States » NorthPosted at: Oct 24 2026 10:43PM


Naravane says abolishing AFSPA alone cannot resolve conflict; Ladakh neglect flagged

Kasauli Oct 24 (UNI) Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) said abolishing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) alone would not resolve conflict, stressing the need to address its root causes.
Meanwhile, concerns over Ladakh’s alleged neglect by the Centre and the Himalayan region’s worsening ecological crisis dominated discussions at the 15th Khushwant Singh Literature Festival (KSLF) here on Saturday.
Naravane highlighted changing civil-military relations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East, saying people who once fled at the sight of military vehicles now approach soldiers to greet them.
He said the change reflected growing trust between local communities and the Army. Naravane also discussed his books, “The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries” and “The Cantonment Conspiracy”, along with his forthcoming sequel.
During a session titled “The Art of Disagreement”, educationist Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, accused the Centre of giving Ladakh “step-motherly treatment” and warned that political neglect was allowing mining and land mafias to threaten the region’s fragile ecology. In conversation with journalist Sunetra Choudhury, Angmo said meaningful change required wider social and educational reforms rather than merely the resignation of a minister. She said she and Wangchuk remained in touch with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Criticising the political use of religion, Angmo said the principles of Sanatan Dharma, including tolerance and compassion, had been misrepresented. She also called for greater public accountability and an end to divisive politics, observing that younger generations were increasingly prioritising humanity, inclusivity and compassion over caste and religious divisions. Joining the session online, Wangchuk said, “Saving Ladakh is saving India.” Environmentalist Ravi Chopra and former bureaucrat Avay Shukla also raised concerns over unchecked mining, excessive construction and climate change in the Himalayas, calling for ecologically sensitive development and greater participation of local communities. In another session, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief A.S. Dulat described the film “Dhurandhar” as propaganda during a discussion titled “A General and a Spy: The Kashmir Files”.
In conversation with Choudhury, Dulat and Major General Ranjan Mahajan discussed Kashmir’s political realities and prospects for peace.
Dulat stressed the need for dialogue with Kashmiris rather than focusing on Pakistan, while both speakers said force alone could not resolve the issue.
The festival also featured discussions on education, technology, governance and environmental conservation. Veena Naravane and General Naravane interacted with students on grief, resilience and personal growth, urging young people to learn from mistakes and cultivate discipline and self-belief.
During “Dystopia in an AI World”, Mandira Shah examined artificial intelligence’s impact on creativity, privacy and independent thinking. Environmental journalist Bahar Dutt and author Nikhita Singh advocated sustainable living, responsible tourism and conservation.
Author Pooja Poddar Marwah discussed parent-teen relationships, emphasising empathy and open communication. Rajeev Budhiraja and Lieutenant General Raj Shukla (Retd) discussed governance reforms, defence modernisation, artificial intelligence and indigenous technological capabilities.
Other sessions included “The Founder’s Office”, featuring Sarthak Ahuja and Sam Tully; “Me & Maa”, with actor Divya Dutta; and “Manipur: Stories the Fire Could Not Burn”, featuring Hoihnu Hauzel and Preeti Gill. Gillian Wright, Sam Tully and Hartosh Singh Bal also interacted with Rekha Khanna during “No Full Stops”.
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