Yasin Malik and the ISI: Terror, Betrayal, and Revelation in Kashmir

Yasin Malik and the ISI: Terror, Betrayal, and Revelation in Kashmir

Date: September 2025

By: The Global World News

Introduction

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik has been associated with Kashmir's separatist politics for decades. Sometimes he was described as a symbol of the "Kashmiri freedom movement," and sometimes he was targeted as a "terrorist-turned-separatist." But new revelations now reveal the complex politics of Kashmir, the deep-seated intrigues of Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, and the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

According to intelligence sources, in 2013, Yasin Malik personally begged for his life to the ISI and LeT. This incident is proof of how thin the line between separatism and terrorism is and how Pakistan has exploited Kashmir politics to its advantage.

 The 2012 Plot: When the ISI Suspected Its Own Pawn

In 2012, Pakistan suspected that Yasin Malik was secretly in contact with India's intelligence agency, the Intelligence Bureau (IB).Based on this suspicion, Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Hilal Dar (a resident of Sopore) was given the mission to assassinate Malik.

He conducted a video reconnaissance of Malik's house at Maqbool Manzil in the Maisuma area of Srinagar.This operation was carried out on the direct orders of the ISI.Pakistan's suspicions were not unfounded. Malik's close associate, Maulvi Shokat, had already been killed in an IED blast, further raising questions about Malik's loyalty.

But before the plan could be executed, Hilal Dar was arrested by the police. During interrogation, he confessed that both the ISI and Lashkar conspired to eliminate Yasin Malik because they believed Malik was playing "double politics" with India.

 Afzal Guru's Hanging and Visit to Pakistan (2013)

In 2013, Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged in India. This incident caused tremendous upheaval in the Valley.

At the same time, Yasin Malik arrived in Pakistan and organized massive anti-India protests.

Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed was also present with him at these protests.

But behind the scenes, the story was completely different— Sources say that during these protests, Malik secretly pleaded with Hafiz Saeed and the ISI for his life. He promised that he would never again have contact with Indian agencies and would only follow orders from Pakistan.

India's Strong Reaction

After his return to India, the government immediately took strict action: Malik's passport was revoked.His Pakistani wife, Mushaal Malik, was also denied a visa to visit India.Malik then formed the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) with Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

This organization: organized frequent shutdowns and strikes in the Valley,encouraged stone-pelting,

and even disrupted the education system by targeting schools. This led to years of unrest and violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

2017: Major NIA Action

India began cracking down on Kashmiri separatists in 2017.The NIA (National Investigation Agency) took strong action against hawala networks and terror funding.Many small and large separatist leaders and their associates were arrested.A major blow was dealt to the funding channel from Pakistan.This action significantly weakened the power of terrorists and separatists in the Valley.

2019: Ban on JKLF and Arrest of Yasin Malik

The central government took a major step in 2019. JKLF (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) was banned.Yasin Malik was also arrested. Since then, he has been lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail and is facing several cases related to terror funding.

Pakistan's Role and India's Challenge

This entire Yasin Malik case reveals a significant truth: Pakistan has attempted to destabilize the valley for decades by using separatist leaders in Kashmir as pawns.The ISI sometimes used them, and sometimes planned to kill them if they suspected them.This nexus between terrorist organizations and separatists has been the biggest cause of violence and instability in the valley.

India's challenge has been how to weaken this separatist politics. Steps like the NIA's action, the crackdown on terror funding, and the ban on the JKLF have proven crucial in this direction.

Conclusion: Kashmir's Politics and Lessons

Yasin Malik's case is not just the story of one individual, but a reflection of Kashmir's politics.It reveals how Pakistan, instead of solving the real problems of Kashmir, turned them into a strategic weapon. How separatist leaders sought their own benefits by bargaining with India and Pakistan. And how ordinary Kashmiris suffered the brunt of violence and instability for decades. Now, with Yasin Malik imprisoned in Tihar Jail, the question remains: Will the Valley be able to emerge from the shadow of terrorism and separatism and move towards peace and development?