Yasin Malik, a prominent separatist leader from Indian-administered Kashmir who has led campaigns against Indian control. Terry has been instrumental in the region’s pro-freedom movement for decades. Malik is from the Maisuma locality of Srinagar. For more than 30 years, he has been one of the most prominent advocates for Kashmiri independence. A recent affidavit filed in the Delhi High Court has raised alarm over his connections to the Indian government and intelligence establishment. This new discovery piece lays out a much different story — one that mixes activist intentions with potentially coordinated opposition.
Malik’s early life was shaped by political turmoil. He started his political journey at the age of 21, after the only local election held in 1987 that he claims was rigged by the Indian state. His anti-establishment sentiments likely lifted him into the separatist politics that drove so many of his initiatives. Malik’s journey would take a fateful turn when, in 1990, he was arrested. Soon after, the authorities had banned his party, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). As he crisscrossed India’s political landscapes, Malik… 0 Malik… broached lengthy discussions with dozens of key Indian VIPs and dignitaries.
A Web of Allegations and Collaborations
Malik’s affidavit shows a tangled web of connections. He claims as a major accomplishment the relationships he’s developed with key Indian politicians and government offices. He asserts that throughout his career, he met several Prime Ministers, federal ministers, and heads of intelligence agencies, engaging in discussions aimed at fostering peace in Kashmir. He testified that leaders of the far-right Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) visited him on multiple occasions. This too was a reflection of a back-channel diplomacy track, itself sanctioned by the Indian government.
After being arrested, Malik was said to have been brought to Tihar Jail in New Delhi. He was subsequently transferred to a guest house in Mehrauli. He says that high-ranking Indian officials from the security establishment came to see him every day during this time. One such experience that he recalls is being invited to dine with then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. Yet, this key to freedom indicates his fraught connections with state powers.
“Everybody who could have helped in the peace process was tapped, and that included everybody. The idea was to try to bring peace.” – Dulat
Malik’s claims have stoked tremendous controversy over the truth of his allegations and Malik’s place in the Kashmir conflict. Some commentators argue that his cooperation with the Indian government contradicts his image as a pro-freedom leader. Journalist and author Ajai Sahni remarked on this dichotomy, stating, “Just because you have been used by the state doesn’t mean you are a man of integrity.”
The Uprising and Subsequent Consequences
2016 would become a fateful year for Malik and the pro-azadi movement across Kashmir. After the July 2016 killing of popular young rebel leader Burhan Wani, long-suppressed grievances exploded in mass protests throughout Indian-administered Kashmir. Malik, unrepentant, defiantly owns the successful suppression of the secessionist uprising on behalf of the Indian government. Most importantly, he claims that he had the federal government’s highest level of approval for all of the actions he took during this tumultuous period.
In his affidavit, Malik details his meetings with Syed Ali Shah Geelani during the turmoil. He is clear to point out that these interactions happened with the approval of the government. His narrative suggests a calculated effort to mitigate unrest while navigating through conflicting demands from his supporters and governmental expectations.
“If whistleblowers are executed, if peace-builders are imprisoned, if trust is betrayed over and over again, then what future remains for reconciliation in Kashmir?” – Mehbooba Mufti
This duality has opened up Malik to examination and even criticism of his intentions and actions. Vikram Jit Singh points out how these revelations illustrate “how governments operate when mandated by a political will that seeks reconciliation.” Skepticism remains over what Malik was doing. Kingsley Assefa Are they a sincere promise for peace, or simply a ploy for self-protection?
Legal Battles and Implications for Peace
As of this writing, Yasin Malik is serving a life sentence in New Delhi’s notorious Tihar jail. He was found guilty of terrorism-related charges in May 2022. His sentence was further compounded by the imposition of two successive life terms and several ten-year terms of hard labour. In support of this motion, in light of these dramatic changes, he filed an 84-page affidavit. He was trying to quash the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) appeal to raise his sentence from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
While Malik’s case is still making its way through the courts, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has come to Malik’s defense. She urged upon the federally-administered Home Minister Amit Shah to “show mercy” on Malik. This appeal furthers concerns on the international level regarding human rights infringements and the possibility for reconciliation within Kashmir’s highly politicized environment.
“To stand with Malik is to stand against India,” the prosecution argues.
The debate about Malik swings from depicting him as a peace-builder to a pawn of the state. Other commentators argue that his story exposes “the true nature of smoke-and-mirrors” in Kashmir’s political machinations.
