Saturday, March 29, 2025
Pahalgam Terror Attack Was a Major Lapse, But There Was No Concrete Intelligence: Former RAW Chief A.S. Dulat
New Delhi | Friday, April 25, 2025
Former RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) Chief A.S. Dulat has described the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, as a major failure, but he also emphasized that there was no solid intelligence input prior to the incident. He stated that intelligence is never fully foolproof—if it were, tragedies like the assassination of Indira Gandhi or the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. would never have happened. Even Israel, despite having one of the world’s strongest intelligence agencies (Mossad), could not prevent the October 7 attacks on its soil.
Some media organizations have blamed the Pahalgam incident on intelligence and security failures. The attack killed 26 people, including a Nepali citizen—most of them were tourists. The Indian government responded swiftly, taking strong actions against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, which has angered Pakistan.
A Strange and Alarming Incident
Dulat noted the strangeness of the attack, given that thousands of tourists and VIPs were in the region. Despite Jammu & Kashmir being a known hotspot for terrorist activities, there seemed to be little to no special security arrangements in place. He emphasized that this attack is historically significant since such acts have rarely disrupted the Amarnath Yatra—except for one instance in 2017. The site of the attack was also quite close to the Amarnath Yatra route.
A Turning Point in Kashmir’s History
He compared this attack to the chilling Chittisinghpura massacre in 2000, where 35 Sikhs were lined up and gunned down by terrorists, just hours before then-U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in India. Dulat called that event a turning point in the troubled history of Kashmir. Similarly, this Pahalgam attack occurred during the visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to India.
Role of Pakistan’s Army Chief
When asked if the attack was influenced by recent aggressive statements from Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir—who advocated a “two-nation theory” and reasserted the Kashmir issue publicly—Dulat said it appears so. He noted that past Pakistani army chiefs were comparatively less aggressive. He criticized General Munir’s language, saying such rhetoric is inappropriate for someone in a responsible position.
Terrorists Must Be Found at All Costs
Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dulat asserted that wherever the terrorists may be—whether hiding in India or having fled to Pakistan—they must be found and punished. He stressed that tracking down and eliminating the attackers is crucial. On the question of the path forward for Kashmir, Dulat said both the state and central governments need to work in unison. He expressed hope, pointing out that PM Modi and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are in alignment, sending a positive signal. He emphasized that under no circumstances should Kashmiris be alienated.
