Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Yasin Malik)

The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Yasin Malik) is a break away faction of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, led by Yasin Malik. It is a separatist movement, demanding a united Kashmir independent from both Pakistan and India. Although previously a militant organization, since 1995 it has renounced all violence and called for strictly peaceful methods to achieve its aims. However, it has questionable support even in Kashmir valley and has never contested any democratic elections. It has on several occasions been accused of stirring up anti India and anti Indian army agitations including several violent stone pelting incidents.

History
Although it is a breakaway faction, it enjoys more popularity in Kashmir than the original JKLF factions led by Amanullah Khan and one led by Sardar Rauf Kashmiri more active in Pakistani Kashmir. Meanwhile, elections were held in Indian Jammu & Kashmir, which brought up the popular Muslim leader Sheikh Abdullah, who with his party National Conference, by and large supported India. The elected Constituent Assembly met for the first time in Srinagar on October 31, 1951. Then The State Constituent Assembly ratified the accession of the State to the Union of India on February 6, 1954 and the President of India subsequently issued the Constitution (Application to J&K) Order under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution extending the Union Constitution to the State with some exceptions and modifications. The State’s own Constitution came into force on January 26, 1957 under which the elections to the State Legislative Assembly were held for the first time on the basis of adult franchise the same year. This Constitution further reiterated the ratification of the State’s accession to Union of India. However, these tidings were not recognized by Pakistan, which has continued to press for a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the people. Pakistan set up its own Kashmir, called Azad Kashmir in a tiny Western chunk that it is the chairman of one of the three faction of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, the chairman for other faction is Farooq Siddiqi (Farooq Papa). The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), founded by Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat, is a Kashmiri Muslim militant organization founded in Birmingham, UK on May 29, 1977. Within a couple of years branches were established in several cities and towns of the UK; and also in several countries of Europe, USA and Middle East. In 1982 branches of this Islamic Militant organisation were established in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Pakistan and in 1987 in Indian-administered Kashmir (Jammu & Kashmir) which shows it essential foreign origin. He started his movement for separation of Jammu & Kashmir from secular India as an Islamic Nation of Darul Islam. In public he supports the return of Kashmiri Hindus back to the valley but, 700,000 lakh ousted minority Hindus ousted don't believe his sincerity.

He now lives in Maisuma, Srinagar and provides support to Kashmiri Separatism. However in 2005 the JKLF led by Yasin Malik received a major setback when its senior leaders differed from Yasin Malik's meeting  with the prime minister of India and parted ways and announced Farooq Siddiqi, (Farooq Papa) as its new chairman. Since then the popularity of JKLF headed by Yasin Malik has declined.

In 2007 Yasin Malik and his party launched a peaceful campaign known as Safar-i-Azadi (Journey to Freedom). This journey was to create an atmosphere for anti-Indian agitations among public which lasted for one year and during it, Yasin Malik and his colleagues visited about 3500 towns and villages of Kashmir. Stone pelting and sporadic attacks by Muslim majority of Kashmir of security forces have increased hence forth. In January 2010, Yasin asked Kashmiri Pandit migrants to return to their homes in the Kashmir valley but situation as created by his politics is otherwise. Yasin Malik is widely regarded as a separatist in India, who was found creating blockade of relief efforts during recent floods in Kashmir valley. He is suspected to have strong links with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, militant groups in Pakistan including close links with terrorist Hafeez Saeed, with whom he has been spotted in public gatherings. He has never contested any democratic elections and is also believed to have backing from Pakistan government.