New Delhi/IBNS: In an explosive claim, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorist Yasin Malik said he was thanked by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally for meeting Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba head Hafiz Saeed as a part of India's peace talks with Pakistan, media reports said.

Malik, who is serving a life sentence in a terror funding case, made the claim in an affidavit he filed in the Delhi High Court, NDTV reported.

The terrorist claimed his meeting with 26/11 mastermind Saeed was held at the request of Indian intelligence officials as a part of the backchannel peace process with hostile neighbour Pakistan.

Malik claimed before he travelled to Pakistan following the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, Special Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) V. K. Joshi had met him.

Joshi, as Malik claimed, had requested him to not only engage with the political leadership but also terrorist figures including Hafiz Saeez to back Singh's peace process.

Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh. Photo: PIB

Malik said he was told clearly that the dialogue with Pakistan won't be meaningful unless terrorist leaders were engaged.

In his affidavit, Malik claimed he addressed a gathering of jihadist groups and appealed to the terrorists to embrace peace.

After his return, Malik, as he claimed, met then PM Manmohan Singh in presence of National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan.

Malik said he was personally thanked by Singh for dealing with the hardline elements of Pakistan with patience and dedication.

"When I returned to New Delhi from Pakistan, Special Director IB V K Joshi as part of the debriefing exercise, met me in the hotel and requested me to immediately brief the Prime Minister," Malik said as quoted by NDTV.

"I met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the same evening where N K Narayan, National Security Advisor, was also present. I briefed him on my meetings and appraised him on the possibilities, where he conveyed his gratitude to me for my efforts, time, patience and dedication," he added.

On a picture with Singh, Malik said as quoted by the broadcaster, "When I met Manmohan Singh as PM, without any hesitation he said, 'I consider you father of non-violent movement in Kashmir'."

Hitting out at the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell Amit Malviya posted on X, "Yasin Malik is a hardened terrorist who is guilty of gunning down three Air Force personnel in uniform. This amounts to waging war against the state and he must be subjected to the full force of the law.

"If these new claims are true, they raise grave questions about the UPA’s handling of national security and back-channel diplomacy."