A file photo of former preisdent of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
Former president of Pakistan, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has responded to allegations made recently by Lt. Gen. (retd) Shahid Aziz that as army chief he was guilty of putting a “tight lid” on the Kargil war.
“Telling everyone about it was not necessary at all,” said Musharraf in an interview with Express News show Kal Tak that was aired Wednesday night. He added that he felt Aziz had an imbalanced personality and has resorted to character assassination by making these accusations.
“We lost the Kargil war, which was a big success militarily, because of Nawaz Sharif,” said Musharraf. “If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.”
The former president said that the Kargil operation was not a major operation but a localized one. “Kargil was just one of many sectors all under a major general stationed in Gilgit, in charge of the area. Exchange of fire was routine there,” he explained.
He said that he would not go so far as to accuse Nawaz Sharif of betrayal, but his decision to withdraw from Kargil was a mistake. “Nawaz lost a political front which we had won militarily,” he added.
During the Kargil conflict of 1999, Aziz ran the Inter-Services Intelligence analysis wing.
“The prime consideration of such actions is security and secrecy, so the army leadership decides who is to be informed and when. As the operation progressed and the proper time arrived, a briefing of the corps commanders was also held,” he added.
“I am really astonished that Lt Gen Shahid Aziz is writing about this 10 years later,” said Musharraf when asked to comment on the accusation that he did not inform other generals.
He said that blaming the nation at this juncture of time, as Lt Gen (retd) Shahid has done, seems to be part of a conspiracy.
“It was a tactical action that had a strategic importance in which no more than a few hundred persons were involved, but which engaged thousands on the Indian side and was of tremendous importance.”
Musharraf justified Pakistani casualties in the conflict, saying that Pakistan lost only 270 men against India’s 1,600 soldiers.
India has reacted badly to the comments, asking Pakistan whether it wants to maintain a friendship with India given Aziz’s revelations that army regulars took part in the 1999 conflict.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2013.
COMMENTS (128)
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KARACHI: While coming out of a Pakistani court complex, Pervez Musharraf was shoed by a lawyer. Angry scenes were witnessed and people, including groups of lawyers, shouted slogans against him. For More Details http://www.actualface.com/shoe-thrown-at-musharraf-in-a-pakistan-court/
@ Tony singh , Atal and Musarraf plan
@Tony Singh , Atal- Musarraf plan to kill all those who want to snatch Kashmir from India by gun has got grand success at Kargil .
Pakistan lost the moral ground if it was there any .
@Assad , but we will continue to trust on people like you .... Still there are several ray of hope .
@Captain Muhammad Younis (R): Captain, tell this crap to people who are gullible. The truth is the IAF had oblitriated the posts of NLI and in one such raid more than 300 died in a single raid. It was PM Vajpaee's promise not to cross LOC by land or Air that saved the day for Pakistan Army, else in the coming months we would have been talking of Pakistan in Past tense.. The truth is Pakistan lost Militarily as well as diplomatically. The Pakistani Army withdrew with tail between their legs.
Shahid Aziz's allegations serve no purpose except to aid Nawaz Sharif in the Elections. The Hamoodur Rahman Commission, the Abbottabad Comission have not been acted upon yet and we are talking of more Commissions.
@Captain Muhammad Younis (R): As an eyewitness you still dont know that it was the Northern Light infantry who were doing the fighting,and not mujahadeen.As for our troops ,they can be supplied by air and the danger of them collapsing is non existant
@Azmat:
If a book is written nobody checked the credibility of the source of information. Gen Aziz does not had first hand information as he is not involved in the said conflict. General people are morons who believe everything they read. Why Gen Musharraf's arguments are not considered, why the people not think what is the purpose of this at this time. What would be the intenions of Gen. Aziz for writing this book full of descrepancies. We are still have not come out of the Kashmir solution. Once it is solved then these things should come out. It is harming Pakistan and Pak army and this Gen Aziz should be tried in the military court. We should trust our army. We are very unique nation-we believe everything the corrupt poliicans say and the lifafa print and electronic media says.
“We lost the Kargil war, which was a big success militarily, because of Nawaz Sharif,” said Musharraf. “If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So once Nawaz Sharif was no longer on the scene, why did Musharraf not make another attempt and ' conquer' 300 sq Km of Indian territory? As a matter of fact he became a bit of a peacenik once in power!
Musharraf is a very convincing lier! He lied to US President Bush & British PM Tony Blair to finally stab them in their backs. In September 2001, Pakistan was the only country recognising Taliban govrnment in Afghanistan but he stabbed Mullah Omar too in his back! Our PM Atal Behari Vajpayee was shouldn't have trusted him to invite him to Agra for talks, giving this pariah dictator the legitimacy he (Musharraf) needed but didn't deserve. He made deals with Benazir but didn't keep them. He hosed down the spot where she was shot to 'clean' all evidences after she was assassinated. His 'hand' was probably there! He is not a trustworthy leader & belongs to a jail in Pakistan if not gallows! Wake up my Pakistani friends! Musharraf's glitter is not at all gold, but just a glossy facade!
Why the general is staying outside Pakistan? Or in the first place, why did he leave Pakistan? I still do not understand?
Pervez Musharaf and Shahid Aziz represent two ideologies our generals believe in. But to suck this nation, all are united.
Gen. Musharraf, There wilts your dream of a 'triumphant' return (as triamphant as your triumph in Kargil) to Pakistan & take over as President. I always called you a chameleon & fox but you are worse! Spend the rest of your life & every ill-gotten penny that you have stashed in Swiss Banks. Your role in assassination of BB was dubious. But now we see that you didn't care even for your fellow-soldiers & refused to even accept their dead bodies! With Generals like you, India can relax! Shame on you!!
@Ishqiya: Pak GDP is USD 200 billion
@nrmr44: hiding himself outside Pakistan! We have not forgotten what he did to Nawab Bugti!
Pak army even refused to take back their soldiers in kargil..cowards..
I'll talk overall vision and wisdome of Pervaiz Musharraf. I don't think that Pakistani history got a such talented man in 60 years. During his 10 years tenur of governing Pakistan, he made lots of bold decisions, he made naib, allowed media channels, tried to stop corruption, made reforms in almost everything. The GDP ration was increased upto 8.5 yearly first time in Pakistan, stock exchange increased its growth and the biggest thing, he made some really good and wise decisions on education sector.
So, I'll must say that we need once again Pervaiz Musharraf come and lead the Pakistani nation.
@pakiindi: he did not visit US, the Americans summoned him, and if he would not have listened, you know what would have happened. Jaan bachaaney bhaagey saahab, like Musharraf Saahab is living outside Pakistan to save his jaan.
During Kargil War, I was there in Shaqma Sector and I am the eye witness of Kargil War. The Mujahideens had captured 300 KM area (including Indian Army Posts) beyond the LOC and they were in position to block arms/ration supply of One Big Corps of Indian Army. The Mujahideen had put their hand on the throat of Indian Forces and the Mujahideen had planned that in case of agression by Indian Forces on Lahore or Sialkot Border, Mujahideen would block Drass Road and complete one big Corps of Indian Army would have to surrender or would be killed by Mujahideen. Had Nawaz Sharif not announced withdrawal of Mujahideen from Indian Army Posts, India would have to face horrible defeat in Kargil Sector. The occupation of highest Indian Forward Posts from November to April was a great victory of Mujahideen and a horrible failure of Indian Intelligence. If Mujahideen were allowed to keep occupying Indian Highest Posts even for one more month, India would certainly had come on table to resolve Siachin and Kashmir issue because their big Corps strength was physically captured by Mujahideen. In fact, Kargil War was won militarily by Mujahideen and was turned into defeat by son of General Zia Ul Haq i.e Nawaz Sharif. May GOD save Pakistan from political defeat in future and may GOD give courage to Jawans to sacrifice their lives for defence of Pakistan.
Shame on India Today group for calling this dreg of humankind for their conclaves.
No one in their right mind would take on India by taking "300 square miles", knowing full well that there are nuclear weapons in the equation. He played a gamble with the lives of millions of Pakistanis, and shows no remorse for the 270 soldiers he lead to their deaths.
its a old issue now. talk about present issues of 2013 please. load shedding, inflation.
@The Only Normal Person Here.: " Sir Musharraf always straight talking and brave." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If that is the case why is he hiding outside Pakistan? :)
@Arijit Sharma: Institutions are for the crazy, not for the stupid! Mush is in a class by himself.
only two have recommended my comments above,I in thing they have not understood what I have said, this all happened in front of my eyes.Again read and try to understand.
Simply Musharraf means defeated Nawaz in political......ok
@Babablacksheep: "The timing of Shahid is very very dubious.why now?"
If not now, When?
Read Musharraf's statement between the lines and the truth comes out.
When he says; "there is no need to tell it to everyone and that he cannot accuse Nawaz Shareef of betryal" ,it says it all. It is a confession from his own lips ,that he alone was respnsible for the death of hundreds of Pakistan light northren infantry Jawans .It was poorly thought,planned and executed venture by him ,only to win a victory and to be crowned as the champion of Kashmir conflict. He never foresaw that Indians are not going to take it laying down and will retaliate with all they got,like they did in 1965 and Pakistan will lose this front as well. Then ,he goes to India and preaches peace & gets an egg in his face when confronted by Indian media and public in the press conference. Pakistanis always preached that Hindus have Ram-Ram on their lips and a dagger up their sleeve. It was Musharraf who stabbed India in the back,while Vajpai and Nawaz were buisy building bridges in bus diplomacy. Musharraf is responsible for creating so many orphans and widows(of light northren infantry) in Pakistan.
A realistic Pakistani
@aliahmed - You remind me of an American joke about Russians. In the streets of Moscow, a chap was shouting Koseygen is a fool. He was arrested & when the magistrate wanted to know the crime, the prosecution said - he has leaked a Government's secret!!! Like Genl Aziz, you Pakistanis should stand up for truth, accept the problems and find logical solutions. Its time you guys get into nation building. Pakistan need not be secular like India and can remain a Muslim country for ever. Learn from countries like Malaysia & Indonesia
@mrs ahmed ,Gen Musharraf is a Pied Piper , who mesmerises the Pak Citizens with his rehtoric and leads them up the Garden Path. Consider ,Nawaz had not gone to US for truce and PAK Army had 300 sq miles of India.Would India leave it at that having a standing Army of 16 million men at Arms. This Army will do whatever it takes to thow out the intruders ,how well entrenched and motivated they were.This is exactly what the Indians did albite with their blood and guts. Let us accept that nothing can be changed by use of force or use of non state actors except for causing misery to the common people of both countries.Your grievances on Kashmir. Siachin. Sir Creek , East Pak are accepted by the Civil society members in India.But use of voilence/force against a much bigger adversary is counterproductive and foolhardy, how glibly the Gen may talk and make a fool out of us. Sooner our Pak neighbor citizens realise this quicker will be the solutions found.Amen
@Polpot , Before dividing India once again the different forces in Pakistan shoulf realize the fact that the war initiated by their leaders and Generals as a last attempt to snatch Kashmir in 1999 in which Indian forces despite of loss of life acepted the limited war offer of Pakistan to eliminate the millitsnts created by ISI for the perpose . Now It is up to them to maintain peace at the border and forget the Kashmir issue for the prosperity and stability in Pakistan as next time India can't affored such a limited war to solve the issue .
The guy is a pathalogical liar and is now gearing himself for a military court marshal! What he has said is enough for the military trial.
Rex Minor
Mush is the biggest lier I have come across! He lied convincingly to US President Bush & British PM Tony Blair to finally stab them in their backs. Pakistan was the only country recognising Taliban-ruled Afghanistan but he stabbed Mullah Omar too in his back! Out PM Atal Behari Vajpayee was too dumb to trust him & invite him for Agra talks thus giving this pariah dictator the legitimacy he (Musharraf) needed but didn't deserve. He made deals with Late Benazir but destroyed all evidences after she was assassinated in which his own 'hand' is probably there! He is not a trustworthy leader & belongs to a jail in Pakistan if not gallows! Wake up my Pakistani friends! Musharraf's glitter is not at all gold, but just a glossy facade!
@bazooka: I think brother you haven't read @forgive's link which has Riedels observations. It is totally the opposite of what you are saying. After reading that hey General was right all along!
To all those ignorants who are posting useless and stupid comments after reading just the highlights of the interview here, first watch the whole interview, then maybe you would understand why this operation was done. Why did India took that part of the Siachin which was not occupied before? There are certain military actions that not every mor*n can understand. India took that part of Siachin, Musharraf did kargil operation because it was beneficial for us militarily. But you need to watch the whole interview to understand this.
And nawaz sharif is the biggest liar and coward person ever, he claims he is the one who made Pakistan atomic power but according to Dr. Qadeer that hypocrite was not even willing to do it, he was pressurized by the army and the scientists, otherwise that coward hypocrite would never have done it. Musharraf is way better than all these corrupt morons who are just waiting for their turn, and dumb people of Pakistan just don't understand that this family politics has nothing to offer to the people of Pakistan. Its just for Nawaz & family's greed for power and money.
Pakistan's " Manifest Destiny," to go beyond borders is our divine destiny.
Gen Musharraf is right to say, that Gen Shahid Aziz is an imbalance person, if he is so sincere and all things were going wrong in those time then why he didn't decide to resign in protest. After enjoying powers during musharraf regime, he has no right to criticise him, he is doing nothing but a drama.
In a related news published in "The Japan Times" today, Mushraf wanted to use North Korean missiles renamed "Gauri" but was told that it had a faulty navigation system and also the missile had exploded in midair during a "successful" missile launch. Clearly Mushraff wanted to start a nuclear war. Indians and Pakistanis thank North Korean for their incompetancy to design a reliable navigation system else the Asian subcontinent would have been a nuclear wasteland.
Gen. Musharraf, There wilts your dream of a 'triumphant' return (as triamphant as your triumph in Kargil) to Pakistan & take over as President. I always called you a chameleon & fox but you are worse, a baboon! Spend the rest of your life & every ill-gotten penny that you have stashed in Swiss Banks. You got a bad name in assassination case of a lady politician (BB). But now we see that you didn't care even for your fellow-soldiers & refused to even accept their dead bodies! With Generals like you, India can relax! Shame on you!!
@GrimmJow: Siachen?1971?
in India failure or success of war not discussed openly in public but in pakistan there is leg pulling of Gen. by Gen.just to gain publicity or to earn money..General aziz should be tried Under army secrecy act
Isnt this the same guy who said that OBL is not in Pakistan? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ He should be awarded the medal for highest Credibility:)
With the Military/Political loss at Kargil +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan also lost any claim - moral or military, on Kashmir .
The timing of General Shahid Aziz's statements is significant. It seems that he has revealed the facts in order to pave way for Nawaz Sharif in the upcoming elections.
Musharraf hands are stained with bloods of Pakistani and Indian soldiers. India and pakistan were never getting as close as never before when Vajpayeeji went to Pakistan with hand of friendship.
Musharraf inorder to cover up his biggest blunder and failure of his life has stated more lies. He says that only 270 Pak soldiers died but Nawaz Sharif categorically stated that 4000 Pak soldiers lost their lives in this conflict. The General further claimed that Pakistan should have gained 300 sq miles of territory if ceasefire and pull back had not been accepted by NS. The fact of matter is that Pakistan had occupied approx 200 sq km and when ceasefire came into effect Indian army had already taken back 80 percent occupied territory in the two months fighting. Military was more than willing for cessation of hostilities but Musharraf has chosen to blame Sharif. The General should have got its facts right before putting foot in his mouth.
@GrimmJow: we Pakistanis are still open but Indian do it is dicreetly like in Balochistan and traing talibans in Afghanistan.
Sir Musharraf always straight talking and brave.
@mrs ahmed: stop living in cuckooland. Read war hisrorywritten by independent source. You would have a better understanding including 1965/71/kargil.and also what happened in mid 2002 at kargil.
Death penalty for the 1999 coup. The law is very clear. It should be carried out.
260? Seems Mushraff should learn to count. 4000 Pakistani Army soldiers died. But then Pakistan does not count the dead.
My Logic doesn't go against Pervez Musharraf ( Man of the word PErvez Musharraf
” The former president said that the Kargil operation was not a major operation but a localized one” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++True. Violence in Karachi does make Kargil appear a minor operation
" He said that blaming the nation at this juncture of time, as Lt Gen (retd) Shahid has done, seems to be part of a conspiracy." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So Musharraf thinks that he is the ' nation'?
@Sulaiman: "Pakistan needs some honest introspection." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Kargil is in introspection queue. The 1971 East Bengal Fiasco is ahead!
Now we know why Pakistan is the mess it is. It is run by psychotic generals who cannot see beyond thier noses (and plots). Pakisan has no hope as long as its generals remain as powefull as they are.
@syed Imran: What ever, but Shahid Aziz revelations (Whether right or Wrong) are unfortunate
Are you implying Pakistan government should not tell Pakistanis the truth? Pakistan government lied about all the wars and about killings in Bangladesh.
Pakistan destroyed Afghanistan by playing Taliban to gain strategic depth. You government is responsible directly or indirectly for all deaths in Afghanistan beginning from time before Russian entry into Afghanistan up till now.
Most world nations lie a little, Pakistan lies a lot.
@Khan Jr: I haven't read the accounts you have mentioned, but the book "Nuclear Deception" by Adrian Levy & Cathy Scott-Clark, chronicles what a cunning 'saint' Musharraf has always been.
check nadeem malik interview of musharraf - musharaff is telling lies
Yes It was a localized and prefixed war . Forget who should be held responsible for defeat but what was the purpose of war is more important . Both Nawaz and Mush were at the neck of each other at that time , and were under the pressure of majahiddin to do some thing to snatch Kashmir from India . Both of them were clear in their mind that it is imposible to snatch Kashmir by force but religiously blind mujahiddin were eager to fight . War happened ,also remained limited and India openly accepted the loss of life as projected by the Pak media but the real story is just reverse . The purpose of the war has been fulfilled . The whole generation of the millitant prepared by ISI for the perpose has vanished and decomposed in Kargil . There was no need to take their bodies back . Now Pakistan can be easily prepared to forget the Kashmir issue for her prosperity and India can be given MFN status .
Musarraf came in to power and paved the road of democracy in Pakistan as per the wishes of world community that is why he is still a hero at international forum and loved by liberals at home .
I am astounded that everyone including Musharaf talks in a matter of fact manner the 'military victory' of Pakistani army in Kargil. At the time of actual events Pakistani Govt. insisted that none of their soldiers were involved in the Kargil skirmish and the whole thing was masterminded by the terrorists.
Does any of these guys have any integrity left in them to have lied so blatantly to the whole world ( which, by the way, every nation on this planet already knew was a lie) and now to act like it was no big deal ?
@Student: Pakistan respected in every forum? That's funny.
We demand a live debate on national TV between Musharaf and Sharif.
@Mirza: I fail to understand what makes you believe that there was or is any "normalization" of relations between India and Pakistan! No progress has been on ANY of the issues between the countries. Has there been any progress in resolution of Kashmir, Siachin, Sir Creek, water distribution and dam projects, tussle over influence in Afghanistan, involvement in fomenting internal strife..! Most recently, naked threats of aggression were made against Pakistan at the highest level of the State in India on trumped up charges. The worst example is not permitting Pakistani cricketers in the IPL! This normalization of relations is only taking place inside the minds of some day dreamers. All of us want better relations with India but this is not going to happen by wishful thinking. On the contrary, we need to conduct a cold and hard analysis of the situation and devise strategies based on ground realities and not dreams.
Initiation and continuation of war cannot be left alone for the whims of generals. Kargil war demonstrates the failure of political and military leadership in Pakistan. The reason is quiet apparent that there is no civilian control and supremacy over the military leadership . Despite Mushraffs claims the Kargil fiasco was a tactical failure as it did not achieve the aims of interfering with Indian supply lines to Sialchen and disturbing the status quo in Kashmir.It is a intellectual bankruptcy of Pakistani military leadership to make conclusions that holding on to desolate peaks without assured supply lines to troops was viable option in the long run . Conquering area and causing casualities to enemy is not equivalent to achieving the main goals of military operation . Soviet Union lost large areas to Nazi Germany , had horrendous military and civilian losses and still won the war.
Musharraf was the best thing that happened to Pakistan in a long time. Vote 4 Musharraf in the next elections.
At every Forum all over world Musharraf is the person who is respected and amde Pakistan respected. Is there any leader who is respected ?
Pak Army does not want to loose the big chunk of budget they are provided.So it will never allow anybody to solve Kashmir crisis and the Taliban crisis.Think if everything gets normal how will they demand for money and then how will they enjoy perks and priviliges that are more than the Armies of the Richest countries of the world.Look at their SUVs and Army of their servants and their functions and their housing schemes and the list goes on.............We are suffering due to Army's interference in Foreign and Internal policies.
@mrs ahmed The only 'quality' Musharraf can claim to possess is his ability to lie with a straight face!
“If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.”
Musharraf the conqueror - who himself got conquered by the village mullah. What a laugh.
Books by the then Centcom Chief General Zinni who visited Pakistan at that time and other neutral observers inform us that Musharraf had got himself into a fix over Kargil and desperatly needed Nawaz to rush to Washington DC to save his miserable skin. It's amazing that lying nincompoops like him ever made it to become generals let alone rise to the position of COAS. Something is definitely wrong with the selection process at GHQ
@Assad: atleast read some history before you come out with your headless argument!!it's india that is occupying siachen and sir creek!!
Musharraf is fooling no one when he says that Nawaz Sharif is the reason why Pakistan lost the Kargil war. Bruce Riedel, an American diplomat who was closely involved in the American efforts to end the war, told clearly how Nawaz Sharif made a trip to the US at Musharraf's behest to request the Americans to put pressure on India to stop the fighting and allow Pakistan to withdraw its troops from Indian territory safely.
Looks like Pakistani public memory is extremely short, otherwise we wouldn't be seeing such support for Musharraf in the face of such damning evidence of his monumental blunder.
@mrs ahmed: you are absolutely correct, people should look at the reality NS was nothing before Gen. G Gillani Khan, an intelligence guru of his time, took him under his wings to play the stooge they wanted to have for their version of democracy to follow. He is still a lot of hot air and steam and no substance, and that is what puppets are.
Mrs Ahmed, i second your thoughts 100%.
Some one should tell this guy that it is rude to point fingers!
Rex Minor
General is right! Read this:
Extracts by Bruce Riedel (former US official)
http://media.sas.upenn.edu/casi/docs/research/papers/Riedel_2002.pdf
Musharraf is the best leader Pakistan ever had. We wish his another term. All the propserity we saw during Musharraf era has gone.
@O2: unfortunately, and with all due respect, General Musharraf is right this time, it was Nawaz Sharif who backed down under International pressure (mostly US), before that he kept pushing the army to do something, in one conversation he taunted 'itni bari army rakhi hoi hey kuch kartey kun nahin hen'; and when he did the coward failed to take a stand. I am not a fan of any one these people but we should hold the right people responsible for the failures.
I am still wondering who gave nawaz sharif the advice to sack army chief while he was in air . now the same person has asked him to launch shahid aziz , it would backfire and nothing else. Inspite of last five years nawaz sharif funded media onslaught against President Musharraf , he still remains the most respected spokesperson for Pakistan , poor fellow nawaz sharif who cannot even articulate a meaningful sentence in urdu in local setting let alone make a beneficial argument in favour of pakistan on international political arena .Every one knows he was sponscered by his father the only sharif pakistan was lucky to have, What is happening why cant people understand that we have only Musharraf as brand PAKISTAN , whom world knows and listens when he talks , has ever nawaz sharif spoken to any world media in our cause .Musharraf has an audience in an international world because he is honest and no financial scam in his closet. No matter what nawaz funded pakistani media says , 12th October '99 happened , because we had a guwal mandi Prime minister very unfortunately in power, who had no qualms about stabbing from the back why could he not wait for musharraf to land and then sack if he had a right to do it , with a show cause notice first .People who have even little sense about world scenario know very well that we have lone spokes person in Musharraf at the moment and only liberal face ,no matter how hard nawaz sharif tries utilizing illgotten money truth and intellect and common sense would prevail.My heart was filled with pride when musharraf spoke with courage of a lion in favour of Pak Army very recently on indian tv. Now coming to nawaz paid general , he himself confessed that he was approached by american army to join them first or work for americans while remaining with Pak Army , who knows he committed to second offer and this book is part of that deal . We keep harping about Kargil , we dont find much in indian media anything about indian role in in 1971 , sciachen , or artocities committed in kashmir or other such things , these kind of books would do nothing but defame and dishearten Pak Army .Now we know that that Pak ARMY would have taken kashmir in 1965 by general Akhtar Hussain Malick , only if his command was replaced by general yahya, so history will prove that kargil was sabbotagged by nawaz sharif otherwise it would have been a huge success.so we wait, till Nawaz money pump is dry.
The new kid on the block, Mr Shahid Aziz, are all media hungry or financially hungry. Now when they are nearing their graves they come to tell us all that happened should not have happened and 'I made a mistake'. Sorry sir I do not buy your story at all, we are fed up with those who wake up when the train has left the platform and put us and our children at the edge of the clif!!!!
Gen was awesome.
General Musharraf has not learnt anything from the history. Indians will never give up Kashmir,on the bargaining table or in war .In 1965 war ,when Akhnur was threatened by General Akhtar Hussain Malik,,Indian attacked Lahore.Pakistanis forgot about Kashmir there and then and pulled all their armoured and artillary from Akhnur sector to protect Lahore and Sialkot. To think that war can be limited to a sector along LOC is childish and wishful thinking. Musharraf sent Northren light infantry disguised as Mujahideen ,like Ayub sent regular army dressed as Mujahideen into Kashmir in 1965 . Without artillary,armoured and especially air support ,sending troops into hostile territory on barley,dried fruit and GUR and without support from local population is sheer madness .Hence,both Pakistani attemps to annex Kashmir failed. On the political front,Pakistanis ate crow and were declared a rogue nation for these foolish forays into Kashmir. In the worst scenario of an all out war,Pakistan runs out of weapons and firepower in 2 weeks and its very weak economic back cannot afford a long drawn war. Only solution to Kashmir issue is thru negotiations,giving up hostile designs against each other,allowing free visits and trade across LOC. Let us not forget,India and Pakistan cannot conquer each other ,not with their stockpile of nukes and missiles.Any all out war will,in future, be mutual destruction.
There are Generals in Pak Army who speak the truth like Aziz. Nawaz wouldn't have met Clinton if Pakistan had an advantage over India in Kargil war. Mushraff conveniently forgets the truth. But for his back stabbing Vajpayee, the relationship between India and Pakistan should have improved miles ahead. Military chaps can only think about war and not welfare. Sadly Pakistan had military rulers for major part of its time. Musharaff's entry in banned in Pakistan and we will also not give him Visa any more. Since he has no work and to gain popularity in Pakistan politics, he keeps bashing India without basis. So be it and let us ignore. All of us - both in India and Pakistan have better things to do in life than listening to Musharaff. Truth is known to many in both the sides of the border
National secrets should not be used to gain personal benefits. These statements cannot be substantiated at any level. What is point of beating the bush now at the time when elections are due on both sides of the boarders and the political parties will only use these sorts of statements to fuel the anger. Peace is like building dominos, it takes lots of efforts and time but a moment of madness by single individual can destroy that in a second.
Nope. Musharraf is smoking something very potent. It was a military defeat for Pakistan and a diplomatic disaster. The Kargil operation was poorly planned, it did not take into account the fact that India would respond aggressively. In fact it was a repetition of 1965 where Ayub Khan was convinced 'Hindu' morale would break if dealt a couple of blows!!!
The net result of Kargil was an ignonimous defeat where we abandoned our troops and didnt even accept their bodies. Instead of being pulled up Musharraf made himself president. No wonder he is perpetuating myths like these/
Pakistan needs some honest introspection.
Truth must prevail. Once again the time proves that Mr. Nawaz Sharif was aboslutely right in demanding an impartial Commission to probe the Kargil Crisis in which we lost thousands of soldiers due to poor strategy of a coward commando.
Call military face saving a victory. 300 square miles you conquered, what would have happened if the conflict continued the whole India. Be realistic Washington stopped the equation at 270 for their 1600, otherwise we were in a whole lot of trouble.
@abid:
Under army secrecy act Army should take action against this politically motivated ex army man.
You mean in Pakistan army, you have people who are NOT 'politically motivated'. Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Gen Zia, Gen Musharraf and the election managing Generals included?
musharraf used the word political defeat
Who took the most advantage/benefit out of this Kargil episode is the real face behind it,rest all is mad slashing.The one who facilitated the most is also absolutely mum.
Pakistan GDP USD 488 billion, India GDP USD 1.8 trillion. In modern world, aim of the government should be to increase prosperity within country rather than look at conquering 300 kms of some other country
Whether Pakistani's agreeing or not actually Nawaz saved the face of PA . If India wasn't able to get back Kargil hills means India definitely escalate full fledged war in all fronts. Such things would be detrimental to Pakistan in addition Pakistan forces is not tat powerful to defend Indians for longer period. Don't forget our navy is excelled in naval blockade.
" The former president said that the Kargil operation was not a major operation but a localized one" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If thats the case, how could it result in 300 sq Km being conquered? How?
“The prime consideration of such actions is security and secrecy, so the army leadership decides who is to be informed and when. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thats why while other countries have an army,in this case the Army has a country!
@Arijit Sharma: What about siachin?
Arrogant, egoist generals like Musharaf are the ones who have caused more damage to this nation than anyone else.
General you ruled Pakistan for 9yrs and would not have gone but for the public and the judiciary. You had a long innings, i do not think you will ever be able to set foot in Pakistan, now relax and play golf/squash . Your ill begotten pile should last your lifetime so RELAX
".......“If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.”...... "
Well said General. If you had not been sent away from Pakistan for another five years, you would have unfurled the Pakistani flag on the Red Fort, Delhi. All Hindus would have been driven into the Arabian Sea, and our old Bengali friends would have become our slaves again to bolster our economy to unimaginable heights.
What a shameless lying and deceit.. Kargil, was then fought by mujahirs, now "was fought by pakistani regulars" according to Mush. He didnt even respect the Pak army by not taking the dead bodies of the soldiers. What a COAS.. Can anyone take any country for a better ride than this. Shame on you Mush,
@musharaf, Wait till Nawaz shariff replies and gives his side of story. as per our information, he was directed by the army to visit US and enlist there help.
Call military face saving a victory. 300 square miles you conquered, what would have happened if the conflict continued the whole India. Be realistic Washington stopped the equation at 270 for their 1600, otherwise we were in a whole lot of trouble.
Kargil sector was a major success by Pakistan militarily. We still have some strategic hill in our hand. Let us wait then we can focus back on Kashmir which is ours in first place. Pakistan Zindabad.
@Assad: "Surreptitiously occupying empty, desolate peaks in violation of LoC agreement is what you call ‘conquering’?" Ask India the same thing when Indian army entered Siachen (an empty, desolate range of glaciers). These are countries we are talking about, not two brothers. So there is no need to trust anyone.
We Love you Musharraf.
“If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.”
This man needs to be institutionalised.
@ Assad what loc agreement are you talking about mr. closet pro india. india violated loc agreement and shimla agreement by occupying siachen glacier, by not letting the resolution of sir creek( leave alone kashmir) happen, and you have the temerity of asking about loc violations. I pity you
@Mirza: Normalization? Which bubble normalization occurs in? India is a clear and present danger. Its subversion activities again Pakistan since independence is still going on. Mugti Bani was supplied by Indians same way Bahomet tattoed Uzbeks today via Afghanistan. It is time to come out of utopian fantasies and see the ground realities.
Mush is saying that Nawaz surrendered kargil war infront of Clinton on international pressure, then why Mush surrendered after 9/11?
I would say Army on both side of border don't want tension to be normalised. everytime there is peace process something happens and everything goes back to zero.
I watched his interview on Express TV with Javed Chaudhary. His arguments were rational and seemed logical to me.
“If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.”
Dark ages have not ended it seems!
I think Kargil was a justified war keeping in view Siachen Issue. India in 1984 conquered Siachen glacier an area of 1000 sq. miles. It was isolated before it and Musharaf wanted to get back at india. Kargil was a military success with only NLI, which was a paramilitary force at that time conquering and killing many indian soldiers. Nawaz Sharif shouldnt have retreated from it as India didnt from Siachen till now.
@Assad...after Siachin cod we have trusted India ? India started it and it has to face the consequesces.
I remember a while ago, Musharraf said that 'Its not in Pakistani army's culture to behead enemy'. But surely, its IN their culture to back stab India just when Vajpayee's Lahore Bus Yatra had ended. Also, its IN their culture to try to encroach enemy territory with the intention of capturing extra land as is evident from his statement:
“If he had not visited the US, we would have conquered 300 square miles of India.”
Surreptitiously occupying empty, desolate peaks in violation of LoC agreement is what you call 'conquering'?!
Really, if this is the quality of our leaders..we are surely done for :( And do you think India should ever trust us after this?...I won't! :(
yes, timing is important, why reveal the truth at this time and what was role of general kiyani in that conflict?
Oh wow... U got 300 km or will have gotten that...
If you could put all the mullahs the army supported there so they can freeze their perverted behinds I'll be happy with war Sadly that's not the case
Get over with India, our real enemy lies within
True.Kargil operation was a great military success,but lost on table politically and diplomatically.Recent reaction of Government of Pakistan and media to Pakistani civilians/ troops killing on LOC and on accusation of the Indian Home Minister regarding involvement of BJP and RSS behind Samjhauta blasts and other 'terrorists' activities in India in which serving indian military officers are involved versus the Indian government and media reaction on such issues indicate a major weakness on Pakistan's part to take advantage/ exploit success politically,diplomatically and on media front.
Such things should only be told in some commission not in public. Anyway, one thing i would like to tell here is about Nawaz Sharif, he was on borad this Kargil issue & whatever he says now is not at all true. He & Musharaf then succumbed to international pressure thus Nawaz went to USA for talks. As for Kargil, Pakistan lost this war on political grounds & due to this politicial failure Pakistan army had to pay a high price when they were orderd to come back & Indian army attacked our soldiers despite the deal which was done in Washington DC. Kargil war was fought well by our soldiers, India was taken by surprise & there were more casualties on their side despite the fact that our soldiers had to face many problems. Many things are not known by media personnel & public, our leaders have always let down this great nation with their lies & deceit.
'blaming the nation at this juncture' - It is not the NATION that is blamed!!!!!! He is blaming one person and that is MUSHARAF.
All four Generals who were involved need to be investigated.Let the truth come out
The Shahid Aziz Book shows the real face of Musharaf who destroyed Pakistan badly.
Gen Shahid Aziz is saying nonsense and giving political support to Nawaz Sharif. Why he was quite for ten years??? He is now creating bad name for Pakistan Army. He should be prosecuted under army secret act.
“We lost the Kargil war, which was a big success militarily, because of Nawaz Sharif,”
Yes sir, the world knows that........ In fact, Pakistan has never lost a SINGLE war with India.....LOL !!
Timing is everything. And unfortunately, Pakistanis fail at it every time..
The timing of Shahid is very very dubious.why now?
What ever, but Shahid Aziz revelations (Whether right or Wrong) are unfortunate
lt. general aziz was speaking in one interview in which he clearly told Pak army must have not helped Us against taliban and instead stood with the taliban. In an interview with kashif Abbasi on ary news and he also stated on kargil that a better plan would have been made to execute the Kargil operation which means he too have supported the Kargil war.All his statements clearly shows he has bipolar disorder and he supports direct confrontation with us and india. Under army secrecy act Army should take action against this politically motivated ex army man.
Whenever there are normalization of relations with India the generals come out swinging to keep the hatred between the two countries going. The imp question to answer is if there is normalization of relations between the two countries what would be the excuse to have such a huge army by both countries? As long as there is a cold war going army would have a justification of sorts for its huge expense despite the atomic deterrent.