Ideas of India 2026: Dulat & Durrani on India-Pak “Locked in a Deadly Embrace”

At Ideas of India 2026, a rare and powerful dialogue brought together former intelligence chiefs A. S. Dulat and Asad Durrani for a session titled “India and Pakistan: Locked in a Deadly Embrace.”The conversation offered candid insights into one of South Asia’s most complex rivalries. Both former spymasters acknowledged that while India and Pakistan remain strategic adversaries, they are also deeply intertwined by geography, history, and shared challenges. Dulat emphasized the importance of sustained backchannel diplomacy, arguing that intelligence agencies often maintain communication even when formal political ties break down. Durrani, on the other hand, reflected on missed opportunities for peace and stressed that hostility cannot be a permanent policy. He suggested that political leadership on both sides must demonstrate courage to pursue dialogue, even amid domestic pressures. The session stood out for its rare openness, as two former intelligence heads publicly discussed trust deficits, cross-border tensions, and the urgent need for de-escalation. The takeaway was clear: confrontation may define headlines, but communication remains essential to avoid long-term instability in the region.

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