Wani spoke to Geelani days before his death

SRINAGAR: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani revealed before a crowd outside his home on Tuesday that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani spoke to him days before he was shot dead, saying the militant vowed to attain “freedom for Kashmir”.

The 86-year-old Geelani said Wani rang him up and spoke briefly but was very happy because “it was his long desire” to speak to the Hurriyat veteran.

“He said that ‘we on our side are trying our best to help this freedom struggle and I have full faith in you that you will also leave no stone unturned to attain the goal of freedom for the Kashmiri nation’,” Geelani said.

Wani was killed by security forces on July 8. His death triggered a wave of protests across Kashmir, in which as many as 49 people were killed and more than 2,000 wounded in a security crackdown against violent mobs. Geelani said Wani was a “very intelligent and matured Mujahid commander”.

Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, wanted in India for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, also had claimed last week to have spoken to Wani over the phone. Following the widespread protests by people over the death of Wani, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had referred to Wani as a “Kashmiri leader” and described his death as an “extrajudicial killing”.

Saeed, known for his anti-India comments and activities, said at a rally: “Few days before his death, Wani told me it was my desire to speak to you. Now my desire has been fulfilled, and now, I am waiting for martyrdom.”