The insurgents in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram are foolish. They can never have an independent nation. It is absurd. They should realise that they would prosper more in a united India.

In the northeast, they have very high levels of English education and also very high levels of women's emancipation. They are not suppressed as in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It is because of gender equality and English education. If, tomorrow, the guns went silent in the northeast, if the people gave up their struggle, the people of the northeast will be among the greatest beneficiaries of globalisation and the expansion of the Indian economy.

If you see the statistics, you see a significant number of people from the northeast in the service sectors, including hotels, airlines and IT across the country, I think their (insurgents') idealism is misplaced and mistaken. Of course, many of them are becoming extortionists and criminals. I think their real future lies in being part of this big and great country from which they can benefit greatly.

But Kashmir is a special deal. Kashmir is a genuine dispute between India and Pakistan. In the dispute, Sheikh Abdullah said that the Kashmir valley is like a beautiful woman coveted by two greedy, avaricious husbands, India and Pakistan. I would add that there is a third (suitor), the jihadis, who have promoted untold violence.

I think Kashmir has been a tragedy. Eventually, I think, the solution lies in the Line of Control becoming the de facto border but also a soft border where people on both sides can come and go. Even the Kashmiris will benefit because we are a much larger economy than Pakistan.

Ours may be a flawed democracy, but at least we have some kind of democracy. I am hopeful Kashmiris will be coming to understand the benefits of being with India. About two or three years ago, the University of Kashmir in Srinagar called N R Narayana Murthy of Infosys as their chief guest at an important event. Even young students in head scarves said he was their role model and they wanted to be like him. So, you see, that is a very heartening fact.

I think we should give the Kashmiris greater autonomy and greater freedom. Successive governments at the centre (federal level) have messed around a lot with the Kashmiris. It is crucial to reverse this policy.

Image: An Indian soldier guards the Zojila Pass, 108 kilometres north of Srinagar, May 1, 2007. The Srinagar-Leh National Highway connecting Ladakh to the Kashmir valley. The highway passes through the 3,510 metre-high Zojila pass which lies on the lower depressions of the Himalayan range. Photograph: Irshad Khan/ AFP/ Getty Images

Also read: 'I expect Kashmir to be partitioned some day'

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