Ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledged a meeting with Hafiz Saeed, a gesture for which separatist leader Yasin Malik expressed gratitude but later felt betrayed by the UPA government.
In a recent development, Yasin Malik, a Kashmiri separatist leader currently imprisoned on charges related to terrorism, has made several allegations regarding a 2006 meeting he had with Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to Malik, the meeting was allegedly organised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). During the meeting, Malik claims that Manmohan Singh, as the Prime Minister, told him, "I consider you father of the non-violent movement in Kashmir." Malik has also alleged that he personally briefed both Manmohan Singh and NK Narayanan, the then National Security Advisor, about the meeting.
Malik's affidavit is in response to the NIA's appeal for a death sentence in a 2017 terror-funding case. The NIA's case accuses Malik and others, including Hafiz Saeed, of conspiring with Pakistan-based groups to fuel unrest in Kashmir.
Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell head, has raised questions about the UPA's handling of national security and back-channel diplomacy. Malviya stated that Malik is a hardened terrorist who gunned down three Air Force personnel. He also questioned the mode of diplomacy employed by the Congress-led UPA government regarding Yasin Malik.
Malik has alleged that his meeting with Hafiz Saeed was later distorted to brand him a terrorist, calling it a case of "classic betrayal." He compared himself to Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat and stated that he is ready for the death penalty and will go with a smile.
VK Joshi, Special Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), met Malik in Delhi before his visit to Pakistan in 2006. Joshi asked Malik to engage with Pakistani leadership and terror group heads to further the peace efforts of the Manmohan Singh government.
Malik's claims have sparked a debate about the diplomatic strategies employed during the UPA government's tenure. The BJP has questioned the meeting's legitimacy and its impact on the peace process. However, the Congress party has remained silent on the matter.
As the case progresses, more details about the 2006 meeting and its implications are expected to come to light. The court will decide on the NIA's appeal for a death sentence for Yasin Malik and his associates in the near future.
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