Seven tenures in Kashmir, then a decade studying it from distance — Lt. Gen. D.P. Pandey has a rare zoomed-out view.

Commissioned in 1985 and serving as Commander of the 15 Corps in Srinagar, General Pandey maps Kashmir’s transformation from peak militancy through Article 370’s abrogation to the present. He argues that peace in any conflict zone is fundamentally impossible without public and civil society support — and that the military is only one instrument. The panel, also featuring author and political analyst Shaila, examines the uncertainty that followed the return of the same government, the pendulum psychology of a population afraid to take sides, and the deeper question of whether a pluralistic society can be rebuilt once it has been shattered.

About the Speakers:
General Devendra Pratap Pandey (PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM) is a retired General Officer of the Indian Army. He served as the Commandant of the Army War College in Mhow and held the position of General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps. Additionally, he was the first Director General of the Territorial Army of the Indian Army. His distinguished career in the military has earned him multiple prestigious honors.

Shehla Rashid is an academic with research interests in technology and politics, as well as a well-known voice in youth activism in India. She is a former student leader and the first Kashmiri woman to be elected as an office-bearer of the JNU Students’ Union in 2015. An accomplished author and speaker, she wrote Role Models: Inspiring Stories of Muslim Achievers (Penguin, 2024) showcasing successful Muslim figures in India.

Moderator:
Raja Muneeb is an independent journalist and columnist covering politics, conflict, and society. His bylines appear in The New Indian, Firstpost, CNN-News18, EU Reporter, and Chintan India Foundation. He is known for his grounded reporting and sharp commentary on South Asian affairs.