‘Ijaz offered to mediate between Delhi, jihadis'

US businessman contacted RAW official and met military chiefs.

A leading Indian newspaper claimed on Monday that US businessman Mansoor Ijaz  had offered to broker a peace deal between New Delhi and jihadists linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.

Quoting a highly-placed but unnamed source, The Hindu said that Ijaz, a central figure in Pakistan’s October 2011 memo scandal, had approached India’s intelligence services with the offer. For the purpose, the paper said, Ijaz made contact with C D Sahay, who went on to serve as RAW’s chief from 2003 to 2005, claiming to have the blessings of the White House to broker a secret India-Pakistan deal on Jammu and Kashmir.

Sahay, according to the newspaper, had received calls from Ijaz on several occasions. During one such conversation Ijaz claimed to have the former head of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Husain Ahmad, on the line. But India’s Research and Analysis Wing concluded that Ijaz simply did not have the clout to deliver on the promises he made.

Ijaz’s offer came even as key Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abdul Majid Dar and former RAW chief A S Dulat were engaged in secret discussions aimed at bringing about a ceasefire, the paper said. Citing unnamed sources again, it said that Dar and Dulat met in the UAE after the Kargil war. Srinagar-based sources close to Dar admitted the meeting took place.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2011.