Generals flattered Musharraf to get his support for Kargil: Journalist

lahore — Some generals who allegedly planned the 1999 Kargil war flattered then army chief Pervez Musharraf that he was more daring than his predecessors to execute this venture, according to a veteran journalist.

Nasim Zehra, the author of a book titled From Kargil to the Coup:

Events that shook Pakistan, said this during a discussion on her book at the Lahore Literary Festival held here on Saturday.

Zehra narrated the conversations between General Musharraf and other three generals involved in the Kargil planning: “‘If the Kargil operation was so simple why it was not carried out before,’ asked Musharraf. One general replied ‘no one was more daring than you and only you can execute it.’” The three generals also said their neck were on the line in this operation.

Zehra held detailed discussions on the role of generals who planned the Kargil operation in October/ November 1998 ahead of the Lahore talks between prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

She said India had no idea about the Kargil plan till May 1999. They (generals) moved the troops without even the knowledge of a key officer. “When the Kargil conflict took place journalists like me believed the version that it was the job of Mujaheedin.” The author further said that the civilian government and other institutions, including the intelligence agencies and the Air Force chief, were kept in the dark about the Kargil operation.

Zehra said that Nawaz Sharif expressed his astonishment when the defence secretary told him that Pakistan crossed over the LoC (Line of Control).

Sharif then backed the operation ‘as it was in national interest’.

She said after India’s strong response Sharif left for the United States where he was told by then president Bill Clinton that “you have to get out (of Kargil)”. —