‘RAW played a major role in Balakot airstrike’

“The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) played a major role in the recent Balakot airstrike, by identifying the targets. It was a challenging job,” said, Mohan Subbaiah, retired Deputy Commissioner of RAW.

He was speaking during an interaction on ‘Article 370 -- Raddati Ayamagalu Mathu Paramarshe’, organised by Mysore District Journalists Association, Rajya Shaikshanika Diksuchi Mathu Sudharana Samiti, and Constitution department of Sheshadripuram Degree College, here, on Wednesday.

“RAW is a foreign intelligence agency of the Union government. It mainly gathers intelligence from various countries regarding national interest. The agency targets and extensively covers Pakistan intelligence,” he
said.

Stating that RAW is a powerful agency, he said, “We basically cater to the requirements of the government on the assigned task and gather information on defence, military intelligence, terrorism and economic intelligence. RAW obtains information through various means.”

The officer opined that Article 370, which gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, should be abolished because India is facing various problems.

President of Rajya Shaikshanika Diksuchi Mathu Sudharana Samiti Sudhakar Hosahalli said that Article 370 can be abolished with a simple amendment.

“The separate status is given to Jammu and Kashmir on a temporary amendment. So, Article 370 can be cancelled at any time. Article 370 should be abolished to protect the unity of India. We have a federal form of government, but there is no federal Constitution. Hence it can be abolished,” he said.

Attack, intelligence failure

Replying to queries on the Pulwama attack, David, another RAW officer said, “Intelligence gathering will not be a success always. There will be an intelligence failure also. Even the world’s best intelligence agencies have failed. RAW has done several good intelligence gathering work. Pulwama attack was an intelligence failure.”

Speaking on Jammu and Kashmir, David said, the food habits, culture and race of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are completely different. The trouble in Kashmir is just a portion of the state.

He said, “The government has made several attempts to bring down trouble in the valley, but it could not eliminate separatism, as there are sympathisers for the terrorists on the basis of faith.”

Advocate Shyam Bhat and member of Kendriya Sahitya Academy Addanda Cariappa also spoke.