His security assessment sounds fair enough. However, his diplomatic expectations and political discourse seem to be colored by his ideological affiliation.
1) He says,
"Pakistan’s economic revival is contingent on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through the Indian territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, illegally occupied by Pakistan" - It's the other way round. CPEC loan repayments are contingent to Pak's Economic Revival. Seems, he has fallen to the Pak media's trap- once Afghanistan is stable, CPEC will be a grand success. Enough has been discussed about this.
2) "There were speculative reports of Afghan terrorists operating in J&K in large numbers, primarily members of the Hezb-e-Islami party of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar" - Hekmatyar is a known ISI puppet. Don't think that our security establishment is expecting anything positive from him
3)"Revocation of Article 370 and experiments of democracy through panchayats and district councils have failed to win the hearts and minds of the people of J&K."- Revocation of 370 can still be questioned but conduct of Panchayat elections is a problem too. Pure political bias.
4) "The overdrive of the pro-Right wing media and politicians on contrived linkages between Indian Muslims and the Taliban have further queered the pitch"- When the members of prominent religious institutions and Muslim Personal Law Board are sharing congratulatory messages, and the pawns are conducting podcasts encouraging the "struggle", what is the expected response?? Sab changa si???
5)"Diplomatically, we must not shy away from a trilateral engagement with Pakistan and China to bring about peace in J&K and Ladakh" - Why not? It's gazelle's diplomatic failure to strike a deal with the tiger that results in its death.
General Panag is an ideologically biased columnist, not much good is ever gonna come from his pen.