Kashmiri Separatist Leader to Write Autobiography

Srinagar, Feb 19: Senior pro-independence Kashmiri separatist leader and former militant commander Mohammad Yasin Malik is all set to write his autobiography and tell untold truth to the people.

Malik, who was pioneers of the armed militancy in the region in 1989, presently heads pro-independence group, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). He has married a Pakistani artist, who belongs to a well-off family.

“I believed that it was necessary to tell people about what brought Kashmir to the situation where its people find themselves now,” Malik said while acknowledging that he is writing autobiography.

He had mobilized youth to vote in favour of pro-Islamic parties in 1987 elections, which were subsequently “rigged” and proved to be the watershed moment in the modern history of Kashmir.

He saw the non-violent struggle assume the shape of full-fledged armed conflict and lead a militant group JKLF.

“An era of youth activism, deceit and later on the bloody armed struggle that has left thousands of people dead, thousands disappeared and some unanswered questions that shaped the situation in Kashmir to the point where it is now. Expect all this and more in my autobiography,” Malik said.

He said he has started to pen it down as it is his ‘supreme responsibility’ towards his nation.”

“The autobiography will answer some of the most important and unanswered questions that people of Kashmir, Pakistan, India and the whole world need to know,” Malik said.

The autobiography will chronicle Malik’s life before militancy, the militant era and the political struggle.

The book will be a single volume written in English and it is expected to touch many important issues like political killings, high profile kidnappings and many controversial things. It is also expected to make some interesting revelations about the role of different actors including Pakistan and India.

Fayaz Wani

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.