In the first ever admission of its kind, one of the most influential and high ranking intelligence officers of India has said that Indian intelligence agencies have over the years, often paid militants and separatists, along with mainstream politicians and political parties in the Kashmir Valley. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, former RAW Chief AS Dulat asked, "So what's wrong? What is there to be so shocked or scandalized by. It's done the world over." Talking about his controversial memoirs: Kashmir
- The Vajpayee Years, Mr Dulat elaborated that the Indian government had quite often paid for the air fares, medical treatment and general upkeep of even hardened pro-Pakistan separatists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Saying that India's spooks had been in touch with everyone "Separatists and militants", Mr Dulat also argued that one of India's most wanted terrorists Syed Salahuddin had been in touch with him and was ready to leave Pakistan and return to India. Defending the use of money in the Kashmir valley, he said it was done in the hope of engaging militants and separatists and also to compete for influence with the ISI. "Corrupting someone with money is more ethical and smarter than killing him," Mr Dulat said wryly.
