NEW DELHI: Former chief of India’s premier intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Amarjit Singh Dulat said that the Indian intelligence agencies over the years often paid militants and separatists along with mainstream politicians and political parties in India-held Kashmir to compete for influence with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
In his recent interview, Dulat asked: “So what’s wrong? What is there to be so shocked or scandalised by. It’s done the world over.” He defended the use of money in India-held Kashmir, saying that it was done in the hope of engaging militants and separatists. “Corrupting someone with money is more ethical and smarter than killing him.”
Speaking about his controversial memoir, Dulat divulged that the Indian government had on quite a few occasions paid for air fares, medical treatment and general upkeep of pro-Pakistan separatists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani. He said that India’s spies had been in touch with everyone, separatists and militants alike.
Dulat also revealed that he had been in touch with one of India’s most wanted terrorists and the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin, who the ex-RAW chief said was ready to leave Pakistan and return to India.
