OPINION: Kashmiri Separatists Frustrated With ISI’s Use And Throw Policy

Pakistan's ISI is once again trying to revive the separatist movement in Kashmir, not on religious sentiments but on a political front. In this perspective, the Pakistan army presently managing the political and economic crisis appointed jailed Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik's wife Mishal Hussain Malik​ as a special advisor to Pakistan's​ caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.

It is in Pakistan's DNA that they ​have no respect for their leaders. History is witness to its outlook​ from Mohd Ali Jinnah ​to Imran Khan who has been humiliated and insulted in public. Likewise, Mishil Malik's appointment has been seen as a humiliation to her husband Yaseen Malik, currently serving his sentence in Tihar Jail in Delhi. ISI has not even hesitated to exploit his 1​2-year-old daughter Raziyah in PoK assembly to express her helplessness and ​​plead for help.

Kashmir watchers believe that the appointment of Mishal Malik is superficial for the time being. Dr Syed Nazir Gilani, President of U​K- based JKCHR NGO comments, "It is the exploitation of innocent Kashmiris. She is far remote from a common Kashmiri and Kashmiriyat. Yasin Malik will be having sleepless nights. Her shelf value would not last long."

Her appointment has not been welcomed by the JKLF cadre in PoK and instead has maintained distance from ISI. Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) rank and file ​​have shown ​a lukewarm response to ISI's new beginning of a so-called freedom​ movement. Kashmir experts are of ​​the view that the JKLF cadre in Kashmir valley too has been disillusioned by Pakistan on Kashmir policy.

ISI's brute and uncouth attitude demoralized the zeal of JKLF in ​the valley for their narrow diplomatic gains. ISI has lost trust in Yasin Malik and ​has branded​ him as ​a doubtful character of no use.​ Thus, Yasin Malik has lost his command over JKLF. Altaf ​Q​adri from ​the US working as acting chairman in ​the absence of Yasin Malik (since in jail) quit JKLF on July 15, 2023​,​ due to political ​​differences within the organisation.

JKLF, which was formed o​n May 29, 1977, in Birmingham, England, has a ​s​tronghold of 300 Kashmiri origin people belonging to Ansari​ and Mirza families​ holding the JKLF fort.
Altaf Qatari, a Board Member of Kashmir Global Council (KGC) told this journalist, "The time will come for negotiations, and we must plan it carefully for that moment. It is imperative to understand that no conflict ends without political consequences. Therefore in that situation, either Kashmiris should engage in shaping those consequences to serve our interests, or India will shape the consequences to its stead."

When asked about the role of Pakistan, Qadri categorically said "The honest rejoinder will be that Pakistan has lost an equation in the issue. They must hold themselves accountable for it, and we must take a load off their o​utdated narrative."

However, the US-based Diplomatic Head of JKLF Raja Muzaffar, while commenting on the news of the inclusion of Yasin Malik's wife in the federal government of Pakistan, said that the Pakistani establishment (ISI) in the case of Kashmir is doing nothing but harming the life of Yasin Malik, also taking revenge for something from Yasin Malik.

Meanwhile, JKLF units have started brainstorming sessions to devise damage control methods for the organization which has slipped into a deep crisis.

In the process of damage control to JKLF, Saleem Haroon Senior, Vice Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, in a statement has said during the exchange of thoughts with Farooq Siddiqi, the president of the KGC, nationalist school of thoughts needed to be united along the ideological lines.

It was also admitted that the so-called freedom struggle was passing through odd situations and sincere efforts were needed to challenge it. While on the inner bickering in JKLF
it was decided to plug the loose ends from traditional politics and put up a united resistance against those trying to undermine the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir.

The JKLF assured to extend its sincere support to KGC's efforts for creating a representative Senate for representing Kashmiris in the resolution of Kashmir. JKLF and KGC will continue to work in tandem to promote the idea of a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue.

(R C Ganjoo is a senior journalist and columnist having more than 30 years experience of covering issues concerning national security, particularly Kashmir. He has worked with several prominent media groups and his articles have been published in many national and international publications.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.