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Yasin Malik’s Shocking Claims in Court
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yasin Malik, currently serving a life sentence on terror funding charges, revealed new details in an affidavit submitted to the Delhi High Court. Malik claimed that since his arrest in 1990, six successive Indian governments from V. P. Singh’s administration to that of Manmohan Singh engaged him to participate in backchannel talks aimed at resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Meeting with Hafiz Saeed on IB’s Instructions
One of the most startling revelations involved a 2006 meeting with Hafiz Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Malik stated that this encounter was not his initiative but was arranged on the specific request of the then Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, V. K. Joshi. According to Malik, such dialogues were integral to intelligence-led peace processes.
He described how, after his meeting with Saeed and other militant leaders of the United Jihad Council during a Pakistani function, he briefed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor N.K. Narayanan upon returning to India. Malik said that Manmohan Singh thanked him for his “time, patience and dedication” toward these sensitive peace efforts.
What Malik Says About the Backchannel Talks
Malik explained that his engagement with militant leaders was part of a broader peace strategy, where militancy and dialogue were seen as two sides of the same coin. However, he accused the authorities of later misrepresenting these interactions. He claims the 2006 meeting with Saeed was distorted and used against him to brand him a terrorist, especially around the time of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir.
High-Level Contacts and Political Context
In his affidavit, Malik also recounted meetings with senior intelligence officials and political figures, including visits from IB’s Ajit Doval, who assured him of his upcoming release in the early 2000s. Malik’s submissions were filed as part of his defense against a National Investigation Agency (NIA) appeal seeking to escalate his life sentence to the death penalty on terror funding charges linked to Pakistan-based entities.
Political Fallout and Responses
Malik’s claims have sparked intense debate, particularly from BJP leaders who question the UPA government’s handling of national security and secret diplomacy. Some see his affidavit as shaking established narratives about Kashmir peace efforts and terrorism, raising uncomfortable questions about India’s backchannel communications with militants.
