Outgoing Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, on his last day in office, said that the international community is waking up to Pakistan's continued support to terrorist groups called a myth the assertion that Kashmiris are alienated from the rest of India.

The 1978-batch IAS officer, who retires today, will be replaced by Rajiv Gauba, who was previously posted in the Ministry of Urban Development.

Mehrishi spoke to India Today on issues including Kashmir, terror-funding by Pakistan, the separatist movement in the Valley and Dawood Ibrahim.

The outgoing Home Secretary admitted that since 2016, there has been an uptick in the number of causalities among civilians and security personnel in Kashmir. However, the situation in 2017 has improved, Mehrishi said, adding that more than 140 terrorists have been killed in Valley so far this year.

"Alienation of Kashmiri people is the imagination of the media in Delhi," Mehrishi said, going on to refer to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti's recent comment that 95 per cent of Kashmiris want peace and want to lead a normal life.

"As the CM also pointed out more than 95% of Kashmiri people want peace and want to lead a normal life but there are certain section who have been radicalised who influenced by Pakistan or have been trained in Pakistan who try to disturb the peace but they have not enjoyed widespread support," Mehrishi said.

The outgoing home secretary went on to say that Kashmir needs a 'hero' figure to counter the impact of Burhan Wani-like figures in the Valley. The "false hero worship" is an issue that needs to be addressed, Mehrishi said.

SEPARATISTS AREN'T LEADERS

Mehrishi indicated that he takes exception to the term leader being used for separatists. "I really doubt they are leaders because they have never won any election," Mehrishi said. "Separatist(s) have treated the Kashmir narrative as a business proposition."

Blaming Pakistan for funneling funds into Kashmir in order to create disturbances in the Valley, Mehrishi said that the credibility of separatists has suffered a huge blow after their links to Pakistan were exposed.

"While they are blocking schools, burning schools, their own children are studying abroad so the separators have actually been clearly exposed," Mehrishi said, referring to a recent India Today investigation that had revealed how separatists were getting funds from Pakistan to cause unrest in Kashmir.

The outgoing home secretary also denied that the Centre had provided security or funds to separatists in any form. "I don't think we are giving any security to separatist, if the state government is giving it is giving, the reason best known to state government. we have not given any funds to them and we don't intend to," Mehrishi said.

ON DAWOOD

Speaking on Dawood Ibrahim, who is accused in several cases including the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Mehrishi said that the fugitive gangster is in Pakistan and that legal processes are on to get him back to India. Islamabad provides a haven to several criminal elements, Mehrshi added, naming Hafiz Saeed And Azhar Masood among other terrorists who are in Pakistan.

While saying that Pakistan is known not to comply with international laws, Mehrshi said, "Legal process [to bring Dawood back] is underway... as and when we get an opportunity arises will try and get them."

"Pakistan is a terror state even if it's not a rogue state and I think increasing in the world is acknowledging this fact even the Americans have changed the(ier) stand," Mehrishi also said, referring to recent statements from the Donald Trump administration in the United States that has explicitly called out Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists and terror groups.

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