It was rather shocking to learn that the wife of terrorist and separatist Yasin Malik prayed for Rahul Gandhi’s help.

This raises a crucial question: why is the wife of a terrorist asking for assistance from a well-known politician? And why, especially Rahul Gandhi? Does he have some sort of undisclosed relationship with the Kashmiri terrorists?

In order to make sense of this scenario, it is necessary to look into detail into who Yasin Malik is and the events that culminated in his arrest.

Background: Who is Yasin Malik?

Malik is chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), a banned terrorist organisation that uses terrorism in the Indian-administered part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. They have accused him of masterminding many attacks on Indian security forces and civilians, including the ethnic cleansing of Kasmir Hindus, known as Kashmiri Pandits, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These terrorists have brought about a lot of sorrow in the part of the country and to the people of the region in particular, the Pandit community, most of whom fled their homes due to the acts of terrorism.

His activities were not only violent, but he had been fed with different anti-India campaigns, and most times he operated from the POK. His arrest in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was a major measure of the Indian government to counter terrorism and separatism in the region. Therefore, it hits me funny that his wife is now approaching a leader like Rahul Gandhi, who has talked about human rights but also has been accused of hypocrisy on terrorism.

Now, let’s think about what this form of engagement means.

Why Rahul Gandhi?

Is it because he belongs to a party of which some of the members have been in power during some of the worst political moments of Kashmir's history? The Congress party was in power when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes, and some have accused the party of not acting strongly enough against terrorism. Such a historical background raises questions marks as to the genuine intent of Malik’s wife when appealing for the release of her husband. Isn’t she trying to capitalise on the Congress party's previous blunders just to gain sympathy for her husband?

Further, the substance of this appeal is suspicious too, and the timing is also in question. In the current political environment in India, particularly and unfortunately, the focus seems to be on national security; then extending an invitation to a leader of a party that has been accused of compromising on terrorism looks like a masterly move. Basically, there seems to be a trend to renew previously severed connections or work on generating stories that would be useful for the separatists.

Therefore, the response of Rahul Gandhi to this condition is important. That is why interaction with Malik’s wife might lead him to send a message that can be regarded as support for terrorism. It is not just about one man; it is the three-year consideration of what is in the broader/greater interest of protecting the nation and what kind of signal is being sent to the people of India, particularly to the victims of terror operatives like Yasin Malik.

Every time it is necessary to recall horrific acts against the population of the Kashmiri Pandits during the stage of developing terrorism. This translated to the Congress government of the time being accused of inaction, which led to terrorists going about their business encouraging and. Also with violence and creating an atmosphere of terror.

Now, when the wife of Malik turns to help herself, one has to ask the question: what kind of leader does Rahul Gandhi want to be? Is he ready to associate with people who have links to terrorism, or is he ready to come out and fight it?

Therefore, the appeal from Yasin Malik’s wife to Rahul Gandhi is not only a private appeal, but it is a political move that should draw significant attention to the consequences of India’s war against terrorism. That is why it poses a question about the moral basis on which political leaders should function. Well, as citizens, we refer to ourselves to think further and sometimes doubt the intention behind such a connection.

Terrorism is not only a political struggle; it is a fight for our country’s principles and defence. Rahul Gandhi has to be very cautious in his decisions, as the consequences could be historically very damaging for the nation.

But on a final note Mushaal Malik, who sought Gandhi’s help for her husband’s release, is equally an indication that the politics of Kashmir are as alive today as ever. The question remains: Can Rahul Gandhi stand up to it or avoid it? And, more importantly, how would this claimed appeal go down in an Indian audience that has seen seven decades of conflict and terrorism in Kashmir alone?