparticulardayhewentto7RCR,whereat3p.m.theprimeministerwouldaddressthenation:‘Nowthebattleagainstterrorismhasreachedadecisivemoment.Thisisgoingtobeafighttothefinish.’

ThefiveterroristswerekilledbutalsolostweresixDelhipolicepersonnel,twomembersofParliament’swatch-and-wardstaffandagardener.Aweeklater,theIndianarmylaunchedOperationParakaramandbeganmobilisingtroopsontheborder.ByearlyJanuaryfivelakhsoldiershadbeenmobilised.(Also,IndiasuspendedtheDelhi–LahorebusthatVajpayeehad

inaugurated.ItwouldrestartonlyinJuly2003.)

ThePakistaniswereworried,andMusharrafon12January2002onPakistantelevisiondenounced‘religiousextremism’,pledgedtoreformmadrasas,andbannedtheLashkar-e-ToibaandtheJaish-e-Mohammed.YetIndiakeptupthepressure,especiallyafteraterroristattackonanarmycampinKaluchak,

Jammu,on14May2002,inwhich34personswerekilled,anumberofthemarmywivesandchildren.Itwasthelaststrawthatbrokethecamel’sback.ThePakistanhighcommissionerwasaskedtoleave.Earlieron1October2001theJ&Kassemblyhadbeenattackedwhichresultedinthedeathof38people,anotherdastardlyattackbytheJaish.Farooq’sapprehensionswereproving

rightagain.ItwasonlyinJunethatthepressureoftwoarmiesfacingeachotherbegantoease.

YetwhiletensionbetweenIndiaandPakistanalwaysmakesKashmirisinsecure,thegovernmentusedtheopportunityofthebuild-uptoensurethatpre-electionviolenceinKashmir,wheretheassemblyelectionwasgoingtobeheldinSeptember–October,was

curbed.ThusitwasonlybyOctoberthattheforceswerecompletelydemobilisedtothestatusquoante.

WhileIwasinthePMOIwasoccasionallyinvitedtotheNationalDefenceCollege(NDC)forlectures.TheNDCprovidesacourseinstrategiclearningfordefenceandcivilofficialsofthelevelofbrigadierorjointsecretaryandabove,andIusedtogoandbriefthemonKashmir.

OneofmylecturestookplaceafterOperationParakaram,andIfoundthatonthatparticularday,thebrigadierswerebeingquiteaggressive.

‘Whydidwenotgotowar?’thebrigadiersasked.‘Whyarepoliticiansalwaysreluctanttogotowar?’

‘Whatmakesyouthinkthepoliticianswerereluctanttogetintothiswar?’Iasked.‘Whatmakesyouthinkthegeneralswantedtogotowar?

Mysenseisthatthegeneralswerenotreadytogotowar.’

Thatquietenedthemilitaryfellowsdownfortherestofthelecture.Let’sfaceit,armiesnowhereliketogotowar.Itisthelastbadoption.SinceIhavebeenontheIndo-Paktracktwodialogue,Ikeephearingthatthemosthonestdialoguetakesplacebetweenretiredgenerals.Logically,militarymenofbothcountries

needtomeetregularly.Thearmy’schiefofstaff

atthattimewasabrilliantofficer,GeneralS.Padmanabhan,whohadbeenthecorpscommanderinSrinagarfrom1993to1995,andlaterinchargeofnortherncommand.HewastheonlyarmychieftohavespokenaboutscalingdownthemilitarypresenceinKashmir.Therestofthemwouldononehandsaythat

thesituationinKashmirhadimprovedandontheothersaythattheArmedForces(SpecialPowers)Act,alsoknownasAFSPA,couldn’tberemoved.WhileAFSPAgiveslegalcovertoarmedforcesfightingmilitancy,itisalsoonseveraloccasionsusedbyroguesoldierstoactwithimpunity,andthereisalwaysaninstitutionalreluctancetoproperlylookintotheallegationsofextra-

judicialexecutionsorofrapeofciviliansbyindividualofficersorunits.

ThustheASFPAisadirtywordnotjustinKashmirbutinthestatesinthenorth-eastaswell.ItisanothercauseofangeragainstIndia,andunderminesalleffortsattryingtomainstreamKashmirisorManipuris,etc.

YettheAFSPAislinkedtothebiggerquestionofhowmuchpowerthearmyis

wielding,andthemovementinKashmirhasprovidedthearmywithanopportunitytoexpanditspresenceinJ&K.Thoughthearmyjustifiesitsheavydeploymentbyperiodicallyraisingthebogieofinfiltration,itisnotrestrictedtotheborder;manyKashmirisfeelthearmyhasturnedtheentireValleyintoacantonment.

OneofthewaystomainstreamKashmiris,it

goestoreason,wouldbetoreducesuperfluousarmypresence.Themomenttohavedonethiswasideallyafterthe1996assemblyelection,whenademocraticgovernmentwasinplace.Thearmyhaddoneadamngoodjobofcontainingmilitancyintheearly1990s,butnowitwastimeforthearmytobepulledbackandgraduallywithdrawn.Thearmycouldhavegonebacktoguarding

theborder.Doingsowouldgivemorespaceforpoliticalactivity,whichinturnfurthermarginalisestheseparatistmovement.

Yetthearmydidnotwanttocedethepoweritwieldedasheadoftheunifiedcommand,andinsistedthatonlyitcouldbeincharge;FarooqwanteditheadedbyhisDGP.Thecompromisewasthatthenameoftheset-upwaschangedtotheunified

headquarters,headedbythechiefminister,whowasassistedbythetwocorpscommandersdeployedinJ&K.Farooqsaidfine,andthenblamedalllawandorderproblemsonthearmy.

GeneralPadmanabhanin2001saidthatthearmyhaddoneitsjob,nowitwasuptothepoliticianstoresolvethematter.Sadly,hewastoldthatgeneralswerenotsupposedtomakepolitical

statements.Hehadthesharpestmindasfarasgeneralsgo,andhewasfrankenoughtosaythatthearmy’sjobwasover,andhewasbasicallytoldtoshutup.(It’sadifferentthingthatnowadaysthegeneralsmakethearmyouttobeindispensablebyofferingsometheoryoranotheraboutinfiltrationandterrorismeverysixmonthsorso.)

Thebordermobilisation

wasnottheonlywayinwhichthegovernmentcutoffthemetaphoricaloxygentomilitantsandseparatistsintherun-uptothe2002assemblyelection.ItisafactthattheIBunderK.M.SinghnotonlyneutralisedsleepercellsinKashmirbutalsoneutralisedhawalatransactions.Hawalaistheillegalforeignexchangetrade,andinKashmiritisusedmainlybyPakistanto

funditsassets,betheymilitants,separatists,oreventheoddmainstreampolitician.TheIBhaddetectedtwentycasesandthefingerpointeddirectlyatS.A.S.Geelani,theHurriyathardliner.

TwentytransactionsweredetectedbetweenDecember2001andJune2002,andtheIBinterrogatedoneofthesuspectswhorevealedthatthemoneywascomingto

GeelanithroughAyubThakur,aLondon-basedKashmirifamousforbeingontheISIpayroll.TheIBprovidedthedetailstotheReserveBankofIndiaandthatledtotheincometaxraidonGeelaniinJune2002.Theraidtookplaceinsomuchsecrecythateventheraidpartyhadnoideawheretheywerebeingtaken.Theonlypersonwhohadanyknowledgeoftheraidwas

ChiefMinisterFarooqAbdullah.

Theraidsturnedupsomeunaccountedmoneyandforeignexchange,andsoGeelaniwasarrestedandsenttojailinHazaribagh,Jharkhand.AchargeunderPOTAwasslappedagainstGeelani.Thegovernmentwasabitapprehensiveoverhowthepublicmightreacttothearrest,butthereactionwasmuted.Whatalsobecame

mutedwasGeelani’susualanti-electionpropaganda.

Incidentally,POTAremainedinforceinKashmirforatotaloftwoyearsuntilitwasrevokedonceMuftiSayeedbecamechiefministerfollowingthe2002election,aspartofhishealingtouchpolicy.MuftiincidentallyalsohadGeelanireleasedandtakentoMumbaifortreatmentbeforereturninghimtoSrinagar.

Itwasperhapsaquidproquo.Mufti,anoldCongressmanwhohadleftthepartytojoinV.P.Singhin1987andthenrejoinedhisoriginalpartywhenitwasledbyP.V.NarasimhaRao,formedtheJ&KPeople’sDemocraticPartyin1999to,asheputit,‘persuadethegovernmentofIndiatoinitiateanunconditionaldialoguewithKashmirisforresolutionoftheKashmir

problem’.MuftiaddedthattherulingNationalConference‘hadfailedtoprovideahealingtouchtotheKashmiriswhohavesufferedimmensely’.LinksbetweentheCongressandtheJamaatgobackmuchfurther.SyedMirQasim,theCongressCMwhomadewayforSheikhin1975,hasacknowledgedthattheCongressfundedtheJamaatinthe1972electioninwhichtheJamaatwonsix

seatsincludingGeelani’s.Thefactofthematteris

somepeopleevenbelievethatthePDPwasconceivedinameetingbetweenMuftiandGeelani,andtheideawasthatGeelani’sJamaat-e-Islamiandtheassociatedmilitantgroup,HizbulMujahideen,wouldhelpthePDPcampaignwithcanvassingandvoterturn-outwhenthe2002assemblyelectionhappened.Butthisisnot

quitecorrect.ThePDPwasbornbasicallyoutofMufti’slifelongambitiontobecomeCMwhichhewronglybelievedcouldnotbeachievedintheCongress.AnotherarchitectoftheformationofthePDPwasGhulamHassanMir.BetweenMuftiandMirtheybelievedthatanotherregionalpartywasneededtodislodgetheAbdullahfamily.ThetalkaboutDelhisponsoringthe

PDPwashogwash.Normallysuchanew

partywouldtaketimebuildingitselectoralaccountbutforthePDPtheconditionswereripegivenananti-incumbencymoodagainsttheFarooqgovernment,whichhetriedtomitigatebyhandingoverthereinsofthepartytohissonOmarthreemonthsbeforetheelection;theNationalConference’sfailuretogo

anywherewiththeautonomyresolution(theUnioncabinetinDelhihadangrilyandsummarilyrejectedit)thatithadpromisedinthe1996election;andtheall-outeffortbytheJamaatandtheHizb.Remember,theJamaathadnevermadeanelectoralimpactbefore,andthereisbroadagreementinKashmirthateveniftherehadbeennoelectoralmalpracticein1986,theMuslimUnitedFront

wouldnothavewonmorethantenseatsorso.

IfthePDPhadenlistedtheindirectsupportofseparatistsandmilitantsthenoureffortwastogetseparatiststodirectlyparticipate.Asmentionedinpreviouschapters,LonehadpromisedtohelpandbothFarooqandMuftifeltthatLonehimselfwouldparticipatethoughLonehadnevergivenanyindication

thathewould.FarooqevenwenttotheextentofholdingasecretmeetingwithLonejustdaysbeforethelatterwasassassinated.OneofthePDPbigwigs,GhulamHassanMir,evensaidthatLonewantedtobechiefminister.

However,afterLone’sassassination,thehelpcameintheformoftheparticipationofLone’sparty,People’sConference,thoughitscandidatestookpartas

independents.Thatwasabigmistake,forthe2002electionwasahugechanceforthepartyandwiththesympathyfactoroverLone’skillingitcouldhavewonaroundfourseats.Sajadthenwouldhavebeenaninevitableandbigfactoringovernmentmaking.ForoncetheHurriyatdidnotgiveacallforboycottoftheelectionswhichfrustratedGeelani,whoaccusedtheMirwaizof‘honeymooning’

(hehadjustbeenmarried)inParis.

Theelectionwasgrowingandgrowing.Awholelotofpeoplewerefilingnominations.ThisiswhattheNDAwanted,butitalsowantedOmarAbdullahaschiefminister.

Farooqhadhisownview:‘Youknowhe’smyson,’hesaidtomeonseveraloccasions.‘HehastosucceedmeandIwouldlikehimto

succeedme.ButIwouldlikehimtofirstlearntheropes.’Farooq’splanwasthatOmarwouldbeaministerinhisgovernmentfortwoorthreeyears,asanapprenticeship,andthenhewouldtakeoveraschiefministerfortherestoftheterm.Farooqwouldthenwithdraw.‘Lethimlearn,’Farooqsaid.

BrajeshMishra,ontheotherhand,wasveryclearaboutgoingthroughwiththe

switchtogetFarooqoutofKashmir.Sowhenparticipationgrewbeyondexpectations,heaskedme:‘Omarisallright,no?’

‘Nowwhyareyouworried,sir?’Isaid.‘Letthingstaketheirowncourse.Howwillitmatter?’

WhatworriedBrajeshwasthatevenpeopleonthefringeoftheJamaatwerejumpingintotheelection.Anythingcouldhappen.For

mypart,ItalkedtoShabirShahtoconvincehimtocontest.WehadalongargumentasItoldhimthatitwashislastchance(thoughthefactwasthathehadmissedhisbigopportunityin1996).

‘WhatcanIdosingle-handedly?’Shabirasked.‘Ihavenobodyelsewithme.MaybeifIdid,Icouldwinthreeseats.Butwhat’stheuse?Youhavealready

decidedthateitherFarooqAbdullahorhissonwillbethechiefminister.’

‘Whydoyousaythat?’Iasked.‘You’vegotitwrong.’

Andthislaterturnedouttobethecase.Thefactisthatifyoudon’twanttomoveforward,youcanmakethesameexcusesoverandoveragain.

IalsotriedtoropeShabir’sformermilitantchiefFirdousSyedintothe

election.Hewasdemoralisedafterbeingdeniedanotherterminthelegislativecouncilthepreviousyear,butItoldhimthathehadenoughinhimtobeapoliticianandcontesttheelection.

‘WheredoIcontestfrom?’heasked.

Hishome,Bhaderwah,wasasuggestion,buthewasdoubtful.HewantedtocontestfromSrinagarbutonlyiftheHurriyatsupported

him,whichitdidnot.Whetherornotitwasjust

anexcuse,allthesefellowshadareservationatthebackoftheirminds,thattheelectionswouldbefixed,thattheNCwouldreturnnomatterwhattheydid,thattheyjustwouldnotwin.ItwasinordertoallaythatfearandextractgreaterparticipationthroughatransparentlyfreeandfairelectionthattheVajpayee

governmentmadeasuggestiontoFarooq.

ItcameupduringthetimethatFarooqwaspromisedthevice-presidency.InthosedaysBrajeshMishraandFarooqtalkedopenlyandfreelybecauseFarooqwasgoingtobethevice-president.

‘DoctorSaheb,’Brajeshsaid.‘Aisahai,thistimewewanttheelectiontobefreeandfair.Omartohchief

ministerbanegahi,butwewanttheelectiontobefreeandfair,sowewouldliketohaveitundergovernor’srule.’

Farooqwasinagoodmoodatthattimeandsaid:‘Theekhai,lagadenausstime.Ifweareonthesamepageandknowwhereweareheaded,thenokay.’

WhendevelopmentswentinadifferentdirectionandFarooqsawwhatDelhiwas

upto—thathewasoverlookedforvice-presidentship—hesaid:‘Whatgovernor’srule?Whydoweneedit?No.Nogovernor’srule.’

Hewasfeelingmoreandmoreinsecure,andmoreandmorecheated;whatifgovernor’srulewasusedagainsthim?Hebackedoutoftheagreement.

Brajeshaskedme,‘Bhai,wohgovernor’srulekakya

horahahai?’IspoketoFarooqandhe

said,‘Noneedforgovernor’srule,we’redoingallright.’

ItoldBrajeshthatDoctorSahebwasnotagreeable.

Hebecameangryandsaid:‘Omarkobulao.’

OmarwasaministersoIcalledhimupandsaidtheprincipalsecretarywantedtoseehim.HedroppedinandIsaid,‘Ithinkthebosswantedtohaveawordwithyou.’

UnfortunatelyIhadtoaccompanytheyoungman.Brajeshwascurtwithhim,unnecessarilyso.

‘Whyisyourfatherresistinggovernor’srule?’Brajeshsaid.‘Ithinkyoushouldtalktohim,’Omarsaid.

‘Pleaseconveytohimthatifhe’snotwillingtocooperatethenwehaveourownwaysofdoingit,’Brajeshsaid,nastily.

Itwasalloverinundertwominutes.Hecameoutquiteshakenandthoughwetooktheliftdowntogether,wedidsoinsilence.Thewholeatmospherehadchanged,anditcontributedtotherecriminationsfollowingtheelection.Ourrelationshipwasneverthesameagain.

Theelectiontothe87-memberassemblytookplaceoverfourphasesinSeptemberandOctoberof

2002.Itwaswidelyseenascredibleandbecauseofthattherewasalotofviolencebeforetheelection.Themainstreamwastargetedandnearly600deathsoccurred.Pakistancontactedeveryone,except,ofcourse,FarooqAbdullah,whoitwasalwayswaryofcontactingsincehewasunpredictable.

Theverdictwasafracturedone,andthoughtheNCwonthelargestnumber

ofseats,thenumbercamedowndrasticallyfromthe57seatsitwonin1996,anditlostpower.TheNCwon28seats,theCongresswon20seatsandthePDPwon16seats.Independents(whichincludedamemberofthePeople’sConference)won15seatsandtherestwerebaggedbysmallerpartieslikeBhimSingh’sPanthersParty,etc.

Itsurprisedme.Ididn’t

thinkthePDPwouldgetmorethaneightseatsandnevertookthepartyseriously.GhulamHassanMirusedtotellme,you’reunderestimatingus,weareinthisseriously.ButwewereallsoldontheNCandOmar,totheextentthatwhenIheardthatevenOmarcouldlosehisfamily’straditionalseatinGanderbal,justoutofSrinagar,Ibecameabitpanicky.Iwasinconstant

touchwithK.M.Singh,whokeptassuringmetillthedaybeforethecountingofvotesthattheNCwouldcapture35seats.K.M.’sbeliefwasthattheNClostbecauseithadprojectedOmarasthenextchiefminister,andifithadprojectedFarooq,thenitwouldnothavelostpower.

Omarhasmanyqualities.He’sstraighter,muchmoreopenthananyoneelseinKashmir,he’shonest,he’s

smart,he’sarticulateandhespeakswell.ThoseyearsheworkedattheOberoihewouldhavemadeagoodCEO,andyethewasnowkeentobecomechiefminister.Beforetheelectionshehadhadhisdoubts:abouthisfather’sintentions,whetherornothewouldactuallybecomechiefminister,andaboutDelhi’sintentions.Hemadeagreatpoliticalmiscalculationinnot

beingabletowinhisownseatinGanderbal.Noonewouldhaveimaginedthathecouldlose.Buthedidandthatwasbecausehewasnotintouchwiththegroundreality,andthathasbeenhisproblemthroughouthispoliticalcareer.Also,hewasnoteasilyaccessible,unlikehisfather.Farooq’sstrengthwasthathewaseverywhere,allthetime.

Farooqwasinfuriated

whenhispartylosttheelections.OnthedayofthecountinghehadflowninfromLondonandhesentmeamessagetocomeoverandhavebreakfastwithhim.Ireachedhisplaceabout10:00a.m.,bywhichtimetheresultshadstartedcomingin.Hewastakingashower,andafterhegotreadyhestormedintotheroomwhereIwaswaitingandstormedout.Hewasangry.‘NowIknow

whatyouguyshavebeenupto,’hesaid.

Hehadlostoutonthevice-presidencyandnowhehadlosthisstate.ItwasnotagoodyearforFarooq.

ThoughtheNationalConferencehadthemaximumnumberofseatsintheassemblytherewasnowhereforthepartytoturnto,becauseatthattimetheCongresswasnotgoingtosupporttheNC.The

CongressplusPDPtogethertallied36seatsanditwasenoughbecausetheyweresuretogetthesupportofsomeofthesmallerpartiesandindependentstocrossthehalfwaymarkof44seats(infact,theCongress–PDPcombinemusteredatotalstrengthof57seatswhenitwenttothegovernortostakeclaimtoformingthenextgovernment).Thetie-upwasnaturalinmanywaysfor,

afterall,MuftiwasoriginallyaCongressman.

Interestingly,Delhipreferredthattheseniorpartnerinthetie-up,theCongresswithits20seats,formthegovernment.TheBJPwasdistrustfulofMufti,oneofthereasonsbeingthekindofhelphegotduringtheelections,andironicallypreferredaCongressgovernmentoveraPDPgovernment.BrajeshMishra

hadaneffectiveback-channelwiththeCongressparty’sK.NatwarSingh,andthisback-channelwasusedextensivelyduringtherun-uptothepresidentialelection.Wordwentthroughthebackchannelthatwhydon’tyoupeopleintheCongressformthegovernment?

Natwarcameback,however,andsaidthatMadam(thatis,SoniaGandhi)wasnotagreeable.

ShethoughtthatMuftishouldrule,andoverruledtheidea.AndsoMuftiMohammadSayeed’slifeambitioncametrue.HebecamechiefministerofJ&K.

ThestorywentaroundinKashmirthatIwastheoneresponsibleforthedefeatoftheNationalConference.TheNCitselfcursedDelhiandsaidtherewasaconspiracytodethroneit,andthatIwasthemainvillain.Thismyth

persistedandevenduringthe2014assemblyelection,whileIwasworkingonthisbook,OmarpubliclystatedthatitwasbecauseoftheautonomyresolutionthattheCentrecreatedthePDP,whichwasfundedbythePMO.Whichishogwash.ThiskeepscomingoutoftheNC’sfrustration,mostofallOmar’s,butitisnottrue.

ImetIrshadMalik—thePakistan-basedmilitantwho

fledtoLondonin2004—inLondonduringthesummerof2014.‘IftheNChadnotparticipatedinthe1996electionthenmilitancywouldhavecarriedonanothereighttotenyears,’hesaid.‘Onceanelectedgovernmentwasinplace,oncethedemocraticprocesswasputontrack,thenmilitancytookthebackseat.SotheNCdidyouagreatfavourin1996.AndwhatdidyoudooftheNC?You

demolishedit.YouputupMuftiSayeed,fundedhim,anddefeatedtheNC.’

Thiswasnottrueatall.‘WhocreatedthePDP?’

Irshadasked.‘TheISI,theHizbulMujahideenandyouguys.TheHizbsupportedthePDPandtheydidsobecausetheISIaskedthemto.’

TheNCchorusagainstmegrew.‘Isnekarayahain,’theleaderssaid.

IwenttoFarooqandsaid

point-blank:‘Sir,everybody’ssayingthatyou’reblamingme.’

‘Whotoldyou?’Farooqasked.

‘It’snotwhotoldme,’Isaid.‘Alotofpeoplearetellingme.Ionlycametoask,doyoubelievethis?’

‘Notatall,’Farooqsaid.‘You’relikemybrother.’

Andthatwasgoodenoughforme.

Oncehebecamechief

minister,MuftireachedouttoSajad.HewantedtheyoungerLoneingovernmentbutSajadturneditdown.Perhapshefelthewouldhavebeensellinghimselfcheap.‘YouneverknowwithMuftiSaheb,’Sajadtoldme.Inthecase,oneofthePeople’sConferencewinnerswhostoodasanindependentbecameminister.

Anotherconsequenceofthe2002electionwasthatthe

BritishandtheAmericans,whohadtillthenshownmuchinterestinKashmir’shappeningsanditspersonalities,graduallydecreasedtheirovertinterest.TillthentheywouldgotoKashmirandinevitablymeetseparatistslikeYasinMalik,MirwaizUmarFarooqandGeelani.After2002,meetingtheseguysinSrinagarwasnolongerobligatory,andtheyavoidedGeelanilikethe

plague.Geelaniwasnowtooextremist,andsopersonanongrata.

EvenMusharraftoldGeelanitostepaside:‘We’veheardyouenough,oldman,’hereportedlytoldGeelani.‘Nowgetoutoftheway,wehavetomoveon.’Ofcourse,GeelaniwasunhappywithMusharrafafterthat.ItwasnodoubttheimpactoftheAmericans’waronterrorfollowing9/11.Butafter

2002,PakistanalsomadeaconsciousdecisiontowoothemainstreaminKashmir,asweshallsee.

Fornow,however,itwasMufti’smoment.

14

VAJPAYEE’SLASTCHOICE—MUFTI

MuftiMohammadSayeedachievedhislife’sdreamin2002andbecamethechiefministerunderan

arrangementwiththeCongressparty,whichhadwonmoreseatsbutwhichdisregardedVajpayee’sadviceandallowedthejuniorpartnertoassumeoffice.Muftiwastorunthingsforthreeyearsandthenhandoverthechiefministershiptothealliancepartner.Thus,duringtheremainingyearandahalfoftheNDA’stenure,weinVajpayee’steamgotagoodlookatMufti’swayof

functioning.Hewasnotabadchief

minister.Fromourpointofviewhewasafocusedadministrator,ontheballandwantingtoknowevensmalldetails.Whenevertherewasaconversationwithhimandiftherewasadisagreement,orifyougavehiminformationwhichhedidnothave,heimmediatelypickedupthephoneandcheckedwithhisdirector-general,intelligence.

‘DulatSahebhamarepaasbaithehainauryehbolrahehain,’hewouldsay.‘Iskocheckkariye.’Andhewouldadd,‘Pleasegetbacktome,Iwanttoknow.’

ThatwasoneofmanywayshewaspolesapartfromhisbêtenoireFarooqAbdullah.Muftiwasalwayskeentoknowwhatwashappeningwhere.Farooq’sattitudewas,ontheotherhand,thatyoudon’tneedto

tellmethisbecausehealreadyknewwhatwashappening.

FromtheKashmiris’pointofview,histenurewassuccessfulatadifferentlevel.The‘healingtouch’thathespokeofwhenheformedthePDPwasmadeofficialpolicyandMuftitookafewmeasures.TheroutineharassmentofthecommonKashmiriwaseitherstoppedorreducedconsiderably,by

keepingthesecurityforcesalittlemoreincheck;andthiswasdonebycurbingtheconstantfriskingorpullingpeopleoffbuses,etc.

Itworked.Ithadnothingtodowithgovernanceordevelopmentormatterslikethat.ThecruxofthematteristhatMuftiwassomeonewhounderstoodandcannilyplayedontheKashmiripsyche.Heturnedpopulismintopolitics.Induecourse

Delhiunderstoodwhathewasdoing,andtheusualhardlinersintheNDAwerenotveryhappy,butitwasgettingnearerelectiontimesotherewaspreciouslittletheycoulddo.ForthecommonKashmiri,itwasthedefiningtraitbywhichtheyjudgedMufti’sthreeyears,sayingthesewerethebesttheyhadhadsince1996.

Muftihasalwaysbeenahighlyambitiouspolitician,

buthavingalwaysbeenundertheshadowofthatgreatbanyantree—theAbdullahfamily—hisisacomplexpersonality.Hehasalwaysbeenhighlyinsecureandhehasafairlynarrowwayoflookingatthings.OnereasonforthisisthatFarooq,forinstance,hasalwaysbeenaKashmiriwithanationalistoutlook,whereasMuftistartedhiscareerwiththeCongressandspentmostof

hisyearsthere.InKashmirieyes—evenamongthosewhogrowdisillusionedwiththeNC—Muftiisultimatelya‘Congressiya’.

ThishasbeensofromthebeginningwhenMuftiwasalawyerinAnantnaginthelate1950sandwaspickedupasaprotégébyG.M.Sadiq.Ifyourecall,AbdulGhaniLone,whowasfouryearsseniortoMufti,wasanotherprotégéofthelastprimeministerof

Kashmir.Sadiqbecamethefirstchiefministerin1965,headingaCongressgovernmentthatMuftijoined.LonesoonbecamedisenchantedwithSadiq,andSadiq’ssuccessorMirQasim,blamingthemforerodingKashmir’sautonomy.Mufti,however,madeacareerattheCongress—atoddswithSheikhAbdullahandcompanywho,firstwiththePlebisciteFrontandthenwith

theNationalConference—alwaysspokeofKashmirinationalism.AndwhenSheikhSahebenteredintoanaccordwithMrsIndiraGandhiin1975andbecamechiefminister,MuftiwasmadethechiefoftheCongressparty’sstateunit.

MuftiandhisbosomchumMakhanLalFotedarwerealwayslookingtopickafightwithSheikhSahebbutMrsGandhiwasnotkeento

doso(thoughsheobviouslychangedhermindonceFarooqhostedanoppositionconclavein1983).Sherealised,particularlyaftertheaccord,thattheyhadanunderstandingthattheNCwouldruleinKashmirandtheCongressinDelhi.ShewanteditthussothattheCongressneednotcontesttheassemblyelectionandtheNCneednotcontestParliament.

SheikhSahebonce

referredtotheseCongresspoliticiansbysaying:‘Yehgandinaalikekeerehain’—theyarecockroachesfromthegutter.

DuringtheParliamentelectioninMay2014,ImetMuftiandheremindedmeofthat.HewouldgoontowinallthreeKashmirLokSabhaseats,andthoughhewasperenniallyonthedefensive,onthisoccasionhewasfeelingconfident.‘Humtoh

gandinaalikekeerethhe,na?’hesaid.‘Wehaveprovedtodaythatwearearegionalpartynow.’

InmyearlyKashmirdays,IdidnotknowMufti.Infact,IhadnotmethimevenbythetimehebecamehomeministerunderPrimeMinisterV.P.SinghandhisdaughterRubaiyawaskidnapped.Duringthekidnapping,however,wewouldhavelong,longconversationson

thephone.InonecallheaskedmewhatIthoughtofFarooqaschiefminister.Butthecallsotherwisewerealwaysaboutthekidnappingandwhatthelatestwas.Itwasafather’snaturalanxiety.

IthasbeenmentionedearlierhowMuftisentallsortsofinterlocutorslikethejudgeMotiLalBhattotellthechiefministerhowconcernedhewasaboutRubaiya.Bhatandotherstold

Farooqtohurryup.Ihadjusthadmymostimportantmeetingduringthekidnapping,whenImetAshfaqMajidWani’sfather,andItoldFarooqthatwecouldgetherreleasedwithoutgivingtoomanyconcessions.FarooqhadtoldMufti’sinterlocutorsthathewasnotinfavourofreleasingterrorists,andItoldhimthatsincethehomeministerissoconcerned,whynotgivehim

acall?Farooq’sfirstreactionwas,forgethim.‘No,givehimacall,’Isaid.Hedid,andcourteouslyso.

ThedayafterRubaiyawasreleased,oneofmyneighboursonGupkarRoad,VijayDhar,warnedmethatArunNehruandMuftiandJagmohanweregunningforme.IrealisedthatMuftididnotlikemeatall.Liketheothers,hethoughtofmeasFarooq’sman.

IcamefacetofacewithMuftionthefinaldayof1989.MysonArjunhadgonetoCalcuttatolookforajobandIwentalongtotakeabreak.Thehomeminister,however,summonedameetingforthe31standIhadtobethere.InterestinglyitwasaKashmirmeetingandIsattherewithoutbeingaskedonesinglequestion.AlsonoteworthywasthefactthattheKashmirchiefminister

wasnotatthatmeeting;bythenithadlikelybeendecidedtodumpFarooq.

Attheendofthemeeting,MuftiaskedtheIBspecialdirectorPadmanabhan(thepunsterfromchapterone),‘Bytheway,whereisDulat?’

‘Hereheis,’Padmanabhansaid,pointingatme.

ThatwasmyfirstmeetingwithMufti.

Thefollowingmonth

JagmohanbecamegovernorandFarooqresigned,andtwomonthsafterthatIwasreplacedinSrinagar.LaterintheyeartheV.P.SinghgovernmentcollapsedandIwasinstalledintheKashmirgroup.Muftiwasnolongerhomeminister.Soonenough,NarasimhaRaotookhimbackintotheCongress.

AndthenMuftibegancomingtoDelhiandpubliclysayingthattherewasnoother

wayinKashmir,noothersolution,butFarooq.Itbecamehismantraforthenextfouryears,tillabout1995:Farooq,Farooq,Farooq.

DuringthistimeIwasformallyandproperlyintroducedtoMufti.AKashmiriPanditnamedV.K.Vaishnavi,whowasclosetoMufti,cameoveroneday.Hewasoriginallyajournalistbutnotaseriousone,buthewas

soclosetoMuftithatwhenthingswerebad,heevenwentgroceryshoppingforMufti.‘DulatSaheb,aapkoMuftiSahebsemilwanahai,’hesaid.

‘VaishnaviSaheb,youknowImeeteveryone,’Isaid.‘ButIdon’tthinkMuftiSaheblikesme,sokyafaayda.’

‘Nahin-nahin,MuftiSahebaapkobahutacchitarahsereceivekarenge,’he

said.‘Aapchaliyemeresaath.’

MuftiwaslivingonAkbarRoad.Wemetanditwentwell.Wegottoknoweachother.

AfterthisVaishnavicalledupandsaid,‘MuftiSahebchahatethhekiaapFarooqSahebsemilwadijiye.’Thiswasinteresting,thatMuftiwaskeentomeetFarooq,whohappenedtobeinDelhiatthemoment.It

wassometimein1995.‘Whatistheproblemin

that?’Iasked.‘No,hewantstodoita

bitquietly,’Vaishnavisaid.‘Aapkarwadetohtheekhain.’

IspoketoFarooq,wesetitupfordinneratmyresidenceinKidwaiNagar,Delhi.

Muftiwaspunctualandarrivedat8:30.‘Sir,haveadrink,’Isaid.

‘Nahin-nahin,DoctorSahebkoaajaanedijiye,’hesaid.

Farooqtookhistimeincoming.Hediditpurelyforeffect,andhediditdeliberatelybecauseitwasMufti.Theyweremeetingafteralongtime,andofcourse,don’tforgetthatFarooqhadbeenforcedoutofhisjobatthestartof1990.HegotakickoutofkeepingMuftiwaiting.At9:00p.m.

Muftisaid,‘AreyousureDrFarooqiscoming?’

‘Sir,aapdrinklelijiye,’Isaid.

‘Nahin,drinktohkoibaatnahin,butareyousureFarooqiscoming?’

‘Jabwohkehtehaintohzarooraateinhain,’Isaid.

FarooqcameataboutquarterpastnineandMuftiwasrelievedtoseehim.Weallhadadrink.‘WhenKashmiristalk,it’sbestthat

thethirdmangoesoutoftheroom,’Isaid,andleftthetwooftheminhighspirits.Theirmeetingwentoffwell.

Butthenafterthe1996assemblyelectionandhisswearing-inFarooqcametoDelhiandImethiminJ&KHouse.‘I’vecometosaymythankyoustoalltheleadersthatIknowinDelhi,’hesaid,becausealotofthemhadcomefortheswearing-in.

‘Whoallhaveyoumet?’I

asked.‘Whoallareyoumeeting?’

Henamedsomepeople.‘WhataboutMufti

Saheb?’Isaid.‘DoIhavetomeet

Mufti?’heasked.‘Youshouldmeethim,’I

said.JustthenSaifuddinSoz,

stillamemberoftheNC,intervened.‘Myleaderwillnotgotohim,’Sozsaid.‘It’sMuftiwhoshouldcometo

him.’‘SozSaheb,yeh

chhoriye,’Isaid.‘DoctorSahebkojaanedijiye.’

Buthewouldn’trelent.‘Bilkulnahinjaanedenge,’Sozsaid,andthatwasthat.

Similarly,sometimelateritwasRamzanandtherewasaniftaarpartyinDelhi.Therewasabigcrowd,andIalsoshowedup.AndagainIfoundMuftimissing.‘Sir,Idon’tseeMuftihere,’Isaid

toFarooq.‘IinvitedMufti,’Farooq

said.‘Whydon’tyouaskSoz?Hesaidhehadsentaninvitation.’

SoIaskedSoz:‘SozSaheb,MuftiSahebkonahinbulaya?’

ButSozinsistedhehadpersonallydeliveredthecard.

LaterIaskedMufti:‘MuftiSaheb,aapaayenahin?’

Buthesaidhegotthe

cardonlyinthemorning,foraneveninginvite.‘Isthatanywaytoinvitesomeone?’

SoSozwasthespoilerinallthis.

Afterthistherewasnogreatlovelostbetweenthem.Ispokeseparatelytothemandaskedwhytheydidn’tgettogether,theNCandthePDP.MylogicwasthattheywerealwayscribbingaboutDelhibutbasicallycancellingouteachother,andthatif

theyjoinedforcestheycouldgetalotmoredoneforKashmir.‘Nahinkoioppositiontohchahiyena,’Muftisaid.Fairenough,perhapsitwasabadsuggestion.

Inanycase,Mufticametopowerin2002andhisthreeyearswereacknowledgedasgood.Whenwemetin2014,hepointedoutthathistenurelookedevenbetterafterOmar

Abdullah’stenurefrom2008to2014.‘Omarhaswastedthelastsixyears,’Muftisaid.‘Farooqwouldneverhaveallowedthingstocometosuchapass.HehasafeelforKashmir.Hehadagoodcabinetandacompetentbureaucracywithhim.Omarisover-dependentonsecurityandisfartooinsularforKashmir.Herehe’scalledtweetCM.’(ThisisinreferencetoOmar’s

preferenceforthemicro-bloggingsiteTwitter.)

MuftiattainedpowerwiththehelpofhisfriendSyedAliShahGeelani.BothofthemarePirs,whoaregroupsoffamiliesfromwhomKashmirgetsitsreligiouspreachers,andthatexplainstheirproximity.ThefeelingamongsomeKashmiris,however,isthatmostPirsarefrauds.

OnceduringMufti’s

tenureGeelaniwasshootingoffhismouthandangeringtheNDAgovernmentinDelhi.GeelaniwasanirritationalsobecausewhateverhesaidwasusedbythehardlinersinDelhitoputpressureonthegovernment.OnedayBrajeshsaidGeelanihadcrossedthelimit.‘Whydon’tweputawaythisfellowandlockhimup?’hesaid.‘He’sbecominganuisance.’

Ispoketothechief

ministerbuthesaidno.‘Iwillnotmakeamartyroutofhim,’Muftisaid.‘Justlethimbe.It’sbetterifheletsoffsteam.He’smoreharmlessoutsidethanhewouldbeinside.Wecandealwithhimpolitically.’Andhewasright.

WhenhewaschiefministerImadeitapointtogoandmeethim.HewasmorerelaxedduringthistimethoughhenevergotoverhisbeliefthatFarooqwasthe

worstthingforhim,andthatIwasFarooq’sman.Evennowadays,wheneverhecomestoDelhihemakesitapointtocallmeandenquiresaboutFarooq,evenifIhaven’tmetFarooqinsixmonthsorwhatever.

Butaschiefministerhewasmorefriendly,hospitable.OnoneoccasionheeventookustoDachigamforlunch,whichwasunthinkablewithMufti

Saheb.Evenhiswifecameout.Ourrelationshipwasatitsbestduringthatperiod,whenhewaschiefministerandIwasinthePMO.

MuftiwasamanwholovedhisBlackLabelwhisky.Ifafteronedrinkyousaidyouhadenough,he’dsayno,haveonesmall.MuftialsolovedhisbridgeandplayedwheneverhegotachanceattheDelhiGolfClub.Thoughhefanciedhis

skillsatbridge,thoseheplayedwithwerenotsoimpressed.HehadafewbridgepartnersinSrinagar,butIthinkinrecentyearshe’shadlesstimeforit.

ThoughhemadetimeformewhileIwasatthePMO,thesamewasnotforthosewhohadstuckbyhimovertheyears.Forinstance,Vaishnavi,hissidekickwhousedtobuyhisvegetablesandoccasionallypayforthem

aswell,gotnothingwhenMuftibecamechiefminister.

OnedayIsaid:‘MuftiSaheb,Vaishnavifeelsabitleftout.’

Muftididn’tlikeit.‘MuftiMohammadSayeedapnedostonkonahinbhoolta,’hesaid.

‘Sir,I’monlyflaggingapoint,’Isaid.‘He’salittledisappointed.’

‘Nahin,mainjaantahoon,’Muftisaid.

Twoyearslater,justbeforeMufti’stermwasending,Vaishnaviwasgiventhechairmanshipofsomestatecorporation.HewentonatriptoAgraanddied,beingahighlydiabeticandhypertensiveman.Itwasasadending.

ThentherewasagentlemaninJammuwhowasactuallyanastrologer.HehungaroundMuftiandwaslikethefurnitureinhishouse.

MuftiusedtocallhimKakaji.OnceMuftisaid,‘Whydon’tyouhelphim?’WegothissonajobinR&AWbutwhenMuftibecameCMhedisownedKakaji.

OnoneoccasionKakajiwassittinghereatmyplaceinDelhiandMehbooba,Mufti’sotherdaughter,whoplayedthemainsupportingroleinthePDP’s2002win,arrived.‘Mainmaragaya,’hesaid.‘Nowit’sconfirmedthat

I’manintelligenceagent.’PoorVaishnaviand

KakajiandFirdous,allofthemgotitforthesamereason,thattheywereintelligenceagents,eveniftheywereintroducedtomebythepersonaccusingthem.InfactIcalledKakajiinJammu.‘Aapkisarkarbangayihai,’Isaid.‘MuftiSahebkaphoneaaya?’

‘Nahin,saheb,’hesaid.‘Abkyaphonekarenge.’

ThisisthedifferencebetweenFarooqandMufti.IfinacrowdMuftiseesFarooq,Muftiwon’tknowwhetherornottoapproachhim,orhow,becauseheissoinsecure.WhereasifFarooqissittinginaroomandseesMuftiinacrowdhewillcallout,‘Muftiaao,yahanbaitho.’Farooqisconfidencepersonified.

ThoughMehbooba,asmentioned,hadaroletoplayinthe2002electionshehas

beenrestrainedinherambitions,unliketheyoungstersofotherpoliticalfamilies.MuftiSahebhasmadeitclearthathertimewillcomebutfornow,sheistoremainsubdued.

ItmayalsohavetodowithperceptionsofMehbooba.WhenVajpayeewenttoSrinagarinApril2003andfamouslyextendedhishandtowardsPakistan,astagewaserectedhighupfor

thepublicmeeting.SittinguponthestagewereVajpayeeandMufti,thechiefminister.Mehboobawantedtojointhem,butshewaspolitelytoldthattherewasnoplaceforheronthatstage.

Vajpayeedidnotwantherupthere.Hedidnotwantherprojected.ThereweregravedoubtsaboutMehboobainDelhi,aboutherlinkswiththeHizbulMujahideenandthehelpitprovidedtoherand

herpartyduringthe2002election.

Afterafewyears,strangely,KashmirisagainbeganyearningforFarooq’sreturn.ThereisaparticularwordintheKashmirilanguage,fetir,whichmeanslovablefool.‘Ussfetirkowapaslao,’becametherefrain.Inanycase,afterthreeyears,aspertheiragreement,Muftisteppeddownandhandedoverthe

reinstotheCongressparty,whichmadeGhulamNabiAzaditschiefminister.ItwasonceagainamistakethatDelhimade,notbecauseAzadwasnotagoodchiefministerbutbecauseofthesignalitsentKashmirthatDelhiwouldnotdowithoutitsownmaninSrinagar.ThiswasunnecessarybecauseMuftiwasatthecoreaCongressmanandprovidedaconvenientbuffer.

In2008,theNCwonmoreseatsandthistimeittiedupwiththeCongress,thoughOmarruledforallsixyearsoftheassembly’sterm(theJ&Kassembly’slifeisayearlongerthanthatofotherstateassemblies).Omar’stenurewasmarkedbyseverallows,includingasummerofstone-throwingbyyoungstersin2010inwhichover100boysdied.Thesituationbecamesotensethatitlooked

asifOmar’sgovernmentwouldnotsurvive;MuftiandMehboobaweresummonedtoDelhibyCongresspresidentSoniaGandhi.

AspecialaircraftbroughtthefatheranddaughtertoDelhiandtheymetSoniaandPrimeMinisterManmohanSingh.EvenIgotachancetomeetthem,andMuftiwasupbeat.Theyhungaroundforthreeweeks.Butnothinghappened.Muftiwentback

disgusted.ByApril2014Omarwas

sodiscreditedthatMufti’spartywonallthreeparliamentaryseats,andevenFarooqlosttheSrinagarseat—thattootoaformerjuniormemberofhisparty.ItwasduringthattimethatIhadachatwithMufti,andhemadeseveralremarks.

MuftisaidthatPakistanhadgottoeverybodyinKashmir.‘They’refinancing

everybody,’hesaid.Ilookedathim.‘Hameinbhicontactkiya

hai,’hesaid.Thiswassomething;the

ISIapproachingMufti,formerUnionhomeminister.Heobviouslyspurnedthem.

‘Thesituationisdangerous,therehavebeenaggressiveprotests,eveninthecountryside,’Muftisaid.‘Pakistanisspreadingitstentacles.’Forus,Pakistan’s

influenceusedtobeconfinedtothreeassemblyconstituenciesindowntownSrinagar,aroundthemosque,andinothertownslikeBaramulla.Muftiwassayingthatithadnowspreadintothecountryside.

Also,MuftiwasconcernedforMirwaizUmarFarooq.‘Heisanassetforbothsidesbuthe’smoreimportanttoussoweneedtolookafterhim,’Muftisaid.

‘Hissecuritymustbeensured,andweneedtoengagewithhimalso,aswellaswithPakistaninduecourse.’Atthattime,MirwaizwashavingaspatwithGeelanioverwhowasmeetingModi’semissaries,andMirwaizhadpubliclymadevariousallegationsagainstGeelani.

PossiblyhesaidthisbecausetheMirwaizhadindirectlyhelpedthePDP

consideringthatFarooqhadlostinSrinagar.Also,however,hefeltthattheMirwaizhadgrowninstatureatthePakistanis’behest.Importantly,theseparatistHurriyat‘representedathoughtthatcannotbewishedaway,andmustbeengaged’.TheMirwaizwasthekeytothat,becauseGeelaniwouldnevercomearound.

MuftidescribedGeelaniintwoways:aPakistaniand

adisruptiveforce.Itappearedtheyhadafallingout,eventhoughthePDPwassaidtobeabrainchildofthetwoofthem.PerhapsGeelanifoundMufti,whenhewaschiefminister,tobeasdictatorialastheAbdullahs.ItcouldalsobethatwhenOmarAbdullahwasthechiefminister,hehelpedgetGeelani’sson,adoctorinPakistan,backtoIndia.Whateverthecase,by2014

therewasalotofdisenchantmentwithintheJamaat-e-IslamiagainstthePDP.ButMuftiandGeelanistillhaveacommonbond.

MuftimentionedthatFarooqmightlosetheparliamentaryseathewascontesting,butaddedthatevenifhelost,FarooqAbdullahwouldremainFarooqAbdullah.

ThefeelinginKashmirwasthatMuftihadsome

understandingwiththeBJPfortheLokSabhaelectionandmayhaveevenhadsomefinancialhelptocontesttheelection.PriortotheParliamentelection,MuftihadsentDilawarMir,aformerminister,ashisemissarytomeetModiinAhmedabad.ThePDPsuitstheBJPasasoftseparatist;intheBJP’swayofthinking,ifitcandealwithMuftithenwhydoesitneedtodealwith

theMirwaiz?Muftiisanationalist.

OfcoursethefloodsofSeptember2014changedalotofthedynamics,andthentheBJPbegantospeakofMission44—ofcapturingpowerbythemselves.Itwasjustrhetoric,butitmadeMuftianervousman.

ButnotasnervousastheAllPartiesHurriyatConference,whoin2014wereafraidofgetting

politicallysqueezedoutbyModi.Thiswasafarcryfrom2004,duringMufti’schiefministership,whenanotherhardliner,DeputyPrimeMinisterL.K.Advani,engagedtheseparatistsintalks.

15

THEHARDLINERANDTHEHURRIYAT

Afterthe2002J&Kassemblyelectionwasoverandasthe

yearwasdrawingtoanend,IwenttoBrajeshMishraandsaid:‘Nowwhat?’

‘Nownothing,’hesaid.‘Forthetimebeing.’

‘Howcanyousaythat?’Iasked.

‘Youtellme.’‘Sir,thisisnottheend,

thisisthebeginning.Wemuststarttalking,’Isaid.‘Everyonewhocomeshereenquireswhywearenottalking.’

‘Okay,’hesaid.‘LetmetalkitoverwiththePM.’

Thatannouncementtooktoolongatimeincoming:almostayear.Inthemeantime,though,PrimeMinisterVajpayeemadeaspeechatapublicrallyinSrinagaron18April2003whichchangedmany,manythings.Possiblythisspeechneededtobemadebeforethetalksbegan;inanycase,alotofvaluabletimewaslost

becauseinMay2004therulingalliancedidnotgetre-elected.

VajpayeehadvisitedSrinagarthreetimesbefore2003:in1999,2001,andtheninMay2002forameetingoftheunifiedcommand.Atthetimethetensionfromthemilitarybuild-upontheborderwasatitspeaksohisvisitwaswelcomefromthetroops’pointofview.Afterhisvisitwasoverandashe

wasleavingSrinagar,ajournalistquestionedhimattheairport.‘Aapnekahakisabsebaatkarenge,’thejournalistsaid.‘TohkyayehhogiwithintheConstitutionbaat?’

Vajpayeewasonestepahead.‘Uskibaatkyonkartehein,huminsaniyatkedaireymeinbaatkarenge,’hesaid,side-steppingthequestionoftalkingwithintheConstitutionbytalkingof

discussionswithintheframeworkofhumanity.Kashmiriswentjubilantbeyondboundsoverhis‘insaniyatkedairey’.

Andthencamehispublicrallyin2003,thefirstbyaprimeministersinceRajivGandhi,andwhichmadehisprimeministership,especiallywithhispolicyof‘insaniyatkedairey’,abenchmarkforfutureadministrationsintheeyesofKashmiris.

Iwasnotaskedtoaccompanytheprimeministerontheearliervisits,butfortheAprilvisitIwasspecificallyaskedtogowithhim.WhathappenedontheearliervisitswasthePM’sspeechwriter,SudheendraKulkarni,wouldcometomyroomandaskme:‘PMisgoing,whatshouldbesaid?’

Iwouldsay‘let’sthink’,andthenwewoulddiscussit.

ThistimeIwentto

Kulkarni’sroomandaskedhimjustonequestion:‘Political?’

‘Don’tworry,’Kulkarnisaid.‘Thistimeit’sonlypolitical.’

IwenttoBrajeshMishraandtoldhimI’dliketogoacoupleofdaysearlier,justtoseethemood.IdidandIthinkbythentheprimeministerhadthoughtitthrough.

Whenhearrivedat

SrinagarwedrovefromtheairporttoSonawarstadium.Aseveryonewassettlingdown,ItookamomenttoaskKulkarni,‘Letmehaveacopyofthespeechatleastnow.’

‘Thereisnospeechtoday,’hesaid.‘Bossnebolahai,koispeechnahinchahiye,mainkhudbolunga.’

AndthenheextendedhishandoffriendshiptoPakistan,whichkickstarted

theprocessinwhichIndiaandPakistancameclosesttoanagreementonKashmir.Oncebitten,twiceshy,Vajpayeesaid,butthoughhe’dbeenbittentwicehedidnothesitatetoextendhishandinfriendshipagain.TheKashmiriswentcrazywithhappiness.Asmentionedbefore,thereisnothingthatmakestheKashmirifeelbetterthangoodrelationsbetweenIndiaandPakistan.

Frankly,Ihadnoideawhattheprimeministerwasgoingtosay.ItwassomethingheandBrajeshwouldhavediscussed,aswitheverythingelse.WhateverhappenedbetweenBrajeshMishraandA.B.Vajpayee,onlythosetwoknew;therewasnothirdperson.Sometimesyouwouldgetafeelofit,asImentionedtheirdisappointmentaftertheAgrasummit.Otherwiseitwas

verytightbetweenthesetwo.Sowhodecidedallimportantmatters?AsIhavesaidVajpayeespokeverylittleatformalmeetingsandBrajeshevenless.

WereturnedfromSrinagarandafewweekslater,inMay2003,IhaddinnerwithMirwaizUmarFarooq.Hehadsoughtthemeetingostensiblytogethispassportrenewed,butthatwouldhavegotrenewed

anyway.Sowegotdowntosometalking.

MirwaizUmarFarooqbecamethechiefpriestofKashmirattheageofseventeenwhenhisfather,MirwaizMoulviMohammedFarooq,wasassassinatedinMay1990.TheMirwaizshadtheirbaseattheJamiaMasjidindowntownSrinagar,whosesurroundingareashavetraditionallybeenahotbedofpro-Pakistanisentiment(in

1947,UmarFarooq’sgrandunclemigratedtoMuzaffarabad).TheyandotherprominentfamiliesofdowntownSrinagarwereknownastheBakrasandtheywereinpoliticaloppositiontoSheikhAbdullahandhisfamily,whichiswhySher-e-KashmirhadtheHazratbalmosquebuiltasaplatformtorivaltheJamiaMasjid(hencetheirrivalrywasknownastheShervstheBakras).The

Mirwaizalsoheadedhisownseparatistorganisation,theAwamiActionCommittee.

YoumayrecallthatIusedtooccasionallymeetMirwaizMoulviFarooqwhenIwaspostedinSrinagar,andhelenthishelpduringtheRubaiyakidnappingbypubliclydenouncingitasun-Islamic.HewasassassinatedbyHizbulMujahideengunmanMohammedAbdullahBangroobecausehe

wasintouchwiththeNationalFrontrailwayministerGeorgeFernandes;themilitantsbumpedoffseveralpeopletheysuspectedtobeparleyingwithDelhiinthosedays.

MirwaizUmarFarooqwasastudentofSrinagar’sBurnHallschoolandwasplanningonbecomingasoftwareengineerandallofasuddenhebecamethechiefpriest.Thoughhedid

completehisstudies—hehasadoctorateinIslamicStudies—hehadnochoicebuttogetinvolvedinseparatistpoliticsandin1993wasoneofthefoundingexecutivemembersoftheAllPartiesHurriyatConference.Becausehewassoyoung,theotherHurriyatfounders—SyedAliShahGeelani,AbdulGhaniLone,AbbasAnsariandProf.AbdulGhaniBhat—foundhimtobemostacceptableas

thechairman(ratherthaneachother,that’showhightheintra-Hurriyattrustlevelwas).TheotherthingwithUmarFarooqwasthathavingseenhisfatherassassinated,athome,hewasalwaysreluctanttospeaktooforthrightlyagainstthemilitants.

Overtheyears,theyoungMirwaizhasimpressedalotofpeoplewithhisgoodlooks,hisyouth,his

articulationinEnglish,hisdresssense.Hehasbeenratedveryhighbyeverybody,thePakistanis,theAmericans,theBritish,otherforeigners,andbyus.IthashelpedthatheremainedchairmanoftheHurriyatforsolongwhich,asProf.Ghanionceputit,isbecauseUmarFarooqistheonlyoneoftheHurriyatleaderswithsomestanding.TheMirwaizbyvirtueofbeingtheMirwaizis

somebodyinhisownright.Hehastheadvantageofhispositionandplatform,ideologyandconstituency.He’sbeenPakistan’sblue-eyedboy.We’vealsopamperedhim.Heis,amongtheHurriyat,abigplayer.

ButtheMirwaizlackspoliticalcourage.Sometimeshegivestheimpressionhe’squitehappyjustbeinginamosqueorbeingathome,leadingtheFridayprayers;

butatsomepointheneedstodecidewhetherhewantstobepopeforlife,orhealsowantstobechiefminister.Thefactisthathehastoldpeoplethathewouldnotmindbeingchiefminister.Histragedy,though,isthathedoesn’trealisehowhighlyheisrated,andthattoo,byeverybody.Butstayingconfinedtoyourmosquehasgothimnowhereandwillgethimnowhere.Itisjustamatterofmarking

time,whicheventuallydoesn’tescapethenoticeofothers.Or,asProf.Ghaniputit:‘LikeallrichpeopletheMirwaizwearssilkpajamas,andthestringsopeneasily.’

TheMirwaizononevisittoDelhiin2001attendedarallyoftheJamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind,India’sleadingIslamicorganisation.Hespokeverywell.

‘YoucanbecomeanationalKashmirileader,and

youshouldaspiretothat,’ItoldtheMirwaiz.‘There’sahugeshortageofMuslimleaders.There’sFarooq,andthere’syou.Youshouldcomeoutmoreoften.’

Theproblem,though,isthatMuslimsinIndianeverspeakupforKashmiris.IoncemetMaulanaMahmoodMadaniattheIndiaInternationalCentre.‘YouneverthinkaboutKashmir,’Isaid.

‘Sochtehain,’hecountered.

‘Kyasochtehain?’Hethoughtforafew

seconds,butthenadmitteditwastrue.‘Yehhamarikamjorihai.’

‘Kamjorikotheekkijiye,’Isaid.‘NaKashmiriyahankebaaremeinboltahain,naaapwahakebaaremeinboltehain.’

OneofthetellingepisodesabouttheMirwaiz

tookplaceinearly2007.HeandtheotherHurriyatmembersmetPakistanpresidentPervezMusharraf,whotoldthemafewfundamentaltruths:thatnoonecouldremoveIndia;thatIndiawouldnotcompromiseonitssovereigntyandthatboundariescan’tbechanged;andthathehadfoundaformulaforKashmiris.Then,itissaid,MusharraftoldtheHurriyatleaderstogobackto

Kashmirandprepareforelections.ThisdiktattotheHurriyatbyPakistantogetoutofitscomfortzonewasashocktotheHurriyat.

ButourdinnerinMay2003wasoneofthosefewoccasionswhentheMirwaizprovidedhope.‘IsDelhisincereaboutdoinganything?’heasked.

‘Ofcourseweare,’Isaid.‘Whyshouldn’twebe?’

‘CanKashmirget

autonomy?’heasked.‘Whynot?’‘Canbordersbeopened,

andcancomingandgoingbeeasier?’

‘Ofcourse.’‘Canwehaveabusfrom

SrinagartoMuzaffarabad?’‘Ofcourse,’Isaid.‘Ifwe

canhaveabusfromDelhitoLahore,thenwecanhavethattoo.’(Incidentally,itwasaboardthisbusthattheHurriyatwenttoPakistanin

2007andweretoldbyMusharraftoprepareforelections.)

Ihadacounter-questionfortheMirwaiz.‘IfallthisisokaythentheLineofControlshouldbegoodenough?’

‘Yes,itis,’hesaid.‘Areyouwillingtosayall

thispublicly?’Iasked.‘No,’hesaid.‘Not

publicly.’ThenextdayIwentto

BrajeshMishraandtoldhim

aboutthedinner,andthefirstquestionheaskedwaswhethertheMirwaizwaswillingtosayallthispublicly.‘No,’Isaid.‘Induecoursewemightreachasituationwherewemaybeabletopersuadehimtosaysomethingpublicly.Buthecan’tsayanythingrightnow.’

ItwasduringthisconversationthatBrajeshlaidoutthenextstageoftheplan.‘Nowthatyou’redoingthis,

carryon,’hesaid,puttingitquitesimply.‘WecancarryonwithPakistan,andwecanmergethesetwoparallelchannelsatsomestage.’

BrajeshhadeitherbegunorwasintheprocessofbeginningadialoguewithhisPakistaniinterlocutor,TariqAziz,afriendofMusharraf’s.OurwayofdealingwithPakistanwasverystraight,inthatwe’dbothputeverythingonthetableandtheotherside

wouldsaywhatwasnotacceptabletothemandwewouldsaywhatwasnotacceptabletous.Whatwasleftacceptabletobothsideswaswhatwewouldgetintoandtrytomoveforwardonthat.TheplanwasthusthatononetrackwewouldtalktoKashmiriseparatists,andonaparalleltrackwewouldtalktoPakistan.Oncethesetracksconverged,wewouldhaveanunderstandingonKashmir.

ThiswastheworkIrelishedundertaking,thoughtherewereKashmiriswhotoldmethatitwasfutile.‘YoucantryyourdamnedestbuttheseguysarenevergoingtobeinapositiontodoanythingwithDelhi,’thisKashmiri,whomI’llkeepanonymous,said.‘Foranyonewho’scomeintopropercontactwiththeISI,it’slikeonceyougetintoawhorehouseyoucannotget

out.’Pakistanhasalwayshada

lobbyinKashmir,andtodaythatlobbywastheHurriyat.ButPakistan,ortheISItobeprecise,isforevernervousoflosingcontroloftheseparatists,becauseonceitlosescontrolofthemthereisnothingleftinKashmirintermsofpoliticalleadership.AndaswesawinthecaseofLone,anyoneeventhinkingofsteppingoutoflinegets

bumpedoff.Asoneseparatistsaidtome,‘What’stheworstthatyouguyscando?Lockusup?Thoseguysshoot.’

ThatiswhytheMirwaizsitstight;it’snotthathe’sinsincere.Hurriyatleadersinprivatehavesaidthatalltheyneedisago-aheadfromPakistanandtheywouldbewillingtodowhateverIndiawants.‘ButpleasegetusanokayfromPakistan,’theyplead.

Mypointisalways,whydoyouneedanokayfromPakistan?

TomaintainthistightcontroltheISI’smaineffort,whileIwaswritingthisbook,wastoreunitethethreefactionsoftheHurriyat—themoderatesledbytheMirwaiz,thehardlinerGeelani’s,andoneledbyShabirShah.TheHurriyatinitiallysplitafterthe2002assemblyelectionintoa

factionledbytheMirwaizandoneledbyGeelani,becauseGeelanipointedoutthatmembersofLone’sPeople’sConferencehadcontestedtheassemblyelectionasindependentswhichcontravenedtheHurriyatconstitution.Atthattime,thePakistanispubliclyallegedthatIndiahadsplittheHurriyat,whereasitwastheirISIwhichhadmadethesplithappen.

TheISIwantedtobuildGeelaniatthetime,andthesearethegamesthattheISIkeepsplayinginKashmir.PakistanhadloosenedcontrolduringMusharraf’stime—hehadeventoldthemtogetreadytocontestelections—butMusharraf’sdeparturefrompowerandthe26/11attacksonMumbaimeantthatinsecuritycreptintotheIndia–Pakistanrelationship,andPakistansoughttotighten

itscontrolagain.By2014theISIrealisedthatitseffortwouldbestrengthenediftheHurriyatwerereunited,whichiswhytherewasaconstantchorustotheseparatiststogetbacktogether.

MuchwaterhadalreadyfloweddowntheJhelum,though.ThemainplayerswouldneverjoinupwithGeelani,beittheMirwaizorProf.GhaniorevenMoulviAbbas,orBilalLone.

MoulviAbbasAnsariisoneoftheseniormostpersonsintheHurriyat;he’soneoftheValley’sprominentShiaclericswhohasneveradvocatedaccessiontoPakistan(heispro-independence).He’sbeeneducatedinKashmirandinIran,andincidentallyheisalsothecousinofIftikharHussainAnsari,thepoliticianImentionedearlier.He’sanice,friendlyperson.Hisreal

riseinpoliticshappenedwhentheMuslimUnitedFront(MUF)wasformedin1986bygovernmentservantsdismissedbyJagmohanbecausehesuspectedtheirloyalties.MoulviAbbaswasmadechairmanoftheMUF,anditparticipatedintheinfamous1987elections.In1993,MoulviAbbaswasamongthehandfulofseparatistswhosetuptheHurriyatConference.InJuly

2003,afterBrajeshMishragavemetheparallel-trackbrief,MoulviAbbaswaselectedtheHurriyat’schairman.

There’sanincidentthatwasreportedinagossipcolumnoftheIndianExpressthatyear.IwenttoSrinagarandonmyflighttherewereonlythreepeopleinclubclass:theMirwaiz,MoulviAbbas,andmyself.OfcourseIhadachatwitheachof

them.TheproblemwaswhentheflightlandednoseparatistwantedtobeseenhobnobbingwithaPMOofficial,particularlyonewhohadbeentheR&AWchief.Wecameofftheaircraftandwedidsoinoneline,sotherewasaprocessionoftheMirwaiz,MoulviAbbas,andmyself.

Someonesawuscominginasinglefile,sotheyaskedtheHurriyatleadersifwehad

beendiscussingsomething.TheMirwaizsaidthattherewasathirdpersonwhosaidhelloandspenttimetalkingwithMoulviAbbas,buthehimselfhadnoideaoftheidentityofthatthirdperson.Whenapproached,MoulviAbbassaid,yeshehadbeentalkingtoDulat,butonlybecausehewasintroducedbytheMirwaiz!Itwascomical,thoughonasobernote,giventheruthlessnesswithwhich

PakistandealtwithanyonewhowassuspectedofdealingwithDelhi,theirfeigningignorancewasnotsurprising.

ThethirdleaderwhocouldneverbeexpectedtojoinGeelaniwasProf.Ghani.HehatedGeelani,whoheclaimedhadaroleinthedeathofProf.Ghani’sbrother,MohammedSultanBhat,in1995.Itembitteredhimandmadehimsayhewaspreparedtodieatany

moment.‘Idon’tknowwhenIwillbeshot,’hesaid.ThisiswhyhetalksofGeelani’s‘narcissism’,andthat’swhyGeelaniiscalledAmir-e-Jehad,oreven,BubJehad(BubisKashmiriforfather,andSheikhSahebwasoftenreferredtoasBub).

Prof.Ghaniisanother1930s-bornHurriyatleaderwhoworkedasaprofessorofPersianinSoporebeforehewasdismissedbyJagmohan

andjoinedtheMUFin1986.Prof.GhanigainedprominenceastheMUFspokesmanand,asmentionedearlier,hewasamemberoftheMuslimConferencewhichbrokeawayfromSheikhAbdullahinthelate1930s(whenheformedhissecularNationalConference)andwentovertoPakistanin1947,tobeledbySardarAbdulQayoomKhan,aformerprimeministerof

PoK.OncetheHurriyatwas

formedProf.Ghaniwasoneofitsmorearticulatemembers,thoughhisfrankanddirectstatementsshowedhimtobelessofapoliticianthantheothers.Hewasthemostpro-PakistanoftheHurriyatleadersbyvirtueofbelongingtotheMuslimConference,butwhen9/11tookplaceheturnedoffPakistan.‘Whocandepend

onPakistan,theycan’tevenlookafterthemselves,’hetoldmewhenImethimin2014,inconnectionwiththisbook.

Theonlypersonwhoremainedpro-Pakistan,andthereforecannotreconcilewiththemoderateseparatists,isGeelani.TheironyisthathisJamaat-e-Islami(JEI)wasreluctanttotakeupterrorismandwasthereforethelastmajorKashmirigrouptoget

involvedinmilitancyinKashmir.Infactthereisastorythatearlierinthemid-1980s,duringZia-ul-Haq’stime,thethenJEIchief,MaulanaSaaduddinTarabali,wenttoPakistananddiscussedtheplantobringmilitancytoKashmir.

ApparentlyMaulanaSaaduddinbackedoff,saying,‘No,iftheKashmiritakestogun,thenKashmiriwillbekillingKashmiri.’

Asthestorygoes,Ziasaid:‘Bhai,yehBrahminkeaulaadhain,inkokahwapilao.’Hebasicallycalledthemcowardlyanduseless.

TheJEIcontinuedtocallitdashatgardi;evenSalahuddin,whohadcontestedthe1987electionunderhisrealname,MohammedYusufShah,hadarguedstronglyagainstthegun,sayinghehadreservationsaboutterrorism.

‘Jehadisnotthewaytogoaboutit,’hesaid.AndofcourseGeelaniwasanMLAtillthetimetheassemblywasdissolved.Yetduringthe1990–91winterheandafewothersweresummonedtoKathmandutomeettheISIandAyubThakurandGhulamNabiFai,whofinallypersuadedhimthattherewasnochoicenowbuttogetintomilitancy.ThisledtothecreationoftheHizbul

Mujahideen,buttheJEIassuchwantedtostayawayfrommilitancy.

Geelani,infact,wrotealettertoPrimeMinisterP.V.NarasimhaRaoin1992sayinghewaswillingtotalktothegovernmentifitwaswillingtoconcedethattherewasadisputeoverKashmir.Ifthegovernmentconcededthatmuch,hewouldtalkwithoutpre-conditions.

Thatwasthen.Now,the

Mirwaizfactionsawhimasanarrogantspoilerwhowouldneveragreetoanything.ProbablyGeelaniovertheyearsbecametoobigfortheseguystohandle;afterhepartedcompanywiththeHurriyatandstartedtocomeoutopenlyinsupportofanythingthathappened,beitamilitantactoraprotest,hebecamebiggerthantherestoftheseparatists.HeisPakistan’smaninKashmir

anditsmosteffectivetoolforcounteringIndia.Hegrowsbiggereverytimethemoderatesareignored.

KashmirisinterpretedthekillingofProf.Ghani’sbrotherasasignaltotheProfessor—thathehadbetterstartbehavingandfallinline.That’swhyLonewaskilled.That’swhyMirwaizMoulviFarooqwaskilled.That’swhyQaziNissarAhmed,thechiefclericofsouthKashmir,

whowasoneoftheoriginalMUFfoundersaswellasafounderoftheHurriyat,waskilled.That’swhyMajidDarwaskilled.That’swhyDrGuruwaskilled.That’swhyFazl-haqQureshiwasnearlykilled.Thelistgoeson.SomeofthesekillingsareattributedtoGeelani’sbrandofpolitics:itleftnoroomforthemoderatesandtheISIsteppedintoeliminatewhoeverfelloutofline.

Yet,somepeople,whentheythinkoftheHurriyat,theythinkofGeelani.Forushehasbeenbadnews.Thisiswhythedeputyprimeminister,L.K.Advani,wasagainsttalkingtoGeelaniandrestrictedhimselftothemoderates.

AyearhadpassedsincetheJ&KassemblyelectionandIwasfeelingdisappointedthattheprimeministerwastakingsolongto

decide.Withagehehadbecomemorecautiousandtookhistimewitheverything.Yetwhenithappened,ithappenedsuddenly.ItwasOctober2003andIwasreturningtoDelhifromChandigarhbecauseofameetingonKashmircalledbytheprimeminister.Atthemeeting,Vajpayee,whowantedtoputanendtotheuncertainty,said,‘Haan,humHurriyatsebaatkarenge.’

Everyonewasstartled.‘Whowilltalkfromthegovernment’sside?’JaswantSinghasked.

‘Advaniji,ofcourse,’Vajpayeesaid.Withthismasterstrokehenippedinthebudanydissent,byputtingthepersonwhowasmostopposedtotalksintheforefront.

TheAdvani–Vajpayeerelationshipwasastrangeone.Itwasspecial,anditwas

notallfrictionornotseeingeye-to-eye;thereweredifferencesbecausetheyweredifferentpeople.TherelationshipremainedspecialbecauseVajpayeehadsufficientrespectforAdvani,andAdvanihadhugerespectforVajpayee.Therewassomuchmutualrespectthatneitherwouldallowanydifferencetoremainunresolved.

Whenevertensionbegan

tobuildupVajpayeewouldsay,‘Advanisekehnahamaresaathlunchkhaye.’Andthetwomenwouldmeetandthetensionwoulddisappear.IfthingshadgottenreallytensethenVajpayeewouldsay,‘Accha,Advanijisekehnamainunkeyahankalaarahahoonlunchkeliye.’Idon’tthinktheyspokeverymuchatlunch;theysimplyallowedtheirchemistrytoworkthingsthrough.

Thatdidnotmeantherewasnotension.Peoplearoundthemcreatedtension,andthegreatestsourceoftensionwasBrajeshMishraandhissupremepositioninthegovernment.

Vajpayeewasapoliticiantohisfingertipsandhecouldbluffanybody,Advaniincluded.Everythingthathedidwaspolitical.Hehadagoodmind,ashewasaphilosopherandapoet;he

wasalsoanRSSpracharak;butaboveallhewasadamngoodpolitician.HewasaChanakya,andtherewasnobodyhalfasshrewdashim.

IncomparisonAdvaniwasastraightarrow.Thiswassobecausehewentbythebook,byfiles,byadvice.Hewouldlisten;hewasapatientlistenerandneverinterruptedyou.Hewasarticulate.Ifyouwentand

metAdvaniyouwouldgetapleasurableconversation.

IfirstmetAdvaniwhenItookoveratR&AW.Icalledonthehomeministerandwehadachat,andwewouldinteractwheneverhewantedsomethingorwheneverherequiredme.Itwasrare,though.MycolleagueattheIB,AjitDoval,withwhomIinteractedoftenonKashmir,wouldsaytome,‘Whydon’tyoumeetAdvaniji,ormeet

himmoreoften,itwouldsimplifymattersonKashmir.’

‘Ajit,’Isaid.‘I’malwaysthereandwheneverI’mcalledI’llgo.’OnmyownIcouldn’tjustcrosstheroadfromSouthBlocktoNorthBlock,however,becausemyboss,thenationalsecurityadvisor,didn’tparticularlydigAdvani.

Inanycase,nowtheHurriyathadtoberoundeduptotalktothedeputyprime

minister,andhavinggottenaformalinvitation,theywerewilling.WhatalsohelpedwasthatinthefirstweekofJanuary2004,VajpayeewenttoIslamabadfortheSAARCsummit,andonthesidelinesheandMusharrafshookhands.Theyalsoagreedtocommenceacompositedialoguebetweenthetwocountriesthatwouldleadtoasettlementofallbilateralissuestothesatisfactionof

bothsides.Tojournalists,VajpayeesaidthattheywoulddiscussKashmir;MusharrafsaidPakistancoulddroptheinsistenceofaplebisciteinKashmir.

AsBrajeshMishra,whohadgonetoIslamabadinadvancetodothegroundworkfortheVajpayee–Musharrafmeeting,said,thetwoparalleltrackslookedliketheywereoncoursetoconvergeat

somepoint.Advani’sfirstmeeting

withtheHurriyatwassetfor22January2004,anditwasexpectedlyahello,how-do-you-dokindofgettingtoknowoneanother.TheHurriyatleaderswerenervousandcametomeetmebeforetheirmeetingwithAdvani.TheProfessorsaid,‘Humarapajamatonahinutarvaoge!’Iassuredthemthatallwouldgowell.Itwentwell.Iwasn’t

there,buttheHurriyatguyswantedthereleaseofsomeKashmirisasaconfidence-buildingmeasure.‘Givemealist,’Advanisaid.AndtheyagreedtomeetagaininMarch.

ThenextdaytheHurriyatwantedtomeetVajpayee.‘What’stheharm?’ItoldBrajesh.‘Letthemhaveacupofteatogether,theydon’thavetomakeitanactualmeeting.’

Sotheywereinvitedforacupofteaandsamosasandjalebiswiththeprimeminister.Itookthemin,andthefiveofthemstoodthereandonebyonesaidtheirpieces.ChairmanMoulviAbbas,theMirwaiz,Prof.Ghani,BilalLoneandFazl-haqQureshiwerethereandtheyeachhadtheirsayandVajpayeedidnotutteraword.Oncethefivehadfinishedtheyalllookedat

eachother.Prof.Ghanidecidedhewasgoingtostartonhisspielagain,butanticipatingthattheothersquicklysaid,‘PMSir,you’veheardus,whatdoyousay?’Oneofthefiveinsisted,sotheprimeministeraskedthestafftobringinmoresamosas.

Vajpayee,asusual,wassilentforalongtime.Finally:‘Advaniistalkingtoyou,’hesaid.‘Letthatgoon.’

Thetealastedmorethananhour,withVajpayeedoingwhathedidbest,keepingquiet.WhentheHurriyatleft,IescortedthemoutandIwonderedwhatthepoorfellowswouldtellthemediathatwaswaitingoutside.IwasfeelingsorryfortheMirwaiz,butheacquittedhimselfwellbysayingitwasagoodmeetingandthatthetalkscontinued.

TheHurriyatwentbackto

Srinagarandinduecoursepassedonalistofnearlythirtyguysthattheywantedreleased.Itriedtopersuadethehomeministrytoreleasesomeofthem,buttheyreleasedonlyeight,whichIfeltwouldsatisfyneithertheHurriyatnorthegovernment.‘Whydon’tyoureleasesomemore?’Iaskedthehomesecretary,N.Gopalaswami.Infact,wehadadisagreementandIlostmy

cool,tellingGopalaswamitogetsomeoneelsetotalktotheHurriyatinstead.Iwasbeingunfairtothehomesecretary.Gopalaswamiwasadecentfellowandagreedtoreleasetwelveprisoners.HethensuggestedtoAdvanithatIbeinvitedtothesecondmeeting,sayingthatthemeetingwiththeHurriyatwouldnothavehappenedbutforDulat.

Thesecondmeetingwas

on27March2004,andthegovernmentsaidweshouldnowgetdowntothenitty-gritty.‘Whatisitthatyouwant?’Advaniasked.

NotonesingleHurriyatleadersaidanything.

Finally,Prof.Ghanisaid,‘Nexttimewewillcomepreparedwithourideas.’

Thatwasthat,andtheyagreedtomeetthatJune.

TheproblemwasthattheHurriyatwasunwillingtobell

thecat.Supposeinthatmeeting,theMirwaizhadrepeatedthethreepointshehadmentionedtomeoverdinnerinMay2003,andaskediftheycouldbedone.ThatwouldhaveputAdvaniandthegovernmentinanawkwardposition,fortheywouldhavehadtodeliver.Instead,theykeptaskingforvaguethings,likeconfidence-buildingmeasuresbyreleasingtwelvepersons.

TheproblemwasthattheseparatistleadershiphasletdownKashmirtimeandagain.SupposeFarooqwererepresentingtheHurriyatortheseparatists,hewouldhavesaidwhathefelthewasrequiredtosay.SimplybecauseheisnotanswerabletoPakistan.

AfterthesecondmeetingIwenttoSrinagarinMaytoprepareforthethirdmeeting,andIspentnearlyaweek

withthesegentlemen,talkingtothem.‘ProfessorSaheb,kucchtohindicationdedijiye,’Isaid.‘Areyougoingtobringthemap,givemesomeidea.’

‘Iampreparingit,’Prof.Ghanisaid.

Thetruthisthatnakshakabhitaiyyarnahinhoga.Ifyouaskmeaboutautonomy,IhavedealtwithKashmirforsolong,andIhaveaskedatthehighestlevel,isautonomy

doable,andIhavebeentold:yes.Itisdoable.IhaveneverofferedanythingbeyondtheConstitutiontoanybody.Ihavetolddifferentseparatiststhattherearevarioustypesofazaadi,butwhoamItotalkofanythingoutsidetheConstitution?Andwhowouldhavebelievedme?

AndifDelhihasnotbeensincereaboutgivingKashmiranythingofconsequenceorsubstance,thentheKashmiri

leadershipalsodoesnothavethegumptiontoextractanything.MaybeDelhiwasinsincere,butthenitwasuptotheKashmiristocheckthemout,insteadoftimeandagainbackingout,whetheritwasShabirShahorMirwaizUmarFarooq.Thegovernment’sgameplanwouldhavebeentogettheHurriyatengaged,thengetShabirintoit,thengetYasinMalikintoit.Theonlyperson

whowouldhavestayedaloofwouldhavebeenGeelaniandthatwouldn’thavemattered.Allthatwasnowrequiredwassincerityandabitofaggressivenessofpurpose,andinanotherfourmeetingsorsowiththeHurriyat,thingswouldwellandtrulyhavebeenontheirway.

Ireturnedon13MayfromSrinagarandthenextdaytheresultsoftheLokSabhaelectionweretobe

countedandannounced.IhadtoldtheMirwaiz,‘You’vegottocometoDelhi.’

‘Yeah,yeah,we’llcome,’hesaid.‘Butwhathappensiftheseguyslose?’

Ilaughed.‘Howdoesitmatter?’

‘No,’theMirwaizsaid.‘WhatifMulayamSinghistheprimeminister?’

‘MulayamSinghwillbemorekeenthanAdvani,’Isaid.

AndtothegreatmisfortuneoftheKashmiris,Vajpayee’steamlosttheelections.

16MANMOHANSINGH’SLOST

DECADE

Byabout1:30intheafternoonof14May2004,it

becameclearthattheNDAgovernmentheadedbyVajpayeewasnotgoingtoreturntopower,andthattheCongress-ledUnitedProgressiveAlliance(UPA)wouldbereplacingit.IwenttoBrajeshMishra’sroom,andfoundhimstandingbyhiscupboard,fiddlingwiththings.Helookedatmeandsaid,‘Haan,bolo.’

‘Sir,abkyahoga?’Iasked.

‘Humsabjayenge,’hesaid.‘Bistrabandhenge,chalenge.’

Andheleftthenextday.Asdideverybodyelse:nicely,neatly,graciously.

Ifigureditwouldbeappropriatetoresignsincethisgovernmentappointedme.IdrewupaletterinwhichIsaidIwouldliketoberelievedandgaveittoBrajeshMishra.‘Youdon’thavetodothis,’hesaid.

‘You’renotapoliticalappointee.’

Nonethelesshewroteaninstructionontheletter:‘Briefthenewprimeministerandtakefurtherorders.’Itthusrequiredmetohangaroundtillthenewprimeministercamein.

IwentbacktomyroomandcalledmyoldDIB,M.K.Narayanan,whowasinLondon.JustforthatbriefmomentImayhavehad

secondthoughtsonquitting.Narayanangavemetheimpressionthathewasnotpartofthegovernment-formationprocess,butpromisedtolookmeupwhenhereturnedtoDelhi.Ultimatelyhejoinedon31Mayastheadvisor(internalsecurity),butinbetweenhedidcometoDelhiandmeetSoniaGandhi.Buthedidnotmeetme.

InthemeantimeIhung

aroundatthePMO,thelastmanleft,visualisingmymeetingwiththepersonIthoughtwasgoingtobethenewprimeminister:SoniaGandhi.AndIwasquiteexcitedaboutit.

On17May,itwasannouncedthatJ.N.‘Mani’DixitwouldbethenewNSA.HecamedowntothePMOandIwentandmethim.‘Areyouseriousaboutleaving?’heasked.

WhenIsaidyes,hesaidherespectedmychoice,andthensaid,‘Keepintouch.’HesentformeonceinJulyandenquiredaboutKashmirandhowbesttomoveforward.Butthatwasit.Soonafterhepassedaway.

IbumpedintoNarayananatthePMOadaybeforetheswearing-in.SoniaGandhiwasnotgoingtobetheprimeminister.ItwouldbeDrManmohanSingh,whomI

hadfirstmetinthemid-’90swhenhewasfinanceministerandIhadtakenShabirShahforameetingwithhimatthebehestoftheprimeminister,P.V.NarasimhaRao.

‘I’mjoiningyourset-up,’Narayanansaid.

‘I’mleaving,’Isaid.ThenewPMOcameto

theirofficeson23May,whichwasaSunday.IfiguredIdidn’tneedtogoinonaSunday,soIdidnot.

WhenIwentinonMonday,Iwastold,‘Youdidn’tcometowelcometheprimeminister.’

‘ItwasSunday,’Isaid.‘Inanycase,I’mleaving,I’llmeettheprimeministerseparately.’

WhenIwenttomeetthenewprimeminister,ItookalonganoteIhadpreparedonKashmirbecauseBrajeshMishrahadsaid,briefhim,andIdidnotknowhowmuchtimeIwouldhave.‘Putit

downoverthere,’hesaid.‘Nowtellme.’

Wespent45minutesindiscussionandfinallyhesaid,‘Wehavetocontinuethisconversation.’

‘Sir,Iwillcomewheneveryouwant,’Isaid.‘ButIwon’tbeinthePMO,I’veputinmypapers.’

DrSinghdismissivelywavedhishandatmystatement.‘Don’tworryaboutthat,’hesaid.

However,Ihadalreadysentmylettertothenewprincipalsecretary,T.K.A.‘Kutty’Nair.Thenewgangmusthavesaid,Dulathasputitdowninwriting,whygivehimsomuchimportance.Itwasprocessedandthatwasthat.

NowthatIwasofficiallyleavingthePMOitwastimetomakeacallonVajpayee.OnoneofmylastdaysIwenttoseehimatRaceCourse

Road.Onethingaboutthemanwasthathewasgoodwithhistimeandyouneverhadtowaitmorethanfivetotenminutes,becausehedidnotmeettoomanypeopleandheneverkeptanyonewaiting.ThatdayIwassummonedinimmediately.

Theoldmanlookedextremelyrelaxed.WhatthehelldoIsaynow,Ithought.HowdoIstartthisconversation.Finally:‘Sir,

yehkyahogaya?’Iasked.TypicalVajpayee,he

laughedheartily.‘Yehunkobhinahinmaloomkikyahogaya,’hesaid,referringtotheCongressparty,equallystunnedbyitswin.

Wespentahalf-hourinrelaxedconversation.‘Koiaisibaatnahin,’hesaid.Hewasinhislight-heartedbestelement,andtherewasnotaniotaofregret.

ThenVajpayeementioned

Gujarat.‘Wohhamaresegaltihui,’hesaid.Perhapshefeltthatwasthereasonhelostpower;becausehedidnotstopthe2002riots.

Mylastdaywas31May,thedayNarayananjoined.Wemet,andheaskedwhyIwasgoing.‘Sir,’Isaid.‘ThisgangbroughtmeherewiththemsoIthoughtIshouldgowiththem.Inanycase,Ineverknewyouwerecominghere.’

‘Who’sgoingtodothis?’heasked,aboutKashmir.

‘Youhavetwooptions,’Isaid.‘EitherAjitDovalorK.M.Singh,theseguysarethemostcontemporary.’Infact,K.M.hadjustreturnedfromaninningsinSrinagar.

‘Dovalcan’tbespared,’Narayanansaid.‘He’sgoingtobeDIB.’ThatwasthefirstIheardthatDovalwouldbecometheIBchief.

Eventuallynoonewas

putinmyjobandIdon’tthinktheywantedanyonethere.

BeforeIleftIalsowentandmetthenewministerofstateinthePMO,PrithvirajChavan,whohadtakenoverfromVijayGoelandwhowouldlaterbecomethechiefministerofMaharashtra.WehadtwodiscussionsonKashmirbeforeIleftthePMOandheaskedmewhatoughttobethenextstep.

‘Therehasbeenabeginningandanopeninghasbeenprovided,’Isaid.‘Youmusttakeitforward.’Itoldhimhewasideallysuitedtodoso.‘You’retheministerhereandKashmirisliketobelievethattheprimeministerorthePMOisdealingwithKashmir.’

‘Whataboutthehomeminister?’heasked.

‘Ofcourseyoucantalkitoverwithhim,’Isaid.But

whatmatteredtotheKashmiriwasthatthePMOwasinvolved,whichiswhyNarasimhaRaocreatedadepartmentofJ&Kaffairsdirectlyreportingtohim.‘YouneedtotalkthisoverwiththePMonhowyouwanttodoit.’

TheotherthingthatImentionedwasthatinthe2004election,theCongresshadnearlyadozenabsolutelyyoung,brightmembersof

Parliamentfromdifferentpoliticalfamilies,allofwhomappearedtohaveafuture.‘MakeuseoftheminKashmir,’IsaidtoChavan.‘TwoofthreeshouldbeallottedKashmir.’

InparticularImentionedSachinPilotandRahulGandhi.SachinwasanaturalbecausehewasFarooq’sson-in-lawandsorelatedtoKashmir,whileRahulwasdescendedfromKashmiri

Pandits.‘TheseguysshouldgetinvolvedandvisitKashmirregularly,’Isaid.‘WheneverRahulwantstogoonvacationheshouldgotoSrinagar.’

EvenifRahuldidn’twanttobeconnectedheoughttogoonholidayandlikehisgreat-grandfathersaythisismylandandIhaveanemotionalbondwithit.PanditNehruevenusedtogoridinginKashmir.Butneither

didtheseyoungstersshowanyinterest,norweretheyusedproductively.ItwasagreatopportunityfortheCongresspartybutitwasfritteredaway.

ItwasmyownfaultthatIdidnotcontinueinDrSingh’sadministration.Nobodyaskedmetoleaveandmostweresurprised;laterIwastoldthatsomefeltIwasbeingarrogant,whichisthelastthingIwaseveraccused

ofinallmyyearsofgovernmentservice.MaybeIwasbeingimpulsive,butIsimplythoughtitwastheappropriatethingtodo.BrajeshMishrahadbroughtmein;hewasgoingandIthoughtIshouldalsogo.Agoodthinghasonlythatmuchshelflife.

Andintheyearstopass,Ihadnoregretonthatscore.Onethingisforsure:Vajpayee’sPMOwasavery

happyPMO.WhatIsawsubsequentlywasaverytense,stressed-outPMO.Ivisitedanumberoftimes,evenontheoccasionsthatNarayanan’ssuccessorasNSA,ShivShankarMenon,calledmeover.Inthebeginningtherewasalotoftensionbetweenthetwoguyswhosejobsalmostoverlapped—ManiDixitandNarayanan.AndthoughManideparted,unfortunately,therealways

seemedtobealotofwrestlinggoingonwithin.WhereasinVajpayee’sPMOtherewasnodoubtinanybody’smindthatthebosswastheprincipalsecretary,BrajeshMishra.IguessitwasamatterofVajpayeeandBrajeshMishrahavinganexceptionalrelationshipduringanexceptionalperiod.

OneoccasionIwenttomeetManmohanSinghwasinJuly.Hecalledmeto

discussinitiativesonKashmir,andheaskedhowtheBJPwouldreact.‘TheBJPstartedtheprocesssotheyshouldn’tobject,’Isaid.‘Whydon’tyoujustaskthem?’

‘WhomdoItalkto?’hesaid.

‘Youcantalktotheex-PM,Vajpayee.’

‘Hedoesn’ttalk,’DrSinghsaid.

‘Okay,youcantalkto

L.K.Advaniaboutit,’Isuggested.

‘He’sverydifficult.’‘Okay,youcantalkto

BrajeshMishra.’Brajeshthenfoundaline

totheUPA.AfterweleftthegovernmentIwouldgomeetthemaneveryfiveorsixweeksandhaveadrinkwithhim.Hewasasmartfellow.HesupportedDrSinghonthenucleardealin2008,muchtotheunhappinessofhisparty.

WhenthemediaaskedBrajeshaboutthishesimplysaid,‘I’mnotapartyman.’TheUPAgavehimaPadmaVibhushan.

DuringthefirstyearoftheUPA’sgovernment,theprimeministerwascallingmemoreoftenthanevenNarayananandsosometimeinAugust–September2004,NarayanancalledmeupandaskedmetodinnerattheIndiaInternationalCentre.

‘HaveyoulostallinterestinKashmir?’heasked.

‘Sir,whyshouldIloseinterestinKashmir?’

‘Canyoutakeupwhatyouweredoingearlier?’

‘Icould,’Isaid.‘Butinwhatcapacity?’

‘Inyourpersonalcapacity.’

Isaidokay,eventhoughitdidnotamounttoaformalroleinthegovernment.Itwasnobigdeal,andIdidn’teven

askforanairticket.‘I’llgoandtellAjitDoval,’Isaid.‘I’dliketokeeptheDIBinformedratherthanhehearitfromhispeople,soifyoudon’tmindI’lltellAjitI’mgoing.’

Ithinkhedidmind,buthesaid,‘Theekhai.’

Theprimeministermusthavesaidthatnoonewasabletoreachouttotheseparatists,sowhynotsendDulat,andthat’swhyIwas

sent.ImettheHurriyat—theguyswhohadstartedthedialoguewiththeNDAwereknowninSrinagarasthe‘AdvaniHurriyat’—andhadachat,onebyone.IreturnedandreportedmydiscussionstoNarayanan.Hetookmetotheprimeminister.

IwassurprisedtofindKuttyNairinDrSingh’sroom.ButIsupposeeverythinghassomepurpose.‘Sir,they’reallkeentotalk,’

ItoldManmohanSingh.Thereactioncamefrom

KuttyNair.‘ThePMisgoingtoSrinagarnextweek,’hesaid.‘CanyouarrangeameetingforhimwiththeHurriyat?’ItsoundedlikeheneededP.C.Sorcarratherthanme.

‘No,’Isaid,point-blank.‘Therehastobeamethodinthis.Itwilltakesometime.ButIpromiseyou,ifDelhiwantstotalkIwillgetthem

hereinthreemonthstotalktoyou.’

InhindsightIwonderedwhytheprimeministerwasgoingandwhattherushwas.Thereshouldbeanagendawhenyouvisit,somethingyouwanttodoorsay.ButifhefeltthatasPMheshouldvisitKashmirasearlyaspossiblethenheneednothavebotheredabouttheHurriyat.Theprimeministercan’tdoeverythinghimself;

thereareotherpeopletogetthatprocessgoing.

Inanycase,thatwasthelasttimeIwasofficiallyconsultedoverKashmir.

Theproblemisthattheywantedinstantresults.TheywantedmetosendamessagetotheMirwaiztomeettheprimeministeronhisvisitthefollowingweek.TheMirwaizsaid:‘Humitnegirehuebhinahinhainkiaapthanedarbhejdengeaurhumaa

jayenge.’(Wearenotsolackinginself-respectthatwewillrespondtoeverysummonsfromDelhi.)Ironically,thesameMirwaizhadbeenhappywithhismeetingswithSoniaGandhiwhileshewasintheopposition.She’sreasonable,hewouldsay.ButoncetheUPAcametopower,shestoppedmeetingtheHurriyat.

TheUPAinsteadgotboggeddowninwhatwas

rightandwhatwaswrong.Suchinitiativeshavetocomefromwithin;thatiswhatispoliticalwill.AndtheUPAhaditonaplatter.AllithadtodowasfollowupontheprocessthatVajpayeestarted.SinceAdvanihadstartedtalkingtotheHurriyat,thatshouldhavebeenthestartingpoint.Itjustneededfollowingup,patience,timeandunderstanding.Itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthe

Hurriyattowriggleout,orfortheBJPtobacktrackon.

Butthesethingsneverhappened.Ifsomethinghadtohappenitshouldhavehappenedinthefirstsixmonthsoreightmonthsormaximumoneyear.InsteadtherewasabrainwavetobroadbasetheKashmirmeetingsandgetmorepeoplein.ThePMOcalledaroundtablemeetingwhichwasawasteoftime.Itwent

onforsixhours—andManmohanSinghsatthroughthewholething.Imagine,Vajpayeewouldn’tspendfiveminutesonsuchameetinganditrequiredalotofpersuasionjusttohaveteaandsamosaswiththeHurriyat;andtheUPAorganisedthreeroundtablemeetingstowhichtheHurriyatdidnotevenshowup.

Therewasnomeaningful

dialogueandafterthateverythingfellintotheusualroutineofchaltahai.Thenpeoplebegansayingthattheseparatistswereuselessandthattherewasnopointintalkingtothem.Butyouhavetotalktosomebody,isn’tit?

Theywouldn’teventalktoFarooqAbdullah,andIhadtoldthemthatFarooqwasdeeplyannoyedwiththeNDAfordenyinghimthevice-presidencyandthenfor

hislossofpowerinthestate.Itwasagoodtimetowinhimover.ButperhapsSoniawasnotinterested.

Duringhisdecadeasprimeminister,ManmohanSinghwenttoKashmironatleastfiveoccasionsandmostofthosevisitswereawaste.Kashmirisapoliticalmatter,butmorethanthatitisemotiveandpsychological.Thatiswhy‘insaniyatkedairey’hasretainedits

resonanceevenaftersomanyyears.

ThatnothinghappenedonKashmirorPakistanisManmohanSingh’sgreattragedy,becausenootherprimeministerwanteditmore,orwasmoresincere.Buthewasalonelymanwithnosupporteitherfromthepartyorthebureaucracy,andasthegovernmentweakened,theBJPtookmoreandmoreadvantageofit,calledDr

Singh‘aweakman’.IftheBJPhadcriticisedhimforbeingweaktowardsPakistanthenallhehadtodowassaythathewasmerelycarryingonwhatVajpayeestarted.Afterall,despiteKargil,VajpayeeinvitedMusharraf.Advanididsayin2004thatonlytheBJPcoulddosomethingwithPakistanbecausethemajoritywouldneverthinkthattheBJPhadsoldout.ThenVajpayee,

surprisingly,in2005saidtheCongresswasgoingsoftonKashmir.Itwasstrange,butbasicallynomatterwhoisinpowertheothersidedoesn’twanttoconcedeanythingonKashmir.

LinkedtotheKashmirparalysiswasthemissedwindowofopportunitywithPakistan,whenMusharrafwasattheheightofhispowerfrom2004to2007.ThisissomethingDrSinghhimself

admittedathislastpressconferenceon3January2014:thattherewasagoldenopportunityforadealwithPakistan,particularlyduringthe2006–07winter,thatwasmissed.

ItallcentredonwhatMusharrafhimselfin2006calledhis‘four-pointformula’forKashmir.ItwassomethingthatbegantakingshapewhenhemetVajpayeeduringtheSAARCsummitin

IslamabadandgraduallyevolvedduringthefirstfewyearsoftheManmohanSinghera.Theformulawas:makingbordersirrelevantbyallowingfreemovementofKashmirisacrosstheLoC;self-governancewhichmeantautonomybutnotindependence;demilitarisation;andamechanismforjointmanagement.

Ithadbigimplicationsfor

Pakistan’sstandonKashmir:itmeantthattheLoCwasbeingaccepted;thatthelong-helddemandforplebiscitewouldbesetaside;thatself-governancewouldreplacethedemandforself-determination;thatKashmiriswouldtalktoNewDelhi;andthatKashmirwasnolongertheunfinishedbusinessofPartition.

WhydidMusharrafdoit?Fromthemomentthat

Musharrafbecamepresidenthehadbeenspeakingaboutout-of-the-boxsolutions,aboutleavingthepastbehind,andaboutmovingforward.Hewantedadeal.

Andtothatend,hestartedpayingmoreattentiontothepoliticalmainstreaminKashmir.Perhapsafterthe2002J&Kassemblyelectionherealisedthemainstreamwouldhaveanimportantroleinthefuture—remember,

AbdulGhaniLoneusedtosayseparatismwasjustaphase—andhereachedouttoeverybody.MehboobaMuftiwashispreferredmainstreampoliticianduringthetimeherfatherwasthechiefminister;whenMuftisteppeddownMusharraf’spreferenceswitchedovertoOmarAbdullah.

InMarch2006,OmarvisitedIslamabadattheinvitationofMusharraf,the

firstmainstreamKashmiripoliticiantodoso,andwhenhereturnedImethimforlunch.HewasfullofPakistanandfullofMusharraf.HisthesiswasthatMusharrafwasbeingmuchmorereasonablethanwewere.‘Haveyoumettheprimeministerandtoldhim?’Iasked,whichhesaidthathehad.

MusharrafwasalsoveryimpressedwithOmar.FromhispointofviewOmarwasa

smart,upfrontKashmiriwhospokewellandappearedhonest,quitetheoppositeofthewishy-washyHurriyatguyswhosaidonething,didanotherandmeantsomethingtotallydifferent.MusharrafmayhavewonderedwhysomuchweightagebegiventotheHurriyat,ifthemainstreamguyscandothejobforPakistan.

ItwasasafalloutofthisthathetooktheHurriyatto

task,tellingthemtostarttakingpartinelections(advicethat,asmentionedearlier,madetheMirwaiz’sthroatrundry).HereportedlytoldGeelanithathewasanoldmanwhoshouldgetoutofthewayofpeace;GeelaniwassidelinedfortheyearsthatMusharrafwasinpower,notdoingmuchelsebutcriticiseMusharraf.BecauseofMusharraf,Geelani’ssonNayeem,adoctorinPakistan,

hadtoreturntoKashmir(whichOmar,whenhebecamechiefministerin2008,facilitated).GeelanionlyregainedinfluenceasaseparatistonceMusharraflostpower.

ToillustratehowMusharraf’sthinkingchangedeverybodytherearetwovisitstoIndiabySardarAbdulQayyumKhan,theformerprimeministerofPoKandtheheadoftheMuslim

Conference,thepartytowhichHurriyatleaderProf.AbdulGhaniBhatbelonged.InSeptember2005,SardarQayyumattendedaseminarattheObserverResearchFoundation(ORF)whereIalsoparticipatedinthediscussion.Whenhisturncametospeak,hedidtheusualwaffling:thatKashmirwasacomplexmatter,thatweneednotlookatsolutionsimmediately,thatconfidence

buildingwasmoreimportant.Whenmyturntospeak

came,Isaid:‘SardarSaheb,I’veheardsomuchaboutyouandwhatyou’resayingwouldbeextremelydisappointingtotheKashmirissittingherebecausewhatyou’reimplyingisthatthereisnosolutiontoKashmir.’

SardarQayyumreturnedinMay2007,bywhichtimethefour-pointformulawas

verymuchintheairandMusharrafwassayingrepeatedlythatwhateverwasacceptabletoKashmiriswasacceptabletoPakistan.HehadbuiltbridgeswithMusharraf,andhisson,SardarAttiqueAhmedKhan,hadbecomeprimeministerofPoK.SardarQayyumsaidexactlywhatMusharrafwassaying:thatwhatevercansaveKashmirandKashmirisshouldbeacceptabletoboth

sides.IhadalongchatwithhimandfoundthatallthathesaidwasinparalleltowhateverMusharrafwassaying.Itwasn’tProf.Ghanialonewhosetunehadchanged.

Infact,thegreatestproponentofMusharraf’sfour-pointformulawastheMirwaiz.Itsuitedalltheseparatists.

AsfarbackasIcanremember,ifwelookatthe

historyofKashmirandifwelookatthePakistanileadership,nootherPakistanihasbeenasreasonableonKashmirasMusharrafwas.YetManmohanSinghcouldnotgrasptheopportunity.MusharrafissupposedtohavesentamessagetoDrSinghinearly2007:you’reaPakistaniSikhandI’manIndianMuslim.Letusgettogetheranduniteourpeopleandendthismadnessof

confrontationforever.Theopportunityslipped

away,anditwasadmittedpubliclyforthefirsttimein2011byMusharraf’sformerforeignminister,KhurshidMahmudKasuri.WhenManmohanSinghgavehislastpressconferencehetooadmittedthattheyhadcomesoclose.YethecouldnotevenvisitPakistan—unlikeVajpayee,whovisitedtwice.Notonceduringthedecade

hewasprimeministercouldhevisittheplacewherehewasborn.

TheBJPaside,hewasnothelpedbythebureaucracyaroundhim.Ifyouleaveittothebureaucrats,nothingwilleverhappen.ItmadenodifferencewhetherManmohanSingh’sNSAwasNarayanan,anintelligenceman,orShivShankarMenon,aforeignserviceman.WhenVajpayeetookthebusto

Lahore,itwasnotabureaucraticdecision.Itwasnotawhimeither,alotofhomeworkwentintothatbusride,butVajpayee‘drove’thatbustoLahore.

AstimewentonthentheoppositionorresistancetoforwardmovementonPakistancamefromwithintheCongresspartyitself.LessthantwomonthsafterDrSinghwontheUPAasecondterm,hewenttotheEgyptian

resortofSharm-el-SheikhwhereheandhisPakistanicounterpart,SyedYousafRazaGilani,issuedajointstatement.Inthat,amentionwasmadeofBaluchistan,wherethePakistanishavesuspectedanIndianhandintheirinsurgency.AllDrSinghdidwassaywehavenoinformation,we’renotinvolved,butwe’llhavealookatit.

Thismentionbroughtthe

primeministerundergreatcriticismfromtheBJP,asexpected,butalsofromhisownparty.IcantellyouthatifVajpayeehadsaidthesamething,noonewouldhavehadthegumptiontoquestionhim.

ManmohanSingh’sinabilitytoseizeadealinwinter2006–07frustratedMusharrafmorethananyoneelse.ByMarchhewasembroiledinapowerstrugglewhenhesuspendedthechief

justiceofPakistan,IftikharMohammedChaudhry.ItledtoaseriesofeventsinwhichhehadtogiveupbeingthearmychiefinNovember2007;formerPrimeMinisterBenazirBhuttoreturnedtoPakistaninDecemberandwasassassinated(forwhichMusharrafwasarrestedin2013);andhissteppingdownaspresidentinthefaceofimpeachmenthappenedinAugust2008.

SomepeoplebelievethatMusharrafwassoannoyedatmissingoutonhisplaceinhistorythathemayhavehadahandinthe26November2008attackonMumbaiwhichkilled164people.ItwasabigoperationandcouldonlyhavebeenanISIoperation,plannedinadvance.Thistalkofrogueelementisallnonsense.Gen.AshfaqKayani,whosucceededMusharrafasthe

armychief,wastheISIchiefunderMusharrafandbothofthemwouldhavebeenintheknow.

Whygofromout-of-the-boxpeacetosuchadeadlyattackthatmighthaveledtowar?There’sabeliefthatwhenthegeneralsinPakistangetirritatedtheyfeelthattheonlythingthatDelhiunderstandsisforce.Suchathing,likeaterrorattack,isregardedbythearmyasa

kickinthebackside.SincethenthePakistanis

havefeltregretfulthattheattacktookplace,andinourtracktwomeetings(theunofficialbilateralmeetingswhereretiredofficialstryoutsuggestionsthatotherwisewouldnotbebroughtupinformalmeetings)thePakistanishavewishedIndiawouldput26/11asideandgetbacktotalkingpeace.Ihadgonetoonesuchmeetingin

December2008inBangkok,butdespitetheirgenuinewishthattheattackhadnottakenplace,IhadtoinformthemthatitwouldtaketimeforIndiatogetoverit.Formanyofustheattackhadbeenlikeaninvasionbysea.

Downtheyears,wheneverPakistanishaveaskedmewhatwouldhappenintheeventofanother26/11,Ihaveplainlystatedthatnobodycanpredictthe

consequences.After26/11,ShivrajPatil

wasreplacedasthehomeministerbyP.Chidambaram,tillthenthefinanceministerandgenerallyseentobeoneofthemoreefficientministersinthegovernment.HecalledmeinafteralittlebitofafiascowiththeHurriyat.

ItwasobviousthatChidambaramwantedaquiet,meaningfulandsustained

dialogue,andthathewanteditbadly.ButlikeothersintheUPA,hewasimpatientaboutit.Hewantedthingstomaterialisequickly.

TheHurriyatwasbroughttoDelhitomeetthehomeministeron14November2009.ItwasarrangedbytheIB,asperChidambaram’swishes,butsomehowthestoryleakedandappearedintheHindu.ThenewspaperstatedthattheHurriyatwere

summonedtoDelhiandtoldtoassembleatKhanMarket,wheretheywerepickedupandtakentomeetChidambaram.Sothequietbitwentoutofthewindowwiththisexposéoftheoperation,andtheHurriyatwasnotamusedforitclaimsthatwhateveritdoes,itdoesopenly.Thiswasnotveryopen.

‘Whatissoquietaboutthis?’theMirwaiz

complainedtome.‘Aapquietkibaatkartehain,akhbaarmeinaajatihain.’

TheIBfiguredthatthestategovernmenthaddeliberatelysabotagedit,meaningtheJ&KCID.However,ifitwasintendedtobeahush-hushoperationthenwhydidthestateCIDgetawhiffofit?HowdidthestategovernmentcometoknowtheHurriyatmenwereassemblinginKhanMarket?

TheywereprobablybeingtailedbythestateCID.

TheDIBcalledmeupafterthisandsaidthehomeministerwouldliketoseeyou.Isaidgreat.

Chidambaramwasverynice.‘I’mtoldthatyouknowtheseHurriyatguys,’hesaid.

‘Sir,wehelpedgettingthemtomeetAdvani,’Isaid.

‘Ihadcontactwiththem,’hesaid.‘Canyourenewthecontact,andgiveme

feedback?’IwenttotheMirwaizand

hadalongchat,afterwhichIwentbacktothehomeministerandsaid:‘They’reverymuchonboard.’

ThatwasmysecondmeetingwithChidambaramwhichwentwell,andlaterhesentwordthatwewouldmeetagain.

Inourthirdmeeting,Chidambaram’sfrustrationcametothefore.Hewas

extremelyirritatedandsaidtheHurriyatleaderswerenotveryreliable.ImadethemistakeofsuggestingShabirShah.

‘YoumeanShabirwillcome?’

‘Yes,sir,’Isaid.‘Ofcoursehe’llcome.Ifhe’sapproachedhe’lltalk.’

ButChidambaramwascynicalaboutitbecausehehadnegativereportsaboutShabir.‘Whydon’tyougo

andgetShabir?’hesaid,inafoultemper.

NowShabirwasinjailandIwasoutofthegovernment.HowintheworldwasIsupposedtoyankhimoutofjail?Sothehomeministergotangrywithme.Andafterthat,Iwasnotneeded.

ChidambaramwenttoKashmirinJune2011andinApril2012,buthedidnotmeettheHurriyatthere.In

July2012,SushilKumarShindetookoverashomeministerafterChidambaramwasshiftedtothefinanceministryfollowingtheelectionofPranabMukherjeeasPresidentofIndia.Shindemadeanimpressionbecausehewasdifferentfromhispredecessorandmoreinthemouldofatraditionalpolitician.Beforehewasapoliticianhewasanassistantsub-inspectorofpolice.

ShindevisitedinOctober2012anddidacoupleofsmartthings:hevisitedChrar-e-ShariefandhevisitedHazratbal,andheshockedeveryonebywanderingoffintothebazaaratLalChowkandaskinglocalsaboutthepriceofvegetables.‘Yehtohtheeklagtahai,’Kashmirissaid.

ThoughShinde’sinstinctswererighttherewasnofollow-up,becauseafew

monthslater,inFebruary2013,AfzalGuruwashangedforhisallegedinvolvementintheDecember2001attackonParliament.ImmediatelyhebecameamartyrinKashmirnotbecausehewasafugitivefreedomfighterlikeMaqboolButt,butbecausehecametorepresentthevictimisationthatKashmirisfelt.Inaway,AfzalGurureplacedMaqboolButtasthemainmartyrfortheKashmirmovement.

Omar,whowasthechiefminister,wasextremelyannoyedandprotested,askingwhatwasthehaste;thereweretwelveotherconvictswhohadbeenwaitinglongerondeathrow.Yetwhatchoicedidhehave;Delhibelieveditcouldramanythingthatitlikeddowntheyoungchiefminister’sthroat.ItcertainlydidtheUPAgovernmentnogood,andProf.Ghanicalledmeup

toask:‘Whoseagendaisthegovernmentcarryingout?’

IimmediatelyaskedforameetingwithDrSingh,becauseIwasreceivingalotofanguishedcallsfromKashmir.Ifinallymettheprimeministeramonthlater,butbythentherewasreallynothingmuchtosay.ImmediatelyafterthehangingIwaschallengedduringaTVdebatebySubramanianSwamyandItoldhim:‘If

Vajpayeehadbeenprimeminister,thiswouldnothavehappened.’Iadded:‘EvenifAdvanihadbeenprimeministeritwouldnothavehappened.’

Needlesstosay,itsetthingsbackevenfurtherfortherestofIndiainKashmir.IfIndia’sintentionhasbeentomainstreamKashmir,thennotonlywasprogressatastandstillduringthetenyearsoftheUPA,theywereset

backbyirritantsliketheAfzalGuruhanging.

Howcouldtherebeprogress?AfterMusharrafnoPakistanipickeduphisfour-pointformulainfearthattheywouldloseoutinKashmir.Indeed,havingcomethisclosetosettlingit,PakistanisnotinterestedinKashmir.Pakistanwillgainnothingatthispointoftime,soitdoesnotevenwanttodiscussKashmir.WheneverIhave

askedPakistanisattracktwomeetingsastowhathappenedtothefour-pointformula,theyeitherlaughorlooktheotherway.

AndwiththehostilityshownbyNarendraModiduringhisfirstsixmonthsasprimeminister,thePakistanishavegonebacktotalkingaboutUNresolutions—somethingthatMusharraf’sfour-pointformulahadpromisedtorenderobsolete.

Ontheotherhand,Kashmiris,whoforthelongesttimewerenotallthatthrilledwithMusharraf’sformula,werenowdesperatelyseekingitasthepoliticalsolutiontotheirgrievanceswithDelhi.

ThesolutiontotheIndia–Pakistan–KashmirGordianknotwasgiventoDrManmohanSinghonaplatterin2004.Whenheleftofficein2014,hehadnotaccomplishedwhatwas

withinhisgrasp.NowonderKashmiriscallhistenuretheir‘lostdecade’.

17

THELEAGUEOFEXTRAORDINARY

GENTLEMEN

FollowingtheattacksonMumbaion26November

2008,therewasabriefperiodinwhichanxietyspreadthatIndia’sangercouldspilloverintoretaliationonPakistanisoil,andtherewouldbeacounter-retaliation,andsoon,thatthethingmightspinoutofcontrol,totheextentthatnuclearweaponswouldcomeintoplay.

Westerncountriesworriedthemostaboutit,andwhentemperssubsided,theywerekeenthattheygetafeel

ofwhatthethinkingwasonbothsidesoftheIndo-Pakborder.Thebestwaytodothatwasthroughtracktwodiplomacy,atermcoinedbyanAmericandiplomatin1981toreferto‘non-governmental,informalandunofficialcontactsandactivitiesbetweenprivatecitizensorgroupsofindividuals’.Thoughitcontrastswithtrackonediplomacy,whichis

governmental,itisnotasubstituteforit.IndiaandPakistanhavebeenhostingatracktwodiplomaticmeetingcalledtheNeemranaDialogue,namedafterthefirstvenue,arestoredfortinNeemrana,Rajasthan,since1992.Thecountrieshavehosteditalternately,andgathertogetherretireddefenceservicesofficers,retireddiplomats,mediapersons,representatives

ofNGOs,etc.Whathadstartedoffasan

India–PakistaninitiativewasgraduallyexpandedtoincludeAfghanistanandwhentheprocessacceleratedandstabilised,thensomeonehitontheideaofhavinganexclusivedialogueforthetwomilitaries,andthusbegananIndia–Pakistanmilitarydialogue.RetiredLt.Gen.MohammedAsadDurrani,whowasthedirector-general

oftheISIdirectorateintheyears1990–92,suggestedthatifthemilitariescouldtalktooneanother,thensocouldtheintelligenceservices.

PeterJones,ascholaratOttawaUniversitywhowassettingupthistracktwoinitiative,thoughtitwasagreatideafloatedbyGeneralDurraniandaskedforIndia’sresponse.TheR&AWchiefwhohadhadsuccessfulmeetingsin2002withhisISI

counterpart,andwhonowwasretiredlikeme,C.D.Sahay,bouncedtheideaoffme.‘Ithinkit’sgreat,’Isaid.HencewasborntheideaofameetingofretiredintelligenceofficersfromIndiaandPakistan,sponsoredbytheUniversityofOttawawhichhadbeeninthebusinessforsometime.

Onelookedforwardtothesemeetingsnotbecausewewouldproducesomething,

butbecausetotheinquisitivemindofanintelligenceofficer,goingtosuchameetingwouldbringyouintotouchwiththeotherside,youcouldmakeafewfriendsandheartheotherviewpoint.Itgaveyouaninsight.ImustsayIlearntalot.

TheotherthingisthatthequestionthatcomesupinDelhiwhiledebatingbilateralrelationswithPakistanisofwho’sincontrol.The

Pakistanisacknowledgethatultimatelywhenitcomestoforeignpolicyornationalsecurity,thearmy’sapprovalisrequired.Withintheirarmy,theISIisanall-powerfulinstitution—perhapsthemostpowerfulspyagencyintheworld,asfarasinfluenceontheirgovernmentisconcerned.Soifsuchatracktwodialoguehelpsusmakecontactsintheestablishmentwithinthe

establishment,thatcanonlyhelpIndia–Pakistanrelations.

ThePakistanishavebeenverykeentomeet.Inthesetracktwomeetingswealwaysputdownaresolutionrecommendingmeetingsbetweenthetwocountries’intelligencechiefs.Itmakessense.FromthePakistanipointofview,iftheintelligencechiefsmeetthenthearmychiefscouldmeet;andifthearmychiefsmeet

thenyoucouldhaveasummitmeeting.Onethingfollowsanother.GeneralDurraniandIevenwroteajointpaperonitinJuly2011.Inourthinking,intelligencechiefscandosomuchfortheirgovernmentsandtheirleaderswhichcanremainnon-attributable.Itcanonlyhelpthepoliticalprocess.

We’vehadfourroundsofmeetingsofretiredintelligencechiefs.Thefirst

twowereattendedbythefutureNationalsecurityadvisor,AjitDoval.ThePakistanisidehasbeenbetterrepresentedthanourside,sadly;wefinditdifficulttomusterfivepeople,thoughwehadoriginallydecidedthatitwouldbeSahay,Doval,ShyamalDatta,VikramSoodandmyself.Shyamalhadsecondthoughtsandbackedout,heneverattended.Vikramhashad

betteroptions.SowebroughtinR.N.Ravi,whousedtobewithmeintheIB’sKashmirGroupandwholaterbecamethechairmanoftheJointIntelligenceCommittee(JIC).Afterthesecondmeeting,though,bothDovalandRavibackedoutasithadgottenclosertothe2014parliamentaryelection.Sahaydidnotgotothethirdmeetingduetokneesurgerysowehadtoropeintwo

otherR&AWofficers,AnandArniandRajeevKumar,aswellasanoldIBhand,V.Rajagopal.

Thesignificantthinghereisthatiffivepeoplefromeachcountrywhohavehandledimportantpositionscansittogetherandtalkfrankly,thenwhycan’ttheintelligencechiefsmeet?AnAmericanambassadorwhoattendedthefourthmeetingcalledusa‘Leagueof

ExtraordinaryGentlemen’,whichisalsothenameofafilm.

MyowntracktwoexperiencesstartedwhenAmitabhMattoo,anexpertoninternationalrelationswhowasthenwiththeInstituteofPeaceandConflictStudies(IPCS),invitedmetoparticipateintheChaophrayaDialogueinBangkokinMarch2009.Theinitiativeisnamedafterthemainriverin

ThailandandwasorganisedjointlybytheIPCSandtheJinnahInstituteinPakistan,butfundedbytheBritish.Ihadalsogotteninvolved,thankstoformerforeignsecretarySalmanHaider,withtheBalusaGroupmeeting,chairedbyhigh-poweredPakistani-AmericanacademicShirinTahir-KheliandnamedaftertwovillagesinPakistaniPunjab.

Thetracktwocircuitwas

alsoaplacewhereImadewhatformewasastartlingdiscovery—andonethatIpassedontomyoldorganisation,sinceIwasnowlongretired—andthatwasatopTalibanfunctionarytellingmethathisorganisationwasnotaversetomakingcontactwiththegovernmentofIndia.

MullahAbdulSalamZaeefwasoneoftheoriginalTalib(students)whowasa

veteranoftheanti-SovietresistanceandwhowithotherTalibscametogetherunderMullahMohammedOmartoformtheTaliban,whichsoughttobringanendtodecadesofstrifeinAfghanistanbyassumingpowerin1994.TheTalibangovernmentwasdislodgedbytheUSinvasionofitscountryinOctober2001insearchofal-QaedaleaderOsamabinLaden,mastermindofthe

9/11attacks,buttheTalibanundertookaninsurgencyagainsttheUSmilitary,whichlastedtillAmericabegantopulloutin2014.

MullahZaeefwasinBerlininJuly2011,atthe59thconferenceofPugwash.Itwasabigjamboreefilledwithinterestingpeople,oneofwhomwasanIrishmannamedMichaelSemple.HepointedMullahZaeeftomeandIsaidIwasthinkingof

talkingtoMullahSaheb.‘Yes,yes,’hesaid.‘You

musttalk.’‘Howmuchisheinon

theTaliban?’‘He’snotintheinner

core,’Semplesaid.‘Butthey’veparkedhiminKabulandhedoeshaveaccesstoMullahOmar.Sohemeetspeople,helistens,andthenhereportsback.’

IaskedMullahZaeefifwecouldtalk,notknowing

whetherhepreferredtospeakinhisnativePashto,buthewasquiteokaywithEnglish.Wespokeforabout45minutes,andhemadeanumberofpoints.

First,thatpeacewaspossiblebutonlyaftertheAmericanshadleft,sincetheywerethecoreoftheproblem.‘Oncetheygo,theAfghansknowhowtosortitout,’MullahZaeefsaid.‘Andwewillsortitout.Whetherit

requiresacoalitionwe’llsee,butaccommodationwillbethekey.’

TheTalibanhasmaturedagreatdeal,headded.Theleadersaregettingold.

‘Isanythinghappeningsofar?’Iasked.

Abitofmovementhasbeenmade,hesaid,withthehelpofArabfriends(theopeningofanofficeinQatar,toexploretalkswiththeAmericans,wasintheworks

butnotyetpublic).‘WeareopentoeverybodybutnotPakistanandnotSaudiArabia,’hesaid.‘Theyhavevestedinterests.’Hesoundedquiteconfident.

‘SoyouliveinKabul?’Iasked.‘Youdon’tmeetIndians?’

‘I’dbeveryhappytomeetIndians,butIndiansdon’tmeetus,’hesaid.

Idon’tknowwhyweinIndiahavesuchaclosed

mindset,andwhywehavenevertriedtoreachouttotheTaliban.Thegovernmentcanhaveapolicy,butthatshouldnotstopmyformerorganisationfromreachingout.WhileIwasheadingR&AWwedidn’ttrytoreachoutbecauseweweresohookedontotheNorthernAlliance,buttheneverythingchangedoncethetopAlliancemilitaryperson,AhmedShahMasood,was

killed.Masood’sdeathnarrowed

downouroptions.Andonce9/11andthesubsequentAfghaninvasionhappened,weshouldhavetriedtoreachout.ThethingisthatthisgamewassimilartowhatweweredoinginKashmirin1988and’89,whenwewerehookedtoFarooqAbdullahbuthadneglectedMuftiSahebandLoneSaheb,whichwasn’tverysmart.Youmay

thinkyouhavethebestperson,butthatisnottheendofthematter.Infact,evenduringtheKandaharhijacking,themessageswegotfromtheTaliban’speoplewasthat‘wedon’tknowyouguys,youdon’twanttoknowus’,andthisisonereasonJaswantSingh,whoflewouttheretoexchangeterroristsforthehostagesofIC-814,wastotallyonhisownwhenhelandedinKandahar.

That’soneofthelessonsofKashmir:talktoeveryone.Andwhenyoubroadbaseyourtalks,itkeepsallparticipantsfromgettingtoocomfortable.

‘DoyoumindifItakeyournumberandpassiton?’Isaid.

‘You’remostwelcome,’hesaid,handingmehiscard.‘They’rewelcometocallme.’

Andthenhesaid:‘Letme

alsoclarifythatPakistanhasbeenafriendandwearebeholdentothemforalot.Butwedon’ttrustthem.Wehavenoproblemwithyou,wecandobusinesswithyou.Andwe’llbehappyto.’

MullahZaeefwasquitebitteraboutwhatthePakistanishaddonetohim.Thoughhewasambassador,whentheinvasiontookplacein2001thePakistanislockedhimupandthenhandedhim

overtotheAmericans,whoputhiminGuantanamoBay.Hewastheretill2005.Idon’tknowwhetherornottheAmericansturnedhimaround,buthewaslockedupforfouryears.EventheUNhadtakenhimoffitsterrorists’listjustthepreviousyear,in2010.

Iwasquiteexcitedafterinteractingwithhim,andwhenIreturnedhome,Ipasseditallontothepeople

concernedatmyoldorganisation.Idon’tknowifanythinghappened,butMullahZaeefdidturnupinIndiatwoandahalfyearslater,ataconferenceinGoainlate2013,wherehewasinadiscussionontheimpendingAmericanpull-outfromAfghanistanwithaformerCIAofficer,RobertGrenier.

In2013,whenIwenttoatracktwomeetinginIstanbul

ImetanotherTalib,andhewasjustaskeentointeractwithIndiaasMullahZaeef.HewasalsobasedinKabul,andhegavemehisphonenumber,andagainIpasseditontotheguysatR&AW.Sixmonthslaterhecalledupandsaid,‘Uncle,I’minDubai,thisisagoodplacetomeetincaseyourpeoplewanttomeet.’Again,Ipassedthemessageon,butIdon’tknowifanythinghappened.

MichaelSemplewasalsoafascinatingfellow.Hehadspenttwenty-fiveyearsinAfghanistanandPakistan,couldspeakDariandHindustanifluently,wasmarriedtoaPakistaniwoman,andhadagoldenbeard.HewaslikeLawrenceofArabia.Hewasoneofthebest-informedandknowledgeablepeopleintheWestaboutAfghanistan.HewasdeputytotheEuropean

UnionspecialrepresentativeonAfghanistan,thoughhewaslaterthrownoutofthecountryforwhattheycall‘unauthorisedactivities’.BasicallywhatIhadheardwasthathewasanMI6agent,andtheAfghanshadaskedhimtogo.

IaskedhimaboutMullahZaeef.‘Look,he’snotoneofthetopguysbuthe’sausefulguy,’Semplesaid.‘Thefactthey’veparkedhiminKabul

issignificant.Itprovidesawayforotherpeople.Heshouldnotbewrittenoff.’

Infact,thefollowingsummerSemplewroteapieceintheGuardianabouttheTalibanbeingreadytotalk,andloandbehold:itwasalmostverbatimeverythingthatMullahZaeefhadsaidtomeinBerlin.

PerhapsourguysaretooscepticaloftheTaliban.Forthem,theTalibanisa‘nogo’,

becausetheAmericansarenotgoingtotalktotheTaliban.ButwhathappensiftheAmericansstarttalkingtotheTaliban—we’llbeleftoutofthatloopaswell.ThatcannotbuthappenbecausethereisnosolutioninAfghanistanwithouttheTaliban—evenifthePakistanisarehappytokeeptheirformerprotégésout.ThisiswhatIhavebeenhearingfromPakistanis

lately,thattherecanbenodealwiththeTaliban.TheTalibanhavejustbecometoohotforthePakistanistohandle.

AndtherewillbepeopleinPakistanwhosaynothingcanbedonewithouttheTaliban;liketheformerambassador,RustamShahMohmand,whowasevenonacommitteesetupbyNawazShariftodealwiththetribalsintheirborderareas.Intrack

twomeetings,MohmandopenlycriticisesthePakistangovernment.ItwouldthusbewiseforustobetalkingtotheTaliban.

Onapersonalnote,thetracktwodialoguesenabledmetovisitPakistanfourtimes,andIhavehadthegoodfortuneofmakingmanyfriends,prominentamongthembeingGeneralAsadDurraniandformerPakistanforeignsecretaryMian

ShaharyarKhan,whoalongwithhiswifehasbeenverykindtoParanandI.MianandIhaveacommoninterestincricket.

ThefirsttimeImetAsadDurraniwasattheChaophrayaDialogueinBangkokandtherewasasessiononterrorismthatheandIwereco-chairing.Itwaspre-Mumbaibecausethemoodwasdifferent.Everybodyspoketheirpiece

andthenthetwoofusweretogiveourviews.IwasnewatthisandIsaid,‘Sir,afteryou.’

‘No,DulatSaheb,’hesaid.‘Pehleaapboliye.’

SoIwaffledaroundabit,sayingtheusualmeaninglessstuff:we’vebornethebruntofit,etc.

ThenitwasDurrani’sturn.‘PeopleherehavebeentalkingofproxiesbutIwouldbeverydisappointedifmy

friendheredidn’tuseproxies,’hesaid.‘Thisispartofyourintelligence.Ihavenohesitationinsayingyes,weuseproxies,weareusingproxiesandIpresumeyou’redoingthatinBaluchistan.’

Hewascandidaboutthewholething,soatthecoffeebreakIwentuptohimandsaid,‘GeneralSaheb,whatwereyousaying?’

‘Kyon,mainekucchjhootbola?’hesaid.

‘Nahin,sir,aapyehkehrahehain,proxies.’

Don’tyouuseproxies,washiscounter.‘WohMuktiBahinikyatha,Bangladeshmeinkyahuatha?Proxynahinthi?’

‘GeneralSaheb,mainsamajhgayaaapkibaat,’Isaid.

Afterthatwegotalongwell.Heisanincredibleguy.

OnceatadialogueheldinIstanbul,Turkey,Durraniand

Iweresittingsidebyside—whichdidnotnormallyhappen—andthisgotMaliniParthasarathyoftheHinduveryexcited.ShewassittingjustbeyondDurraniandshetookphotosofus.‘I’vegotthetwospookstogether,’shesaid.

Duringacoffeebreakatthesamemeeting,ayoungwomanfromtheJinnahInstitutecameuptomeandsaid,‘DulatSaheb,Imarvel

attwothings.One,youdon’tlookorbehavelikeaspookatall.’

‘Howdospooksbehave?’Isaid.

ShelookedatAsadDurrani.‘You’retoodecent,’shesaid.

‘Youmeantosayyourguysareindecent?’Isaid,gesturingatDurrani.

‘Theotheris,howdoyoutwogetalongsowell?’shesaid.

‘GeneralSahebistheboss,’Isaid.‘Ilookuptohim,he’sseniortome.’

Besidesthepaperwejointlywroteonintelligencecooperation,wepreparedapapercalled‘Kashmir:ConfrontationtoCooperation’fortheOctober2013OttawaDialogue.ItoldDurrani,‘GeneralSaheb,youwriteitwhateverwayyoulike,I’llgoalongwithit.’

WhenIsawthepaper,

though,itlookedlikeitwaswrittenmorebyadiplomatthanbyanintelligencechief.‘Thisisadiplomaticstorythatyou’rewriting,’Itoldhim.‘IwantyoutoincludeKashmirinit.ThelastfourparagraphsIwillgiveyou.’

Hesaidokay,butwhenIsentittohim,hehemmedandhawedonMusharrafandwegotstuck.‘Musharrafisfinishedhere,’hetoldme.

‘Hemaybefinished

there,buthe’snotfinishedinKashmir,’Isaid.

‘Dowehavetousehisname?’

‘Yes,’Isaid.‘Wehavetomentionhisname.’

Finallyheagreed.Anotherofourmeetings

mustbementioned,whichwassortofatracktwooftracktwomeetings.WewereinIslamabadin2011foratwo-daydialogue.Onthesecondday,Iwasexpecting

thesessiontoendabitearlysothatwecouldtakearoundofthebazaar.ItwasJuneanditwashot,andDurranihadsaid,‘Whenthisisoverwemustsitdowntogetherandhaveachat.’

Butitbrokeonlyat5p.m.,andhesaid,‘Iguessyou’llgoshoppingnow.’

‘YeahIwashopingtogoshoppingbutit’sbecometoolatebecauseat6:30p.m.Ihavetoattendacocktailat

ourhighcommissioner’splace,’Isaid.

‘You’resureyou’renotgoingshopping?’

‘I’msure.’‘So,’hesaid.‘Wouldyou

caretohaveadrink?’‘GeneralSaheb,it’sfive

intheafternoonandsobloodyhot,’Isaid.‘Inanycase,whereisthedrinkhere?’

‘I’vegotabottleinmycar,’hesaid.‘Ifyou’re

interestedI’llbringituptoyourroom.’

HebroughtabottleofBlackLabel,andatfiveintheafternoonwehadadrink.Weenjoyedtakingdigsateachother.‘Sir,Icanneverdisagreewithyou,’Iwouldsay.

‘AmarjitSingh,you’reverysmart,’hewouldrespond.‘Youalwaysstartbysayingyou’llneverdisagreewithme,andafterthatyou

disagreewithwhateverIsay.’Afterourdrinkingsession

hedroppedmetoHighCommissionerSharadSabharwal’splace.‘Whydon’tyoujoinus?’Isaid.

‘No,no,IknowthiswillbeanexclusivelyIndianthingbutdogivethehighcommissionermyregards,’hesaid.TheformerISIchiefseemedtogetalongwithallourhighcommissioners.

MostofthetimeDurrani

andIdiscussedhowbilateralrelationscouldimprove,andwhatwerethechancesonthePakistaniside.Hewasfrank.Hewouldaskaboutthechancesonourside,andsometimeshewouldsay,thingsarelookingverygood;andsometimeshewouldsay,thingsarenotlookingsogood,Idon’tthinkanythingwillmove.ThatwashisviewwhenwelastmetinNovember2014.

WhenIfirstwenttoPakistan,IwasinvitedbySalmanHaiderandIwasscepticalIwouldgetavisa.‘Wewillgetitdone,’hesaid.Igotmyvisa,andIneverhadaproblemgettingone.India,ontheotherhand,isverystingywiththevisas;GeneralDurranididnotgetavisatovisitIndiauntilNovember2014.IthinkthisphenomenonofIndiabeingtightwiththevisasisapost-

26/11phenomenon:becauseDavidHeadley,thePakistani-Americanwhogotavisa,cametoMumbaianddidarecceforthe26/11attack,nobodywantstotakeacallongivingsomeonewithaPakistanibackgroundorconnectionavisa.

Asforme,IgotmyvisaandIwentwithSalmanandParantoLahoreinJanuary2010.WestayedataguesthouseoftheLahore

UniversityofManagementSciences(LUMS),whichhasabeautifulcampusandcanmatchanyAmericanuniversity.WehadtakenaPakistanInternationalAirlinesflightonSaturdayandonSundaytheytookussightseeingtotheoldfortandthemosque(there’salsoagurudwarathere).MymaternalgrandfatherhadahouseinLahoresoonthatvisitIaskedtheconference’s

coordinator,GeneralDurrani(hewasbrieflytheNSAinPakistanin2008),where4ZafarAliRoadwasandwhetherwecouldswingbythere.‘Irememberitusedtobenearthecanal,’Isaid.

‘There’snowaterinthecanal,onlyaditch,’GeneralMahmudsaid.‘Butyes,thereisaZafarAliRoad,we’llgoviathatside.Numberfourhasprobablychanged.’

WehadalookbutI

couldn’trecognisetheplace.IwasalsokeentoseetheGovernmentCollege,Lahore,wheremyfatherstudied,andalsothegreatAitchisonCollege,buthardlyhadtimetospend.Wemanagedabookshopandthenitwasbacktotheconferencefortwodays.

ManiShankarAiyarwasalsothere,andafteroneofoursessionsinwhichIdidalotofblabbinghecameupto

meandsaid,‘Whatausefullifeyou’veled,andwhatauselesslifeI’veled.’

FormerPakistanforeignsecretaryShaharyarKhan,whomNawazSharifappointedthetracktwointerlocutorwithSatinderLambah,wasalsoattheBalusaconference.Ourwiveshititoffprettywell.InfactIaskedheronce,‘CometoDelhi,comeandstaywithus.’

‘Baba,you’llgetmeintotroubleifIstaywithaformerR&AWchief,’hesaid.

TherewasalsoafellowrunningaTVchannel,EjazHaider.HecalledmeupwhileIwasinLahoreandaskedmetocomeontheshow.Isaid,‘Sure,what’sthebigdeal,whoelsewillbethere?’

‘I’mtryingtogetGen.MahmudDurrani,’hesaid.

ButDurraniwouldn’t

comeonTV.HealreadyhadManiShankarAiyarandManvendraSingh,formerBJPMPandsonofJaswantSingh,soIsaid,whydoyouneedme,you’vegotthebigwigs.

‘No,no,Ineedyou,pleasecome,’hesaid.

AfterthediscussiononTVwasover,hesaidtome:‘Thisisabigthingforme.ThisisthefirsttimeaR&AWchiefhasbeenona

PakistaniTVchannel.’OnoneconferenceIeven

visitedKarachi,andonenightParanandIwereinvited,alongwithafewothercolleagues,bySherryRehman,formerambassadortotheUSandPPPMP,fordinner.ItwasatthepoolsideatherlovelyhomeinClifton,whereshelivedwithherthirdhusband,amostcharmingperson,ingreatluxuryandstyle.Therewereahandfulof

usandshehadeveninvitedhersecondhusbandtothedinner;sheobviouslyknewhowtodealwithmen.TherewasanotherTVjournalist,NasimZehra,andtheybegancallingmeCasper,whichIunderstandisthenameofafriendlyghostonanAmericanTVshow.

WhichgoestoshowyouthatforthePakistanis,onceaspook,alwaysaspook.

ThisbringsmetoYasin

Malik,whowentallthewaytoPakistantodeposethathehadnevermetA.S.Dulat,R&AWchief.

Thatwastechnicallytrue:wehadnevermetwhileIwasatR&AW.However,wedidmeetwhenIheadedtheIB’sKashmirGroup.BasharatPeerthewriterhasreferredtoYasinastheCheGuevaraofKashmir,andinmanysenseshewasaromanticinthathehadtakentothegunand

headedtheJKLF,thefirstrealmilitantgroupthatdominatedwhenthemovementwasfull-blowninthe1989–90period.IfShabirwastheheadmasterofthemovement,thenYasinwasitsheadboy.Nooneraisedhigherexpectations,ordisappointedmore.HewasamemberoftheleadershipoftheJKLFknownastheHAJYgroup—theacronymstandingforfourmilitants,Hamid

Sheikh,AshfaqMajidWani,JavedMir,andYasinMalik.ThebosswasAshfaq—whoseDadcameandheldtheimportantmeetingwithmeduringtheRubaiyakidnapping—andhewasconsideredagutsy,courageousguy.Unfortunately,hewaskilled.Infact,JKLFboysnowsaythatAshfaqwasangrywiththePakistanisandtookthemon,sayingthiswasthe

Kashmiris’movementandsoon.

InJanuary1990YasinparticipatedintheshootingofthirteenIndianAirForceofficerswhowerewaitingforaridetotheirbaseinAwantipora.Fourdied,includingasquadronleader.Afewmonthslater,hewasarrestedduringaraiddowntown;hejumpedoffaroofandhurthisankle.Hewasarrestedandeventually

broughttoDelhi,wherehewaskeptintheMehraulisub-jail.Peoplebeganmeetinghimhereandhethencameintothelimelight.

ThefirstoccasionImetYasinwasinahouseinDelhi.HewasalreadytherewhenIwalkedintotheroom,andthefirstthinghedidwasputhisfeetuponthecoffeetableandlightacigarette.Iwasnotimpressedanditdidnotbothermebecauseby

thenIwasfamiliarwithKashmirigimmickry.ThenheutteredthestandardlinethatalltheKashmiriboysused,evenShabir,totheeffectthattheyhadnothingtosaytome,alltheywantedwasfreedom:‘Humaapsekyabaatkarsaktehain?Humtohazaadichahatehain.’

Itissomethingmysonwantstoo,Itoldhim.‘Azaaditohmerabetabhichahatahain,’Isaid.‘Auragarjoh

azaadiaapdhoondrahehain,aapkomilsaketohmainbhinaaralagaoongakehameinkyachahiye,azaadi.Wohazaadiaapkonahinmilnewalihain.EkazaadihainjohhamareConstitutionkedaireymeinhain,uskebaaremeinsochiye.’

Hewasveryscepticalaboutthewholethingbutduringthe1991–94periodhemelloweddownandbecameaGandhian.Thereweretwo

reasons,eachinvolvingadoctor.

WhilehewasincarceratedattheMehraulisub-jail,hewasvisitedbyDrFarooqAbdullah.Farooqtookhimoutontothelawn,andsaid:‘Comeon,let’sdosomeplaintalking.’

Idon’tknowexactlywhathesaid,butIwastoldFarooqgaveYasinapieceofhismind.Andfortwodaysafterthat,Yasinlosthisappetite

andhardlyate.Hewasthatdemoralised.

TheotherreasonwasDrUpendraKaul,aKashmiriPandit.Yasindevelopedseriousmedicalproblemsandrequiredavalveplacementinhisheart.DrKaulperformedtheheartsurgeryonYasin.DrKaulwouldbecomeextra-protectiveabouthisfellowKashmiri:anyonecriticalofYasinwouldnotbeallowednearhiminthehospital.

Becauseofthatsurgerythetwohadaspecialrelationship:when,someyearsback,DrKaul’smotherdied,YasinespeciallycamedowntoDelhiforthecremation.

From1991toMay1994,whenhewasreleased,Yasinsoftened.CheGuevarabecameaGandhiandbegantalkingaboutgivingupthegunandadoptingpeacefulformsofagitation.Uponhis

releasehewentbacktoSrinagarandheannouncedthathewasgivingupthegunandsittingondharna.Oneday,whilehesatondharnaoutsidehishouse,someboysfromtheHizbulMujahideencameinathree-wheelerautorickshaw,pickedhimup,tookhimsomewhereandsoundlythrashedhim.

AfterthatheneverspokeofGandhi,andheendedhisdharna.Laterdharnaswere

allheldinDelhi,atJantarMantar,whereRajinderSachar,theformerchiefjusticeoftheDelhiHighCourtandhumanrightsactivist,andKuldipNayar,eminentjournalist,wouldofferhimjuiceforhimtobreakhisfast.

Manypeople,however,consideredhimacold-bloodedkillerforhisroleinthekillingofIAFofficers.YearsafterYasinwas

released,SachartookhimtotheIndiaInternationalCentrefortheweeklymeetingofIICintellectualscalledtheSaturdayClub.WhenYasinenteredtherewasanuproar.Alotofmembers,mostofwhomwereelderly,objectedandtoldSachar:‘HowdareyoubringakillertotheIIC?’Thetwoofthemhadtobeataretreat.

ThesecondtimeImethimIrealisedhehadagreat

chiponhisshoulder:hethoughtthatwewereresponsibleforthebreak-upoftheJKLF.WhathappenedisthatwhileYasinwasinjailanotherJKLFfellownamedShabirSiddiquihadformedabreakawayfactionofthefront.Siddiquiinfactwaslaterkilledinashoot-outattheHazratbalcomplexin1996,whenhelaidsiegetothemosque.Unlikethesiegein1993,themilitantswere

notgivensafepassagein1996.

YasinthoughtthatwehadsetupSiddiquiastheleaderofthebreakawayfaction.‘Yehsabaapkigamehai,’hesaid.

‘YasinSaheb,’Isaid.‘Aisahaikiyehhamarigamenahinhai.Aapunsepuchhlijiye.AurmaintohDelhimeinbaithahoon,aapSrinagarwalonsepuchhiye.’

Wemetoncemoreafter

thatbutweneverhititoff.HisdiscomfortwithmestemmedfromthefactthatheknewItalkedtomanyKashmiris,andhewantedanexclusiverelationship.ThatwasokaybecauseYasinwasgreatfriendswithtwootherpeople:IASofficerWajahatHabibullah,andmyIBcolleagueAjitDoval.I’dheardWajahatspeakingtoYasinoverphone:‘Haan,phirsunaobetakaiseho.’

Butformanyyears,Yasinwasgoingnowhere.Hewasprettyunstable,notknowingwhichwayhewastogo.Butbecausehewasgraduallytheonlyonelefttalkingaboutazaadi,hegotalotofsupportfromexpatriateKashmiris.Eithertheexpatriateswouldsendhimalotofmoney,orinthecaseofMajidTrambooandcompany,whocamehereandmetusin1994,urgedustogiveYasinfinancial

support.Infact,someofhiscolleaguesbeganwhisperingallegationsofmisappropriationofmoney.Hislong-timesidekick,JavedMir,felloutwithhim;JavedwentovertotheHurriyatundertheMirwaiz.

ThiswasoneproblemYasinhadwiththeHurriyat:hecouldnevercometotermswithsupremacyintheseparatistmovement.Hewasuncomfortablewiththefact

thattheMirwaizwastheHurriyatchairmanformanyyears;YasinandMirwaizdon’tseeeye-to-eye.YasinwassoopposedtoUmarthatfrom2002to2003hedrewclosetoSajadLone.Bothwereanti-Hurriyatandanti-Mirwaiz.IwasinthePMOatthetimeandSajadsuggestedthatheandYasincouldlinkup.‘That’sagreatidea,’Isaid.

‘Howdowegoaboutit?’

‘GetYasinhere,’Isaid.‘Thethreeofuswillgetintoaroomandwe’llstaytherenomatterifittakes24hoursor48hoursorwhatever.Wecanfindaformulawhichisacceptabletoyouguys.’

Sadlythatdidnotmaterialise.

Bizarrely,thereasonYasinhadtodenythathehadevermettheR&AWchiefhadtodowithacontroversyinPakistanandtheUnited

StatesthatbrokeopeninOctober2011,calledmemogate.ThisinvolvedamemorandumthathadallegedlybeenwrittenatthebehestofPakistan’sthenpresident,AsifAliZardari,andaddressedtoAdmiralMikeMullen,thechairmanofthejointchiefsofstaff.Itspokeoftheneedtoavertamilitarytakeoveroftheciviliangovernmentfollowingthedeep

unhappinessinPakistanoverthesecretraidinMay2011whichledtotheexecutionofal-QaedachiefOsamabinLaden.ThememowaswiththePakistaniambassadorinWashington,HusainHaqqani,andaPakistani-AmericanbusinessmannamedMansoorIjazclaimedthathewasaskedtodeliverthememotoMullen.

IjazfashionedhimselfafterFarooqKathwari,the

Kashmiri-AmericanwhometmesoonafterIjoinedR&AW.HehasclaimedthathewastheonewhoarrangedtheceasefireannouncedbyVajpayeein2000,shortlyafterMajidDardefectedtoIndia,butthisisalotofnonsense.ThefactisthatMansoorlandeduphereclaimingtohavecontactswithYasinandwithPakistanandthathecouldgetapeaceprocessmoving.

Yasin,however,hadadifferenttake.HenarratedastorythatbothheandMansoorattendedaseminaronKashmirheldinGurgaon,nearDelhi.YasinsaysthatMansoorsaidsomethingderisiveaboutKashmir,whereuponYasinpickedupatablelampandhurleditatMansoor.

ThatwouldhavebeentheendofMansoorbutin2011hesurfacedagainwith

memogate;MansoorwroteapieceintheFinancialTimes,whichbroughtthewholeaffairtolightandasaresultofwhichHaqqanihadtoresignasambassador.SomewhereinthefalloutofthiswholememogatethingMansoormentionedYasin,andtookcreditforintroducingYasintoR&AWduringthetimethatIwaschief.YasininhisdefencesaidhewaspressuredbyR.K.

Mishra,awell-knownjournalistinvolvedinpeaceinitiatives,tomeettheR&AWchief,butrefusedtodoso.

Then,inexplicably,YasinwenttoPakistananddeposedbeforetheinvestigationthattheSupremeCourtwasconducting.‘IhaveneverspokenwiththeR&AWchief,’hesaid,whichwastrueinthenarrowsensethatwhenwetalked,Iwasnotthe

R&AWchief.ButwhenIwentoverto

thePMO,thenanothercharacterwhowasagreatpalofYasin’spoppedup:ahalf-American,half-KashmirifellowbythenameofUsmanRahim.Hesuddenlyshowedup,sayinghewasagreatsupporterandgreatfriendofYasin’s,lookingafterYasin’sassetsandproperty.AmitabhMattoo,thenanacademicatJawaharlalNehruUniversity

inDelhi,cametomeandinsistedImeetUsman,sothethreeofushadlunchtogether.

AfterlunchMattooaskedmeforanopinion,andItoldhim:‘I’mnotimpressed.Hedoesn’tunderstandKashmir,hedoesn’tknowKashmir.’

Mattoowasverydisappointed.

ThatwastheonlytimeImetUsmanRahimthoughIkepthearingabouthimuntil

hewasdeportedfromIndiaforbeinguptonogood.IbringupUsmanRahimbecauseofYasin’smarriage.

YasinmarriedaPakistaninamedMushaalHusseinMullick,averygood-lookingandsmartwoman.HermotherRehana,aformermemberofthewomen’swingofthePakistanMuslimLeague,isevensmarter.TheyhavealotofinfluenceonYasin.Mushaal’sbrother,

HaiderAliHusseinMullick,isaprofessorattheNavalWarCollegeandafellowattheJointSpecialOperationsUniversityintheUS.Butmoreimportantly,hismentorthroughouthiscareerhasbeenDavidPetraeus,theformermilitarycommanderwhoalsoservedasCIAchiefunderBarackObama.

HencethetalkhereisthatYasin’smother-in-lawisabiginfluenceinhislife.She’s

beentoKashmir,andsheapparentlyholdsalltheleversandcontrolseverything.

Thoughstrange,onetheorydoingtheroundsisthatYasin’smarriageisaCIAoperationtogethimtomarryaPakistanigirl.ThereasoningisthatthisistogetYasindependentonsomeonetheyknowandtrust.Thatisthestory,nomatterhowweirditmaysound.Andnow,liketheAmerican

UsmanRahimwhoisalsomarriedtoaPakistani,YasindrawsmostofhisstrengthfromPakistan.

Nomatterwhatisthetruthinthis,theundeniablefactisthatYasinMalikisnoCheGuevara.Burntoutasaseparatist,havinglosthisstreetpower,hehasbeenunabletomastertheartofpolitics;YasinMalikmaypretendtobeaKashmirileader,buthecan’tsuddenly

becomeFarooqAbdullah.HeisnowarebelwithoutacausegraduallygravitatingtohisoriginalmooringsintheNationalConference.I’llalwaysthinkofYasinastheJamesDeanofMaisuma.

EveryonegetstakenupwithJamesDeanatonepointoranother,andinthisthevenerableAghaAshrafAliwasnodifferent.WhenYasinhadbegunhisGandhiphase,heonenightlandedupat

AghaSaheb’shouseandnarratedtotheelderhischangeofheart.AghaSahebwasaneducationistfromanillustriousfamilyofKashmir;hewasaliberalandaShia,andthreeofhisbrothershadjoinedthecivilservices—AghaShowkatAlilefttheIndianCivilServiceandjoinedtheMuslimLeagueinPakistanfollowingPartition;AghaNasirAlijoinedtheIASandbecameasecretary

tothegovernmentofIndia,passingawayattheageof96inNovember2014;AghaMuzaffarbecamechiefsecretaryofKashmirbeforeshiftingtoPakistaninthe1970s.

AghaAshrafAlihimselfwasclosetothefuturepresident,DrZakirHussain,whowasJamiaMilliaIslamiaUniversity’sfirstvice-chancellorfortwodecadesfrom1928;AghaSaheb

taughtcoursesattheuniversity.HealsoservedhisstatebothascommissionerofeducationandasheadoftheeducationdepartmentoftheUniversityofKashmir.

AghaSahebwasimpressedwithYasinforseveralyears,untilhebecamedisillusionedwithhislackofdirectionandinabilitytogrowasaleader,eventhoughthetwomaintainedrelationstotheextentthatYasin’swife

andmother-in-lawwereoccasionalvisitorstoAghaSaheb’shouseinRajbagh.IvisitedAghaSahebwhenheturnedninetyinNovember2012.Heisafascinatingman,asharpintellect,andareservoirofhistory,aswellasbeingacommittedLeftistandhumanist.DuringthefloodsofSeptember2014,hewasrescuedfromhisrapidlyinundatedhouseinthenickoftime:‘Iescapeddeathbytwo

minutes,’hetoldmewhenhereachedDelhi,onhiswaytotheUSwithhissonAghaIqbalAli,amanagementprofessorattheUniversityofMassachusetts,butAghaSahebbecauseofhisageanddelicatehealth,nevercouldmakethelongjourneyandspentthewinterinDelhiitself.

Infact,duringthe2014parliamentaryelectionIaskedAghaSahebwhohewould

havevotedfor(itwasincreasinglydifficultforhimtowalkaroundinhisoldage,sohedidnot).‘Farooq,ofcourse,’heexclaimed,asifitwasano-brainer.‘He’stheonlyonewhocanstopModi.’

Formanypeople,however,itisAghaSaheb’slateson,AghaShahidAli,whoisfamousforhispoetry,whocomestomindwhenyoumentionAghaSaheb.Someintheliteraryworldbelieve

thatShahidopenedthegatesformanyyoungwritersinthesubcontinent;KashmirislikeBasharatPeer,whodrewthetitleofhisbookCurfewedNightfromapoembyShahid,aresteepedindebttothisdeepandoriginalthinker.Shahiddiedattheyoungageoffifty-twointheUS,wherehelivedandtaught.

WhenIreadhiscollectionofpoemsTheCountrywithoutaPostOffice,Iwas

struckthatoneoftheearlyones,‘Farewell’,isactuallyalovepoemtotheKashmiriPandits.OrperhapsitistoIndia–Pakistan.Hesays:‘InyourabsenceyoupolishedmeintotheEnemy./Yourhistorygetsinthewayofmymemory./Iameverythingyoulost,youcan’tforgiveme.’

Callitalovepoemoranapology,heasks:whydidyouhavetogo?

YetnotallKashmirisare

likeShahidorevenDrFarooqAbdullahwhotoldmeKashmirishadfailedKashmirandKashmiriyatwhentheydidnotpreventthe1989-90exodusofPandits.Kashmirisarehypocritical.LikeYasinMalikortheHurriyatConferencetheymouthplatitudesabouthowtheyfeelincompletewithouttheirneighbourswhohavegoneaway,andthattheywouldlovetohavethemback.But

therearetwothingshere:thedamagetothePanditpsyche,andtheMuslimfearofbeingswampedbynon-Muslims.

TheKashmiripsychehasbeenshakenup.ThePanditusedtothinkthatbecausehewasmoreeducatedthantheMusalman,hewastherealKashmiri.Thatisoneclockthattrulycannotbeturnedback.ThePandithastopayahugepriceforthecloutheoncewieldedinDelhi.They

arenodoubtsmartbutafterdeepintrospectiononehastoadmitthattheKashmiriMusalmanoutwitshim.Theconvertsareafterallthesamebreed.

ThefactisthatVajpayeeneverseriouslytalkedaboutthePandits.NoKashmirihasseriouslytalkedaboutthePanditsexceptFarooqwhenhereturnedtopowerin1996andsaidhisgovernmentwouldprovidesecurity,etc.

Notmuchhappenedthough,whateverhisintentionwas.TheMirwaizkeepstalkingaboutthePandits,sayinghe’dlikethemtocomeback,andevenGeelanihassaid,‘ThePanditsareapartofus.’Butsincesomanywhowereapartofyougotbumpedoff,it’snoteasy.

IwouldliketoputonrecordthefactthatthoughI’mnofanofJagmohan,whenhewasgovernorin

1990andIwasheadingtheIBinSrinagarfrom21Januaryto7March,IsawnoevidenceofhimpushingoutthePandits,ashasbeenallegedbymanyKashmiris.Panditshadstartedescapingbeforehewasappointed.Theyweredeadscared,becausetherehadbeentargetedkillingsofPandits(someofthemIBofficials,asmentionedearlierinthebook).

Myfriend,lawyerAshokBhan,aCongressman,cametomeonedaysuddenlyinthosedarkdays.‘Canyougetmeoutofhere,’hesaid.‘I’munderthreat.’

‘Okay,I’llgetyououtofhere,’Isaid.

‘No,today,’hesaid.‘Iwanttogotoday.’

‘Butwhataboutyourbelongings,yourfurniture,yourhouse?’

‘I’mmaking

arrangementsforthat,butcanyougetme,mywife,myfamilyoutofhere?’heasked.

IgavehimacarandsenthimdowntoJammuthesameday.

Despitethisthreat,theIBwasrevivedduringthosedifficultdaysin1990byacoupleofPandits.WehadthreeKashmiriboysatthesub-inspectorlevel:D.J.Handoo,A.K.Braroo,andR.Qazi.Icalledthemthethree

musketeers.Theyweretrulyextraordinarygentlemen.Theysneakedinandoutofallsortsofplaces,andgotthehumint(humanintelligence)flowingagain.Theyrenderedyeomanservicetothenation.

Allthosewhocouldaffordtoleave,left.AlotofothersgotstuckincampsinJammu.Andafewrefusedtoleave.Whenyouhaveterrorismofthatkind,wherepeoplearetargeted—andthe

Panditwasbeingtargeted—whathashappenedeversinceisthatneitherarethePanditsverykeentogoback,norhavetheMuslimsbeenkeentobringthemback.Yes,onceinawhilesomeonewillmakethenostalgictripbacktohisformerhome,andhisformerneighbourswillshedtears.Butthatisjustinthemoment.

ThefinalKashmiriinsecurity,whichtheynevertalkabout,isthatthereisa

planinDelhitoreduceMuslimstoaminorityintheirhomeland.Thedaythathappens,theyarefinished.IttookaKashmirialongtimetotellmethis.That’swhytheygetworriedwhenevertalkofabrogatingArticle370oftheConstitution(whichgrantsspecialstatustoJ&K,andallowsforcertainrestrictivelawsonresidency).That’swhytheKashmiriisverysensitiveaboutthe

AmarnathYatra,whosepilgrimsanddurationincreaseeveryyear.TheyfeelitmaybeaTrojanhorseforrepopulatingtheValley.

ItisnotacoincidencethattheHurriyat,whichshedstearsaboutbeingincomplete,doesnothaveaPanditmemberinitsexecutive.Itisnotacoincidencethatsince1996,therehasnotbeenaKashmiriPanditinthestatecabinet.Tillthen,therehad

beenFarooq’ssidekick,P.L.Handoo,fromAnantnag.Whydidn’ttheCongress,underChiefMinisterGhulamNabiAzad,nothaveaPanditinitsgovernment?MuftihadRamanMatoobuthewasanon-entity.

TherewasoneKashmiriPanditwhomPrimeMinisterVajpayeewantedmetoregularlybriefwhenIjoinedthePMO.ThiswasP.N.Dhar.IfirstmetProf.Dharat

aPanditweddinginJammuinJanuary1989whenmilitancywasjustbeginninginthestate.AsIndiraGandhi’sprincipalsecretary,Prof.DharwasakeyadvisoronKashmirandplayedapivotalroleinthemainstreamingwhichresultedinthe1975Sheikh–Indiraaccord.Asensitivemanofgreatcultureandwisdom,Prof.Dharlovedhishomelandanddespiteallthe

tumultinthestateneverlostinterestinKashmir.HishomeinOldDelhiwasaregularmeetingplaceforKashmirisincludingseparatists.MyfriendAshokBhantoldmethatonthenightof24December1999,thenightoftheKandaharhijacking,Prof.DharwasdiningwithA.G.LoneinDelhi.Between2001and2004weinteractedagreatdeal,andwegotalongwell.Hewasneveroverly

criticaloftheMusalman,wasalwaysbalanced,anddidn’thaveanygrudges.Heaskedmeaboutpersonalities,sayingwhatdoyouthinkofYasinMalik,orwhat’syourviewonSajadLone.

OnedayhelandedupatthePMOandhecouldhardlyclimbup,beinganoctogenarian.‘Whatareyoudoinghere?’Isaid,startledthathehadbotheredtocomealltheway.

‘I’mgoingtomeettheprimeministerandI’mgoingtoproposeyournameforgovernorofJ&K,’hesaid.

Ihadaheartylaugh.‘It’snevergoingtohappen,’Isaid.

AfterManmohanSinghbecameprimeminister,Prof.DharvisitedKashmirandgavehimareport.Beforehesubmittedit,hecalledmehomeandshowedmethethree-and-a-halfpagereport.I

wasgoingthroughitandagainIsawaparagraphwhichsaiditwasnecessarytosendmeasgovernortoJ&K.‘Sir,thiswillnothappen,’Isaid,embarrassed.

‘ThisisnotVajpayee,thisisManmohanSingh,’hesaid.‘ManmohanSinghhasbeenastudentofmine.’

ThatwasP.N.Dhar.WhentheKashmiri

Panditsaresentback,bothsidesshouldshowextra

sensitivity.FarooqAbdullahhadsaidin1996thatPanditsshouldbewelcomedbackandifnecessarywe’llbuildaseparatecolonyforthem.Againin2014,thenewBJPgovernmentwastalkingaboutsettingtheKashmiriPanditsupinahigh-securityzone.

Idon’tthinkbuildingaChanakyapuriforKashmiriPanditsisreallythewaytogetthemback.Thosewhowanttogobackmustgoto

theirownsurroundings.AlotofPanditsusedtoliveinHabbaKadal,sowhynotletthemgobacktoHabbakadal,andliveinthethickofsecurity.Don’ttrytoget3,000or10,000allatonce.Letitbegradual.It’snotnecessarytobuildaPandittownship;thatwouldbeanartificialandinsecurewayofdoingitandwouldalsocreatecommunitytensions.Thosewhogobackshouldbe

willingtogoback,andtheMuslimsshouldbewillingtotakethemback.Ithastobeorganic.TherearesomeKashmiriPanditswhoareverywelloff.VijayDharhasrenderedyeomanserviceinthefieldofeducation,settingupthefirstDelhiPublicSchoolinSrinagar.ThereareotherwealthyPanditsaswellwhocouldhelpinsettingupbadlyneededhospitalswhichcouldearnthemhuge

goodwill,facilitatingtheirreturn.

Idon’tthinkKashmiriyatisdead,norisSufism.Ifwedon’tsupporttheideaofKashmiriyatortheSufitradition,itwillfadeouteventually,becauseradicalismisincreasing.

SheikhSahebwassaidtobeapureMusalmanbuthekepttheJamaat-e-Islamiatbay,tellingthemtheywerenotgoingtomeddlein

politicallife.Afterhim,Farooqwasthesamewayandinfactmoreaggressiveaboutit,sayingthattheyshouldclosedownalltheJamaatschoolsandthatifDelhifundedthestate,itwouldsetupitsownschools.Buthedidnotgetthatmuchsupport.

Thisisgettingcompromised.Ifyoudon’tdoanythingaboutKashmir,thenmoreandmoreWahhabismwillcomein,aspetro-dollars,

etc.,withtheirmosquesgrowingandthelecturesfromtheirmosquesincreasing.AcoupleofyearsagoIwasleavingSrinagaronaFridayandIwasstartled.EveryroadIpassedhadaloudspeakerblaringforthejummekanamaaz.Thisneverhappenedearlier.

Tomysurprise,oneofthebreedinggroundsofthefast-spreadingradicalismistheSrinagarjail.AKashmiriwho

wasdetainedtwiceunderthePublicSecurityActtoldmethattheatmosphereofradicalismwassosuffocatingthatyoufeltthatyouwereinajailinsideajail.SolongasthelikesofMasaratAlamandQasimFakhtooaregivenfreereinradicalismwillgrow.

WhilePakistanremainsafactorinKashmir,therealdangeristhatradicalismwillendupasthelastingpoliticallegacyofKashmir.

18

MAINSTREAMINGTHEFUTURE

AghaAshrafAli,thenonagenarianwhoisoneofthemostextraordinaryKashmirisIhavemet,once

toldme:‘Sheikh(Abdullah)hadaheartofgold,butnobrains.’

AghaSahebfeltthatSheikhAbdullahwasunabletofathomthefalloutofthePartitioninnorthIndia;orwhatIndia’sfirstprimeminister,PanditJawaharlalNehru,wastryingtodoinKashmirinordertosaveMuslimsintherestofIndia.ThefalloutofPartitionwasanonslaughtofpolitical

conservativesintheCongressparty,againstwhomNehruhadtowageaseriesofcontinualbattles—whichendedwhenhelostthe1962wartoChina—andmakeaseriesofconcessions.OneoftheseconcessionswastheAugust1953dismissalofSheikhAbdullahasprimeministerofJ&KandhisimmediatearrestintheKashmirconspiracycase,forwhichhespentelevenyears

incarcerated.AghaSahebbelievedthat

theSher-e-KashmiralsodidnotseemtounderstandthatforNehru,KashmirwasofprimeimportancebecauseoftheMuslimswhodidnotleaveforPakistan;KashmirwasademonstrationthattheIndianStatecouldandwouldfairlytreatitsMuslimcitizens.IfSheikhSahebhadgraspedthis,hecouldhavehelpedNehru;ifnotfight

someofthebattlesbeingwagedinDelhithenatleastnotaddtotheskirmishesinKashmir.

AfterSheikhAbdullahwasarrested,IBDirectorB.N.Mullikhappenedtomeet(then)MadraschiefministerC.R.Rajagopalachari.Rajaji,ashewasknown,hadtakenoverasIndia’shomeministerafterSardarVallabhbhaiPatel’sdeathinDecember1950and

servedforlessthanayear,asdifferenceswithNehruforcedhimtoquitonhealthgrounds.(Likemanyothers,RajajibelievedIndia’sgreatestthreatcamefromtheCommunists,whereasNehrubelievedtheHinduMahasabhatobethemainthreat.)AccordingtoMullik’smemoir,MyYearswithNehru:Kashmir,RajajiaskedtheDIB:‘WhyhasitbecomenecessarytoarrestSheikh

Abdullah?’RajajitoldMullikthatthe

Sher-e-Kashmiroughttohavebeengivenotheroptionsofautonomyinordertomaintainagoodrelationship,andthedoorshouldneverbeshutonSheikhAbdullah.TheMadrasCMpropheticallyapprehendedthatcontinueduncertaintyandunrestwouldprevailintheValley.Infact,MullikinhismemoirfeltthatifRajajihadcontinuedas

homeminister,theneventslikeSheikhSaheb’sarrestwouldhavebeenavoided.

ThehomeministeratthetimewasKailashNathKatju(whosegrandson,MarkandeyKatju,wasaSupremeCourtjudgewhoin2014completedhistermasthechairmanofthePressCouncilofIndia);andSheikhAbdullahpinnedmostoftheblameforhisarrestonNehru.Unfortunately,thefactisthat

thesetwomenwereKashmiriPandits(eveniftheirfamilieshadlefttheValleyandsettledelsewhereinIndia),andcontributedtotheperceptioninKashmirthatthePanditswiththeirdisproportionatecloutadverselyimpactedKashmirpolicyinNewDelhi.

ThereisaschoolofthoughtthatbelievedthatSheikhAbdullahwassecretlypursuingindependence,butthefactisthathewas

walkingafinelineandcouldhavebeenhandledwithmoresubtlety.Forinstance,inOctober1948,theNationalConferenceheldaspecialconventioninwhichitunanimouslypassedaresolutionaffirmingJ&K’saccessiontoIndia.Whilemovingtheresolution,SheikhAbdullahsaid:‘SofarasI’mconcerned,thepolitical,economic,socialandculturalinterestsofKashmirdemand

animmediateandfinalaccessiontoIndia,andtoIndiaalone.’AndspeakingatanEidgatheringaftertheconvention,hesaid,‘thepledgeIgavetoPanditNehruthatKashmirwillbeapartofIndiahasnowbecomeaneternalbond...OurdecisiontoaccedetoIndiaisbasedonthefactthatourprogrammeandpolicyaremoreakintothosefollowedbyIndia.’

Politicsfolloweda

differenttrajectory,andSheikhwasarrested.ForKashmiris,itwasabigdeal.AsHurriyatleaderProf.Ghanipointedouttomeonce,evenHinduscameouttoprotest.Thiswasanimportantturningpoint,thefirstoffour‘whatifs’thatmarkoutKashmir’shistorysince1947.

1.‘Whatif’SheikhAbdullahhadnotbeenarrestedin1953?One

consequenceofSheikhAbdullah’sarrestwasthattwoyearslaterhisright-handmanMirzaAfzalBegsetupthePlebisciteFront(theNationalConferencecadresjoinedindroves);ineffect,thatwasthe‘mainstreaming’ofseparatisminKashmir,somethingthathasremainedafixtureinKashmireversince.

ThePlebisciteFrontwasinexistencefortwentyyears,

andwaswounduponlyafterthe1975Indira–Sheikhaccord—whichtheSheikhagreedtooncehesaw,afterPakistan’sdefeatinthe1971warandthecreationofBangladesh,thatPakistanwasnomatchforIndia.ForKashmiristhe1971warhadahugeimpact:accordingtoProf.Ghani,thebreak-upofPakistanmadeKashmirismoresullentowardsIndia.‘KashmirisevenabusedGod

andsaidthereisnoGod,nohope,nojustice,’Prof.Ghanitoldme.TheKashmirisfeltfurtherletdownbytheaccord;whenSheikhSahebreturnedtoJ&KaftertheaccordandreachedJammu,theValleyobservedahartalinprotestagainsthimandhis‘compromise’.Ironically,whenSheikhSahebreachedtheValleythenextday,massivecrowdsturnedouttoseehim.Thatisthewayof

theKashmiri.IfSheikhSahebhadnot

beenarrested,therewouldhavebeennomainstreamingofseparatisminKashmir.ThatdoesnotnecessarilymeantherewouldnothaveexistedaKashmirproblem—afterall,alotofotherdisputesinourneighbourhoodstilllinger.Buthadtherebeennomainstreamingofseparatism,thenwhenthePlebiscite

Frontwaswithdrawnin1975therewouldhavebeennofirstwaveofseparatiststhatincludedShabirShah.

WhileSheikhwasinjailforhisfirststretch,ChinadefeatedIndiainthe1962warandthisleftNehruabrokenman(besidesbringingChinaandPakistanclose).HealsobegantoregretwhathadhappenedwithSheikhSaheb—theyhadacorrespondencewhichwouldprovea

goldmineofhistory,butwhoselettershavenotbeenmadepublicbyeitherman’sdescendants.Sheikhwasreleasedby1964andsentbyNehrutoPakistantoworkoutasolution,butwhilehewasthereNehrupassedaway.

AfterNehru,therewasnostoppingDelhiinitsdesiretoerodeKashmir’sautonomyinstages.Andin2014,whenNarendraModiandtheBJPcametopower,ministers

openlyspokeaboutabrogatingtheConstitution’sArticle370,whichgivesKashmiritsspecialstatus.ItforcedFarooq,whowasinLondonwaitingfordoctorstodecidewhetherheoughttogetakidneytransplantfromhiswifeMollieorwhetherheoughttogoondialysislikehisbrotherSheikhNazir,tostatethattheBJP’sstandon370wasworrying.‘ForKashmirisitisamatteroflife

anddeath,’hesaid,warningthatitsrevocationwouldweakentheintegrityofthecountryandposeathreattopeace.

IndiaandKashmirhavetravelledalongdistancesince1947,withimportantmilestonesin1952,1953,1975,1980,1987,2001andnowin2014.Bynow,thereisnothinggreataboutArticle370;whatisgreataboutthespecialstatusthatKashmiris

enjoynow?Article370isbynowmerelysymbolic.ItisafigleafforKashmiris—sowhywouldanyonewanttotakethatawayfromthem?PerhapsifSheikhAbdullahhadnotbeenarrestedin1953,wewouldnothavebehavingthisdebatein2014.

2.‘Whatif’FarooqAbdullahhadnotbeendismissedin1984atthebehestofPrimeMinisterIndiraGandhi?Itwasa

terriblemistake,andtheonlyreasonJagmohancametoJ&KasgovernorwastodismissFarooq.ThewayIseeit,therewouldhavebeennoneedforFarooqtoenterapoliticalaccordwithPrimeMinisterRajivGandhi—whichPresidentGianiZailSinghimmediatelysaidwasabadidea—andtherewouldhavebeennoformationoftheMuslimUnitedFront(MUF).Rememberthatin1984,

FarooqandAbdulGhaniLoneandMirwaizMoulviFarooqwereallononeside.SuddenlyJagmohanwasthere,dismissinggovernmentemployeeshethoughtwereseparatists(likeProf.Ghani,whowasamongthosewhoformedthebulkoftheMUF).

Farooq’sdismissalsuddenlywokeupKashmiriregionalsentiment.AKashmirithinktankcametogetherwithanideafromthe

Aftabeditor-in-chief,KhwajaSanaullahBhat,thatKashmirishadtogettogethertoresisttheDelhionslaught.Thattheyhadtobuildacountertoit.AndwhentheMUFfacedariggedassemblyelectionin1987,thentheirboyswentacrosstheLoCandtookpartinZia’swarof‘athousandcuts’,theonethattheISIusedtosuccessfullydrivetheSovietUnionoutofAfghanistan.Possiblyyou

wouldhavehadone-offincidentsofterrorism,likethehijackingbyHashimQureshi,butitwouldnothavebeenonsuchalargescale.

Infact,whenmilitancyerupted,theneventhePakistanisweresurprisedbyitsmagnitude,aformermilitantoncetoldme.TheywereassurprisedasIndiaastohowbigithadgrown.YetfortheKashmiris,asformermilitantFirdousSyedonce

pointedout,theboyswhowentacrossthoughtofthemselvesasfreedomfightersandtookaffrontatbeingtreatedasagentsoftheISI;thiswasprobablywhyalotofJKLFboyspickedfightswiththeISIatthetime.

WeinIndiawastedsomanyyearsincontainingtheKashmirmilitancy.Andonceitwascontained,wesatbackandwerehappywiththestatusquo,insteadoftaking

advantageofthesituationtoforgeapoliticalsolution.Thestatusquohasgoneonalongtime,withalotofvestedinterestshavingbeendeveloped:thearmy,thepolice,theparamilitary,thebureaucracy,andpoliticiansofeveryhue.EvenseparatistslikeShabirShah,whosecareerisover,arestillwelloff;oneslikeYasinobstinatelyclingontotherebelidentity,becausethey

areunabletogrow.Today,Kashmiriswant

peace,andtheyareveryclearthat1990cannotberepeated.Warisnotanoptionandneitherisanotherarmsstruggle.AsFirdoussays,itwouldbedisastrous.Also,therearen’tmanyKashmiriboysavailable;recruitsareonlyavailableinJamaatpockets,andthosethatgettraineddosolocally,withoutaneedtogotoPakistan.Now

thatboysdostone-pelting—thiscausedamajorcrisisforChiefMinisterOmarAbdullahinthesummerof2010,whennearly120youngsterswereshotduringstone-pelting—youdon’tneedtousethegun.Stone-pelterscanevenenforceelectionboycottsinSrinagar.

3.‘Whatif’Shabirhadcontestedthe1996J&Kassemblyelection?Ifhehadthenitwouldhaveprovided

anexcusefortheotherseparatiststojoinin.Asitwere,hadheknownhowtorunthethingtherewerealreadyabunchoffellowsreadytojoinup,likeNayeemKhan,ourfriendFirdous,andothersontheperiphery.Asubstantialseparatistparticipationwouldhavechangedtheatmosphere.

ButbyShabirnotparticipating,Pakistanonlytighteneditscontrolonthe

separatistmovement,particularlytheHurriyat.Ithasnotlooseneditsgripafterthat;ithasalwaysbeenacarrot-and-stick,stick-and-carrotthingwiththeseparatists.OntheHurriyatside,theyareforeverwaitingforsomeoneto‘bellthecat’asfarasgoingmainstreamisconcerned.Theyarehappywiththestatusquo;forinstance,aftertheSeptember2014floods,inthenameof

relief,severalofthemhavereceivedalotofmoney,somefromSaudiArabiabutmostfromPakistan.

Duringmysummerof2014visittoKashmir,alocaljournalistcalledseparatistpoliticsabusiness,andheputitlikethis:therewerethreeHurriyatsandthree-fourgroupsoftheJKLF;themanufacturersareinPakistanorinDelhi;thedistributorsareinSrinagar,particularly

Hyderpora(whereSyedAliShahGeelaniresides);andtheretailersanddealersareinthedistricts.Itisabusinesswithoutanyconviction,thejournalistsaid.Itonlydependsonwhateversellsduringaparticularseason.

InDelhi,however,thereisstillthishang-upthattheseparatistsarePakistanis,butmypointisthatifPakistanhasinfluenceonthemorcontrolsthem,itisbecause

Delhiwon’ttalktothem.Andsupposetheyarethe

worstformofPakistanis,thenaskyourself:whatisIndia’sprobleminKashmir?ItisPakistan.SoeitheryoubombandfinishoffPakistan—astrategythateventheAmericanscouldnotsuccessfullypulloffinAfghanistanorIraq,andwhichwecertainlycan’tdo—oryoutalktoPakistan.Andwhileyou’redecidingon

whetherornottotalktoPakistan,it’seasytousethattimetotalktotheKashmiriseparatists.Again,whenyoumentionseparatism,therearepeopleinDelhiwhoarguethatMuftiSayeedissoftonseparatism,andthat’s‘theekhai’,whichisawholelotofrubbish.EveniftheHurriyat’scredibilityhitsrock-bottominDelhi,amessagehastobesent:that(a)we’realwayswillingto

talk,andtotalktoanybodyandeverybody;and(b)we’realwayswillingtolisten,thatwehavethetimetohearwhateveryourgrievancesare,whichwewilllookintoandrectify.

Infact,IhavealwaysfeltthatDelhishouldengageGeelani.Evenifnothingcomesoutofit,youlosenothingbyengagingwithhim.

Further,itisstrangethat

noKashmiriseparatisthaseverbeencalledforanationaldayfunctioninDelhi,beit15Augustor26January.NoteventheJ&Kgovernorinvitesthemforacupoftea.(Athisowninvestitureheinviteshisrelatives,etc.,butnevertheMirwaiz.)Theymayturnitdown,buttheyhaveneverbeeninvited.I’mwillingtovouchforit:ifyouworkonit,theywillcome.

Thereisafundamental

pointtothisthatDelhioverlooks.KashmirisfeelletdownbyPakistanandtheISIbecausethereisnoconsistencyinthePakistaniorISIpositiononKashmir.India,ontheotherhand,whetheritisthedovishKuldipNayarorthehawkishAjitDoval,isconsistentthatwewillneverletgoofKashmir.ManyKashmirisI’vespokentobelievethatwhilethecontainmentof

militancycouldbeattributedtothegoodworkbythearmedforcesandtheintelligenceagencies,theyfeelitismorebecauseofthearroganceoftheISI.Whetheritwascreatingmorethanahundredtanzeems,orcriminalisingthemovement,orcreating-splitting-reunifyingtheHurriyat,KashmirissaythatPakistanhasneverunderstoodortriedtounderstandKashmir.

4.Thelast‘whatif’,andasbigasthefirst,iswhatifVajpayeehadnotlostpowerin2004?HehadvisitedPakistanforthesecondtimeinJanuary2004,andPresidentMusharrafbegantalkingaboutout-of-the-boxsolutionsandeventuallycameupwithhisfour-pointformula.TheopportunitythatManmohanSinghsquanderedwouldhavebeenseizedwithoutdelaybyVajpayee,

becausebyhissecondtermhehadalreadyspentalotoftimecheckingMusharrafout.Justimagine—asettlementacceptabletoIndia,tothePakistanarmy,andtotheHurriyat.ThatwouldhavesettledtheKashmirdisputefortheforeseeablefuture.

(Additionally,ifVajpayeehadreturnedasprimeminister,hewouldnothavehadhisstrokeinearly2009.Afterweleftoffice,Iusedto

visithimtwiceayear:onDiwaliandonNewYear’s.ThelasttimeIwenttoseehimwas2008’sDiwali;afterthestrokehecouldnotholdconversations,andhishouseholddiscouragedvisitors.Somuchforthe‘whatifs’.But,solongas‘whatis’dominates,wewillremainwhereweareinKashmir.AlmosteveryoneconnectedwithKashmirhasoveraperiodoftime

developedavestedinterest.Sothe‘shops’and‘businesses’thatwearesensitivetoalsocontinuetoflourish.

WhetheryouthinkPakistanismoth-eatenorweakenedandvulnerable,itremainsafactorinKashmirbecauseoftheangerandalienationagainstIndia,anditprovidesKashmiriswithaconvenientfallbackposition.Pakistanhasbeeninamood

tomoveforward,butasmentionedinthelastchapter,thequestionDelhibogsitselfdownwithisofthereliabilityofthoseincontrolinPakistan.Thearmyisnotagainstmovingforward,anditisnotweak;itiswhatcountsinPakistan.Pakistan’sfall-backisitsspecialrelationshipwithChina,soitcan’tbeunderestimated.Hencethetracktwodialoguesoughttobe

encouragedandgivenproperdirection;theyoughttobeinstitutionalisedandrecognised.

AsProf.Ghanitoldmeprivately,itisimpossibletoconceiveofanotherVajpayee,butKashmirisexpecthispoliciestobefollowedbywhoeverisinpowerinDelhi.Andthetime,in2014,wasripeformovingforwardonMusharraf’sfour-pointformula,butVajpayee

cannotbereplicated.TheBJPwasblessedtohaveVajpayeeandAdvaniasprimeministeranddeputyprimeministertogether.

Finally,asolutiontoKashmirhastobefoundbetweenIndiaandPakistan,andbecauseitwillinvolveacompromiseonthepartofPakistan,PakistanwillhavenochoicebuttofallbackonKashmirandthat’swheretheHurriyatwillcomeintoplay.

ThisiswhyDelhineedstotalktotheHurriyat.AnditshouldlettheHurriyattalktoPakistan.AndthentherealtalkingcanbedonebetweenIndiaandPakistan.

AsProf.Ghaniputit:‘Modi’srulecanbeepoch-makingifhecancarryeverybodywithhim.’

Vajpayeeisover.BrajeshMishraisgone.Advaniissidelined.JaswantSinghislyinginacoma.Farooqhas

beeninpoorhealthsince2012.Muftiwillnowhavehisfinalinnings,orabenefitmatch,ifyoulike.Shabirhaswastedhischances.Geelanihascredibilitybuthe’sanoldmanwhohasswungfromonesidetotheother;duringanescalatingspatinApril2014,theMirwaizbravelyaskedapressconference:‘WhothehellisGeelani?’

ThePakistanihighcommissioneronceaskedme,

‘WhatdowedowithGeelani?’

‘TakehimtoPakistanandgivehimafarminRaiwindorsomething,’Isaid.‘That’shisultimatedesire,soburyhimwithagreenflagorsomething.’

ThefourlikelyplayersforthefutureinKashmirareOmarAbdullah,MirwaizUmarFarooq,MehboobaMufti,andSajadLone.Withtheexceptionoftheformer

chiefminister,therestareuntested.

Omarstartedoffwithgreathope.HemadeahugeimpactinKashmirandinDelhiwithastatementhemadeinParliamentduringtheJuly2008debateontheIndo-USnucleardeal,whenhedeclaredthatithadbeenamistakenottoresignfromtheNDAafterthe2002Gujaratriots,andwhenhedeclaredthatKashmiriswouldnever

letanyharmcometotheAmarnathYatrapilgrims(inMay2008,thestategovernmenttransferred100acresofforestlandtotheAmarnathYatraboardbuthadtoreverseitsdecisionfollowingwidespreadprotestsintheValley).Duringthe2008assemblyelection,eventhePakistanislettheirsupportersknowthattheywantedtoseehimaschiefminister(remember,he

greatlyimpressedMusharrafduringhisvisittoPakistanin2006).Andwhenhebecamechiefminister,hebeganbywritingletterstopeopleinterestedinKashmir,askingthemtocometoKashmirashisguests.Itenthusedmany.

ButOmarhadthishang-upabouthisfather.HefeltFarooqwasgullible,thatFarooqwasmisledbybadadvisors,andthathewasgoingtodothingshisown

way.FromwhathesaiditsoundedasifFarooqwasbadnews,andDadaji(SheikhSaheb)waseverything.Whichwasfine,exceptthatheforgotthatifithadn’tbeenforhisfather,hewouldnothavebecomechiefminister.Ultimately,hisrepeatedreferencetoSheikhSaheb,whileignoringhisownfather,didnotgodownwellinKashmir.

RubbishingFarooq

ultimatelybecamecounterproductivebecauseOmar’sbiggestproblembecamethathewasnotlikehisfatherinthematterofreachingouttohisfellowKashmiris.YoucannotreachouttoKashmirisviathesmartphone,iPadorTwitter.ThismadeOmarlookmorelikeanEnglishmanthanaKashmiri.Ontopofwhich,Omardealtwitheverythingthroughthesecurity

paradigm.Youdon’tneedtobeageniustoknowthatunemploymentanddevelopmentarenotdealtwiththroughthesecurityparadigm.

ThencamethetwobigdisastersofOmar’stenure:thestone-peltingof2010,andthefailureofhisgovernmenttoprovidevisiblereliefduringthe2014floods.ThosepeoplewhowereenthusedbyOmar’syouthandfreshness

andenergyweredeeplydisappointed.

YetIwouldnotwriteoffOmar,becauseofthegreatlegacyhehas.Hehaspluspoints,andashehassaidduringthe2014assemblyelectioncampaign,timeisonhisside.There’sahugelegacyonhisside,solongashedoesn’tsquanderit.ThewayKashmiris,thewayKashmirfunctionsandthewayKashmirpoliticsis,even

inthelongrunOmaristhemostlikelytosucceed.ThisissimplybecausepoliticsinKashmirissoboggeddown.Mehboobawillhaveaheadstartatthemomentbecauseafterthe2014electionshewillbeakeyplayerintherulingcombination.AsIwasconcludingthisbooktheelectionresultsinJ&Kwhichsatisfiednopartyinparticularwereannounced.Theobviouscoalitionstaringoneinthe

facewasaPDP–BJPalliance.ButwhenIaskedaKashmiriwhounderstandspoliticswhathethought,hefelttheywouldgettogetherbutitwouldalwaysbearockyrelationship—‘Shaaditohogilekinnikaahnahin.’

Omarishonest,he’sstraight,he’stransparent:he’sdifferent.Butheneedstolearnpoliticsalittlemore,andheneedstobecomealittlemoreKashmiri.He’s

willingtowaititoutandhe’sreconciledtosittingintheopposition;inawayhe’slookingforwardtothatbecauseit’llbeadifferentexperience.Omardefinitelyneedsanotherchance.

TheMirwaizhastomakeuphismind,asmentionedearlier,whetherhewantstobepopeforlifeorwhetherhewantstobechiefminister.I’vetoldthePakistanisthatthey’redoinghimagreat

disservicebyholdinghimback,becauseasapoliticianheremainsuntested.Asahumanbeinghehasallthequalities.Butyouhavetobetestedinthefield;youhavetobetestedinpowerandyouhavetobetestedoutofpower.

Sajadisawildcard.Hehasmanyqualities,buthe’salittleunpredictable.Asmentionedhehadbeenofferedaseniorministership

byMuftiSayeedin2002,sohehadbythe2014assemblyelectionwastedadozenyears,whenhecouldhaveusedthetimetomatureintoaseasonedpolitician.Duringthe2014electionIspoketohimandadvisedhimthatwhentheresultscamein,despitehishavinggoneandmetModi,heshouldnotjumpintoanything.‘Maybeyou’vemadesomecommitments,fine,butsee

whathappens,’Isaid.‘Ifyouwanttobeaplayer,thenyouhavetocomeontotheboard.There’snopointinbeinginthefringeorontheoutside.’

ThoughSajadwasaborderlineseparatist—remember,helearnedfromhisfatherthatthisseparatismwasn’tgoingtolastverylong—hewasDelhi’sfavouredseparatist.ButhehaslookedforextraordinaryfavoursfromDelhi,andbecauseof

histemperament,Delhihasnotbeenabletohandlehimproperly.ThusthedesperationinNovember2014,whenhewentandmetModi;SajadwasthinkingthathehadtogetonDelhi’srightside.LikeeveryotherKashmiri,SajadbelievesthatwhatDelhiwantsiswhatwillhappen.Nowthathe’sarrivedoncentrecourtitisuptohimtoprovethathehasthemettletogettothetop.

TheMirwaizcouldbeabigplayerifPakistangavehimfreerrein.Mehboobaisabitquirky.ButIhavefeltthatagovernmentwiththese,Omar,UmarandSajad—andtheycouldaccommodateMehboobaaswell,whynot—wouldbethebestcombinationforKashmir.Itwouldtakecareofeveryshadeofopinion:thepro-Pakistan,thepro-Indian,thepro-regional,etc.Itwould

automaticallytakecareoftheproblemsofengagement.AsOmarusedtosaywheneverthereweretalksabouttheHurriyat,‘WhyareyouaskingmeabouttalkingtoDelhi,I’mtalkingtoDelhiallthetime.Delhishouldbetalkingtotheseguys.’

ModiisinapositiontodowhatneitherVajpayeenorManmohanSinghcoulddo,becausehecan’tblameanyone.ThewelcomeModi

gotfromKashmiriswhenhebecameprimeministerwasunprecedented:aBJP-RSSguywasbeingwelcomedbytheMirwaiz.IfModiwantstowastetheopportunity,thenfine.Hehasnoexcusesafterthis2014assemblyelection.

SomewouldsaythattofindasolutiontoKashmironemustunderstandtheKashmiris’collectivepsychologicalpersonality.Kashmirisaresaidtohave

descendedfromtheNagasbutarebasicallySaraswatBrahminswhowereconverted.AndaftersufferingatthehandsoftheMughals,thePathans,theAfghans,theSikhs,theDogras,andcurrently,India,theyfightwiththeirbrains.Theirbrainsmakeupforwhatevertheymightnothave.

NeitherPakistannorIndiaunderstandstheKashmiri’s

remarkableadjustability.AnoldKashmiriwomanwilltellyouwhomshevotedfor,butshewillnotgiveuponazaadi.TheKashmiriwillnotacceptdefeatinahurry.

EvenintheworstoftimestheKashmirihasneverlosthissenseofhumour.WhenRubaiyaSayeedwasreleasedfromcaptivityon13December1989,apopularsayingwas:‘MuftiSaebengab,panchduhlab,’meaning

Mufti’slambfoundinfivedays.AndwhentheybegantotireofMufti’srulein2004,theysaidaboutFarooq:‘Ussfetir(lovablefool)kowapaslao’.MirzaAfzalBegwassaidtobethewittiestofhiscontemporariesandhisjokesarealegion.

Buttimeshavechanged:asModisaidduringthe2014parliamentaryelection,Indiahaschanged,andthecorollarytothatisthat

Kashmirhasalsochanged.Manyoftoday’syouthdon’tknowSheikhAbdullah,andsomedon’tevenknowFarooq.

AnotherillustrationofthechangebeforemyeyesisintwoflightsthatItooktoSrinagarfromDelhi:onein1990,theotherin2012.

In1990,allhellhadbrokenloose:centralgovernmentemployeesdesertedSrinagar,thePandits

madeanexodus,ourofficersweregettingbumpedoff,anti-Indiacrowdswereonthestreetseveryday,andyouneverknowwhetheryouwouldmakeithomethatevening.IwastransferredoutinMarchandIleftinahurry,leavingmybaggagebehind.

IwentbackformyluggageinMayanditwasanunforgettableexperiencebecausetherewassomuchtensionintheaircraft.Atthat

timetherewereonlytwoflightstoSrinagar,bothoperatedbyIndianAirlines.Nobodyspokeontheaircraft,notevenawhisper.Kashmirissatgrimlythroughouttheflight.Therewereonlytwonon-Kashmiris:myselfandaBorderSecurityForce(BSF)officerinuniform,whocoincidentallysatnexttome.

Iwasinnomoodtotalktoanybody;theatmosphere

wassostifling.ButtheBSFofficersaid:‘AreyougoingtoSrinagaronwork?’

‘No,’Isaid.‘Notreally.’Hepausedandthen

asked:‘Areyougoingonholiday?’

‘Notreally.’AndtheconversationendedtherebecauseIdidn’twanttocarryitforwardandexplainwhyIwasgoingthereandtelltheentirestory.

Whentheplanelanded,

theBSFofficerwasfirstoffandIfollowedhimontothetarmac.TheIBhasapresenceattheairportsoacoupleofguysweretherewhoreceivedme.TheBSFfellowwasobviouslypostedinSrinagarandsorecognisedthetwo,andfiguredoutwhoIwasorwhereIwasfrom.Helookedbackatmeandsmiled.

TheotherflightwasattheendofApril2012.Nowtherewere26to30flightsto

Srinagar,andwhenIboardedtheaircraftIcouldhaveswornitwasacharterfromBangalore,becauseitwasfilledwithsouthIndiansgoingonholiday.ItalkedtoacoupleoffellowpassengersandtheysaidtheywerefromBangalore.IsatinthebackandtherewasonlyoneKashmiriman,withtwowomen.

TheKashmiriwasalittleinquisitive;hethoughtIwasa

Kashmiri.‘Aapkahansehain,kahanrehtehain?’heaskedme.HewantedmySrinagaraddress.

‘MainDelhirehtahoon,’Isaid.

Buthewouldn’tbelieveIlivedinDelhi.HeaskedmeformyDelhiaddress.

‘Nahinsir,aaptohKashmirilagtehain,’hesaid.‘TohaapDelhiaddressbatayekyonkimainnahinmantahoonkiaapDelhirehte

hain.’ItoldhimthatIlivedin

FriendsColonyandhewasfinallyconvinced.

Theatmospherewascompletelydifferent:lively,alotoftourists,relaxed.Everythinghadchanged.

IfyougotoKashmirnowduringseason,whichextendsfromApriltoOctober,Srinagarisfull.Youcan’tgetaticket,youcan’tgetahotelroom.Hotelskeep

mushrooming.Thereareseven-starhotelsnow;inGulmarg,whichseesanothertouristseasoninthewinter,there’sanewplacethatissaidtobebetterthananythinginSrinagar.IfyouwalkdowntheBoulevard,it’spackedwithstrollers.Attheendofthehigh-securityGupkarRoad,wheretheIBofficeisaswellasFarooq’shouse,therearedhabasthathaveopened,someofthem

Punjabidhabas.ThemostfrequentvisitoristheGujarati,andduringPujaitistheBengali.Butthereisacontinuousflowoftourists.

IrshadMalik,theKashmirimilitantnowinLondon(whoFirdoushadwantedmetobringbacktoIndiawhenIwasatR&AW),oncesaidtomeaboutPoK:‘Usstarafkyahai?Pakistanmeinkyahai?Aapkyonfiqarkartehain?Inkojaanedijiye,

paardekhnedijiye,udharkuchhbhinahinhain.’HesaidthatSrinagarairport—andheobviouslyhadn’tbeentoSrinagarairportinatleasttwenty-fouryears—wasbetterthananyPakistaniairport.HotelsinKashmirareasgoodasanyintheworld.‘Theyhavenothingthere,’hesaid.Youshouldpublicisethesefacts,hesaidtome:‘Aapkotohfilmbananichahiye.’

Kashmirisasnormalasnormalcanbe.Thecrisisof1989–90haslongblownover.Separatismhasreceded,orasoneoftheirownkinputit,theirlotteryisover.

KashmirandKashmirishavemovedon.AghaShahidAli,theKashmiri-Americanpoet,hasinspiredawholegenerationofwritersfromSouthAsiaincludingBasharatPeerandMirzaWaheed,whohavemade

theirmarkintheWest.S.A.S.Geelani’sson-in-law,IftikharGeelani,whostartedasasmall-timejournalist,isheadingtheDelhiBureauofthepopularMumbai-baseddailyDNA.Morepromisingyoungstersaremakingtheirmarkinthenationalmedia.KashmirisareregularlyfiguringintheAllIndiaCivilServiceslist.AcoupleofyearsagoaKashmiritoppedthelist.Kashmiridoctorsare

travellingforjobsnotonlytotheGulfandtheMiddleEastbuttheUSaswell.CrickethaspickedupsinceParvezRasoolwasincludedinthenationalonedaysquad.ForthefirsttimeJ&KdefeatedMumbaiintheRanjiTrophythisseason.

Butsadlyradicalismhasmovedapaceandsignalsfromtheneighbourhoodareominous.NotonlyisPakistaninturmoilandAfghanistan

yettounravelbutwhichwaytheTalibanisheadedandhowIslamicjihadwillfinallyplayoutisdifficulttosay.Al-Qaedamaynolongerbetheforceitwasbutisstillclearlyinspiring.TheISISisattractingmoreandmoreMuslimyouththeworldover.KashmircanhardlyremainimmunefromwhatishappeningallovertheIslamicworld,moresobecausetheviolenceithas

witnessedinthelasttwenty-fiveyears.Significantly,oflateKashmiriboysinvolvedinmilitancyaremorehighlyeducatedandfrombetterstock.Notsurprisingly,pro-ISISgraffitihasappearedinSrinagarcityanditsflagsflownintheuniversity.Theproclamationofacaliphateislikelytobethemostsignificantdevelopmentininternationaljihadismsince9/11whichisbeginningto

impactworldwide.Nearerhome,Taliban’sterrorfactoryisonautopilotandallthemoredangerouswhenthereisnocommunicationwithPakistan.

Nothingisconstant;leastofallKashmir;itcouldchangeovernight.TheKashmirihassufferedforthelasttwenty-fiveyearsandthoughhelargelyblameshimself,heisnotinternallyatpeacewiththestatusquo.

Thepeacewithhonourhebargainedforstilleludeshim;hemadeadignifiedexit.WhycanaKashmirinotbeanIndian?WeneedtolookdeepintothisquestionwhichdisturbsuswhenashopkeeperinSrinagarenquires,‘AapIndiaseaayehain?’TheIndianStateisbigenoughtobreachthispsychologicalbarrier.WhatKashmirneedsisnotmagnanimitybuthard-nosed

commonsensewhichVajpayeedisplayed.HadhebeenaroundforafewmoreyearsorhadDrManmohanSinghnotmissedthewindowofopportunityin2006or2007,asolutionaroundtheMusharrafformulawouldhavedisposedoftheproblemfortheforeseeablefuture.NowweneedtoengagewithKashmir(notjustMuftiSaheb)andwithPakistanaswell.Thereasonthatpeople

inDelhihavereservationsabouttalkingtoseparatistsandPakistanisaretheveryreasonsweneedtotalktothemfor.AsMuftisays,thereisnootherway.

Inclosing,Imustsaythis:ifanyonewhoreadsthisbookhasanydoubtsaboutthepathItook—oftalking,talking,talking—andhowunbeatabledialogueisasbothatacticandastrategy,thenIwilltellthemofwhatAghaSaheb

saidtomeduringameetinginMay2014:‘Youweresenttodisruptthe(Kashmir)movement...inthefriendliestpossiblemanner.’

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ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

AMARJITSINGHDULATservedastheheadoftheResearchandAnalysisWing(R&AW),India’sspyagency,underPrimeMinisterA.B.

Vajpayee.HelaterjoinedVajpayee’sPrimeMinister’sOffice(PMO),wherehisjobwasto‘monitor,manageanddirect’thegovernmentofIndia’speaceinitiativeinKashmir.

DulatwasborninSialkot,Punjab,inDecember1940.WithIndia’sPartition,hisfatherJusticeShamsherSinghDulat,ICS,waspostedtoDelhi.DulatwaseducatedinBishopCottonSchool,

ShimlaandPunjabUniversity,Chandigarh,afterwhichhejoinedtheIndianPoliceService(IPS)in1965,andthentheIntelligenceBureau(IB)in1969,whereheservedforalmostthirtyyears.AtIBheheadedtheKashmirGroupduringtheturbulent1990stillhejoinedandheadedR&AW.

Sinceleavingthegovernmentin2004,Dulathasbeenactiveonthetrack

twocircuit,andhasvisitedPakistan.Hehasco-authoredapaperwithformerPakistaniintelligencechiefLt.Gen.AsadDurranionthebenefitsofintelligencecooperationbetweenIndiaandPakistan.

Duringservice,DulataccumulatedavastreservoirofgoodwillwithKashmirisofallshades.AsJane’sIntelligenceDigestputitin2001:‘Wellknownforhissocialskills,Dulatprefers

dialoguetoclandestinemanoeuvres.HehasbuiltupanimpressivenetworkofpersonalcontactsinKashmirincludingmilitants.’Adecadeafterretirement,thatgoodwillremainsintact,withKashmirisdroppinginonhimandhiswifeParanattheirFriendsColonyhouseinDelhi,tosharegossip,information,andadvice.

ADITYASINHAisajournalistsinceFebruary1987.HehasbeenEditor-in-ChiefofTheNewIndianExpressandofDailyNewsandAnalysis(DNA).HispublishedworkincludesthebiographiesFarooqAbdullah:Kashmir’sProdigalSon(1996)andDeathofDreams:ATerrorist’sTale(2000).

FirstpublishedinhardbackinIndiain2015by

HarperCollinsPublishersIndia

Copyright©A.S.Dulat2015

P-ISBN:978-93-5177-066-4EpubEdition©June2015ISBN:978-93-5177-067-1

24681097531

A.S.Dulatassertsthemoralrighttobeidentifiedasthe

authorofthiswork.

Theviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisbookaretheauthor’sownandthefactsareasreportedbyhim,andthepublishersarenotinanyway

liableforthesame.

AllrightsreservedunderTheCopyrightAct,1957.By

paymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthe

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Kashmir the Vajpayee Years by a.S.dulat and Aditya Sinha

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