Jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik has stirred controversy with a fresh claim in an affidavit before the Delhi High Court. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief alleged that in 2006 he held a meeting with Hafiz Saeed, founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, and that this meeting took place on the advice of Indian intelligence officials.
According to Malik, the move was part of a back-channel peace effort initiated during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure. He said that then Intelligence Bureau special director V.K. Joshi encouraged him to interact not only with mainstream Pakistani leaders but also with individuals like Hafiz Saeed, who were seen as important voices influencing the ground situation.
Malik further stated that once he returned from Pakistan after the meeting, he was debriefed by Indian officials. Later that day, he claims, he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan. During that interaction, Malik alleges, Singh expressed gratitude, thanking him for the “patience, dedication and effort” he showed in pursuing the peace initiative.
These remarks are now part of Malik’s defense as he challenges his conviction in terror-funding cases. While his affidavit attempts to portray the meeting as state-sanctioned, the allegations have raised sharp political questions.
So far, there has been no official confirmation of Malik’s claims from the Congress party, Manmohan Singh’s office, or the intelligence community. Analysts suggest the revelations, if true, underscore the complex methods India has sometimes used in back-channel diplomacy with Pakistan, including outreach to controversial figures. Critics, however, see Malik’s statements as an attempt to dilute the charges against him.
The issue has reignited debate on the limits of secret diplomacy, transparency in peace negotiations, and the political risks of engaging with actors linked to terrorism.
