Pahalgam attack stemmed from security lapses: Ex-RAW chief

Former chief of India’s intelligence agency, RAW, Amarjeet Singh Daulat, attributed the Pahalgam attack to security lapses and emphasised the need for Pakistan and India to resolve their issues through backchannel diplomacy.

In an interview with the BBC, Daulat stated that the security of Kashmir falls under the jurisdiction of New Delhi, and therefore, the responsibility for the attack lies with the central government.

He added that if India possesses credible evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the IIOJK attack, it should present that evidence at international forums to expose it clearly.

Dismissing fears of a full-scale war between the two nuclear-armed nations, Daulat said he does not foresee a war but acknowledged the possibility of a limited military operation or surgical strike. However, he firmly ruled out the chance of a nuclear conflict.

Read: Leaked RAW documents expose Pahalgam false flag operation

He noted that dialogue is inevitable, saying that dialogue will happen, the atmosphere is tense right now, and it may take time.

Referring to a comment by US President Donald Trump, Daulat recalled that Trump had expressed confidence that both countries would eventually resolve their disputes on their own.

Daulat also asserted that Kashmiris should not be blamed for the Pahalgam incident, claiming that such attacks often involve cross-border elements.

He stressed the need for a backchannel between India and Pakistan, suggesting that if both sides are unwilling to initiate talks directly, third parties such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, or the United Arab Emirates could facilitate the process.