New Delhi, April 22 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told the Delhi High Court that Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik was in contact with top leaders of Pakistan, including its Prime Minister and President, and used those links to propagate the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India.

The agency further submitted that Malik's claims about engagement with several Indian Prime Ministers have no bearing on the terror case against him and do not absolve him of his crimes.

These submissions were made in a detailed rejoinder affidavit filed by the NIA in its appeal seeking the death penalty for Malik. During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik informed a division bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla that the rejo...