As war drums beat louder in New Delhi, a seasoned voice of reason from India’s own intelligence circles has called for calm. Former RAW chief Amarjit Singh Dulat has squarely blamed Indian security lapses for the deadly Pahalgam attack, but warned against escalating tensions with Pakistan into a full-blown conflict.
In a recent interview, Dulat acknowledged the attack that killed 26 tourists exposed glaring failures within India’s security apparatus.
“There was no security in the area—it was clearly a failure,” he said, emphasizing the need to work with Kashmiris rather than alienate them. “Kashmir is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. That narrative is dangerous and must be rejected.”
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed severe retaliation and gave full operational freedom to the armed forces, Dulat urged restraint. “War is the worst option, especially between nuclear-armed neighbours,” he stated. “Talks never end—someone, somewhere is always in conversation, even if through backchannels in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran or the UAE.”
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam incident and has called for an impartial international investigation, a demand also backed by China. Pakistani leaders, including PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, have warned that any Indian aggression will face a “befitting response.”
Dulat noted that a militant group, The Resistance Front, initially took responsibility before retracting. He added that while India must gather and share evidence globally, diplomacy—not escalation—remains key.
In the aftermath, India suspended parts of the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelled visas, and expelled Pakistani diplomats. Pakistan termed the incident a “false flag operation” and launched countermeasures.
Dulat concluded by supporting India’s diplomatic response but reiterated: “If there’s proof, use it—but remember, wisdom lies in dialogue, not destruction.”