Who is Dineshwar Sharma, Man Appointed to Hold Dialogue in Kashmir

Here’s all you need to know about the new representative of government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajnath Singh on 23 October appointed former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Dineshwar Sharma as government's representative in Kashmir. The home minister said in Delhi that Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharma's new rank is to be equivalent to that of a cabinet secretary.

The ex-intel chief has experience in handling insurgency hit areas. Earlier in June, he was given a similar portfolio in Assam, when he took charge as the interlocutor for peace talks with the insurgent groups there, including the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).

Sharma, a 1979 batch Kerala cadre IPS officer, served as the IB chief from December 2014 and 2016. Rajnath Singh also appointed Sharma as the chief of Uttar Pradesh IB unit when he served as the state's Chief Minister.

He was born in Bihar and is known for his "non-flamboyant work style" among IB officials, and served in Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Lucknow in various capacities.

Sharma has worked with NSA Ajit Doval who also belongs to Kerala cadre.

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