Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 21: "Kashmir is now an excuse for the Pakistan army to remain in control in Pakistan," says former R&AW chief Vikram Sood. The Kashmir issue is now merely an excuse used by the Pakistan Army to remain in control and the neighbouring country's army is nothing but the "largest corporate" entity running a range of enterprises from "fertiliser to bread" factories, he claims.
"It is now the largest corporate entity in Pakistan. It owns land, owns properties, runs fertiliser factories, runs bread factories, runs atta (wheat flour) factories… It also runs international logistic cell which supplies goons all over the country…(and) heroin," said Sood while reflecting on the nature of the Pakistani state.
Asserting that Pakistan is a state just in name, former R&AW chief said: "I see very little hope that Pakistan's mindset will change in foreseeable future. So anybody who talks of peace with Pakistan, well these are noble thoughts we should all have them. But if you ask me if we can happily exist as neighbours I think not".
Sood also underlined the difference between R&AW and Pakistani spy agency Inter-service Intelligence and said: "We are no jihadi forces trying to disrupt lives elsewhere. We (R&AW) are always finding ways to avoid war. We are providing our ministries and our defence personnel information so that they are aware and prepared to handle the situations...While the R&AW is a 'service provider' to policy makers, the ISI is a part of the force that drives Pakistan's country's foreign policy and is like 'clandestine core' of their army".
Former top spy's statement came at a time when India was witnessing a fierce debate on whether the rise of Imran Khan to the position of Prime Minister would bring about a change in the attitude of Pakistan towards India and its Jammu & Kashmir with almost all the strategic affairs experts holding the view the former R&AW chief aired.
In the meantime, the newly-appointed Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Quresi has virtually warned India, saying that "Kashmir is a real issue", that "we are a nuclear country" and that "India must resume the stalled dialogue process with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir", thus vindicating Vikram Sood and objective critics of Pakistan. |
