SRINAGAR: In a striking disclosure, Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Muhammad Yasin Malik has disclosed that Indian political leaders have deceived him in the name of peace talks about the settlement of the Kashmir dispute.
According to media reports, in a detailed affidavit submitted to the UAPA tribunal, he asserted that he was assured by various Indian officials in the early 1990s that the Kashmir dispute would be resolved through talks, contingent on his organization’s declaration of a unilateral truce.
Malik’s remarks stem from a history of engagement with the Indian state that started in 1994 when he initiated a truce and subsequently had all 32 militancy-related cases against him under TADA dismissed. He said that this agreement was reached under the premise that it would facilitate a peaceful resolution to the current conflict.
READ ALSO: Israel should “Hit” Iran’s Nuclear Sites: Trump
Despite the ceasefire, he said that the remarks made by the Indian authorities were never honoured, leading to the current campaign against him and the JKLF, which the tribunal has recently declared an ‘unlawful association’ for another five years.
Malik has argued that while he had renounced armed struggle and embraced a non-violent approach, his organization continued to be unfairly targeted.
His affidavit not only dismisses the accusations against him but also challenges the credibility of New Delhi government’s assertions about the JKLF’ s activities, claiming that its international branches remain active despite the organization’s ban in 2019.
As the narrative unfolds, the accusations of betrayal in the peace process reflect the genuine willingness of the Indian side to engage in dialogue.
