Lt Gen (retd) Shahid Aziz needs to explain why he did not resign despite his reservations about how Kargil transpired. PHOTO: FILE
What’s truly tragic about the Kargil operation is how we never seem to learn from our follies. Our 1965 war with India was also sparked by a similar incursion into Indian Kashmir, the details of which resided exclusively with Ayub Khan and a few of his trusted subordinates. Unlike Kargil, that turned into a full-scale war because no one was around to tell Ayub Khan what a calamitous mistake he had made. At least in the case of Kargil, Nawaz Sharif was able to order a withdrawal of troops after being forced to do so by then US president Bill Clinton. That move is likely what triggered the military coup, showing that in Pakistan doing the sensible thing never pays off.
As for General Aziz, he needs to explain why he did not resign despite his strong reservations about how Kargil transpired. Indeed, Aziz subsequently went on to accept a promotion from Musharraf and become chief of general staff of the army. Although it is preferable that Aziz spoke out now and left a record of the Kargil fiasco for posterity, we need more generals who are willing to risk their careers and go public with such damning details when it can still make a difference.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2013.
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@Asim Rehman: Dear Brother ur own country is having lot of problems first solve them make Pakistan a strong country and then think of Kashmir ur free to help ur muslim bothers u may help Afganistani Muslims u can help Bangladeshi muslims u can help Irani and Iraki muslims first of all be so poweefull otherwise u will not succeded.
The seeds of the Kargil incident were sown by India when they took over Siachin. Line of control literally means who ever controls the area it belongs to him. Who ever is familiar with Siachin conflict in the 80s and early 90s would remember it as the highest battlefield in earth quoting Newsweek that once ran a cover story on the conflict. The so called "posts" changed hands on the line of control many times during the eighties and early 90s.
Now Pakistan did not respond with a threat of war and airforce in the early 80s and neither did India. The conflict remained a tactical battlefield controlled by respective brigade and corps commanders on both sides.
The plan for Kargil operation existed with Pakistan Army, Kargil was after all a series of posts and mountain tops that Indian Army vacated during the winters. The plan was executed by Musharaff and it followed all the key army communication procedures. There was no need to involve the PM since it was a local tactical operation put into play by a combination of second line forces NLI and old Mujahideen who were infiltrating into Indian controlled Kashmir every winter through these mountain routes.
India's reaction was an all out threat of war. The conflict received unprecedented media coverage which led Civilian leadership in Pakistan to question what was going on.. Bofor guns, ineffective aerial bombardment day and night could not dislodge the 400 or so troops through out May to June. By June 98 the conflict had every reason to blow out into a full scale war. Given India's response Pakistan armed it nuclear missiles and matter of the increasingly heating up conflict was presented to Nawaz Sharif in terms of number of scenarios. It was he who chose to announce withdrawal in Washington. It was down to military brinkmanship with two nuclear arm countries eye ball to eye ball. Pakistan blinked first. As the leader of Pakistan it was his decision. He couldn't stomach a war and he had some face saving to do given his peace overtures. The Kargil plan was brilliant tactically. At a strategic level it failed, india's response was miscalculated and Pakistani leadership was weak.
Perhaps some day all peoples will stop day dreaming about their glories and start earning thier places in this world. Till that day, those like us who seek progress, will need to constantly apply ourselves to keep the rest in check. Pakistan reeks of this backwardness. There is no choice but to reign in this rogue state.
@KULWANT SINGH: Mr singh in '47, india did a "chit we meri Tay patt we meri" they took kashmir with a Muslim majority because the ruler, a non Muslim, was afraid of the majority, but in hyderabad Deccan, where the majority was Hindu but the ruler a Muslim the same "LOGIC" did not reply. Kashmir borders Pakistan and SHOULD have been part of Pakistan but Nehru played smart and had lady Mountbatten in his back pocket. I agree that Pakistan should liberate all Muslims of India, but that liberation should be in the form of a STRONG PAKISTAN playing the role of BIg Brother so that people like Nirender Modi or RSS think twice about shedding Muslim blood.
@Asim Rehman: The population of Muslims in Kashmir is not even 5% of the total Muslims living in India but you are concerned about Kashmiri Muslims only why you must worry about all muslims of India and take steps to liberate them,
My 22 year old cousin died in Kargil and Pakistan refused to accept his body: remember we were not in Kargil. His grandmother, a British national went to India and managed to his the face before burial. His father, also an army man died soon afterwards from grief. I have always wondered how Musharraf lives with himself, sleeps at night knowing he used our children to further his personal ambitions. His son was in the USa, working in a bnak, while our children were used as fodder for personal ambitions. I hope he lives to see the grief he gave us.
It is time Pakistan honors Pakistani army soldiers who died in Kargil. Pakistan should ask for remains of Pakistani soldiers buried in India, soldiers who died for their country.
I wonder what the families of these soldiers were told about how they died, poor souls.
@Mark Kumar: Are you insane? Would you be okay if Indian Army was to launch attacks on Pakistani sides without provocation? What military success are you talking about? Are you interested in War then say it openly
Pakistanis think differently. For them it was OK to kill 3 million people in East Pakistan.
The problem is that Gen Shahid Aziz also does not know the truth or he has still tried to present the version which suits his Presented Perspective.....In hind sight every one has the wisdom of Aristotle, Clauswitz or XYZ but why not before such decisions are taken..Because the decision makers remain 'Wishful' that they will SUCCEED>>>>
Self Preservation and Personal Glory are the over riding factors in Pakistan's Decision Making Loop...The result is obvious...Lots of Families becoming 'Prosperous beyond imagination' after 47....while the nation disunited and country 'almost a weak state' ready to 'IMPLODE'....
@ mark kamar,
Mr kumar Let's not go the international agreement route. India has its share of violations. India has been good at covering up its atrocities in Kashmir and unfortunately we have given them the smoke screen to do so, whether in the form of Operation Gibraltar or Kargil. Our "intent" for making kashmir an issue has lead to our failure in helping our muslim brothers and sisters in kashmir.
@Fizza - that is why India will be taking more risks in the future - let's see how that turns out for the subcontinent.
@Talaat Khurshid: Please tell us why you think that "East Pakistan" wants to EVER become part of Pakistan a gain!!!
Do what Turkey did; try the Generals.Let justice be done according to law
What about those sons of soil who didn't return and were declared MIA? Our neighbour, a retired major, lost his son but never got his dead body. Wish Musharraf's incursions would have blocked the Indian army's route and liberated Kashmir. We have to, one day, take revenge of losing East Pakistan at eh hands of India. We need a strong govt to avenge this insult!
Democracy in Pakistan +++++++++++++++++++ Does it strike any Pakistani that Nawaz Sharif was the democratically elected leader and Musharraf merely a soldier? If decisions that can lead to wars were to be taken by a soldier then why have the charade of a democracy? BTW has much changed since then?
The truth of large operations such as Kargil will come out sooner or later, because too many people are involved and someone will speak up. Most Whistle blowers face an internal struggle as to a right course of action. They put up with what they think is wrong. They may not muster courage while in service, because they have a life & family to take care of.
But, what they do when they speak up is no less important. Ridiculing them by questioning the timing will only make others shut-up.
Bottomline: In the past, all Indo-Pak wars have been initiated by Pakistan. It is sad that Pak army refuses to moderate and see the merits in using dialog as only way to resolve issues (even if it isn't 100% satisfactory).
A new controvercy has begun between India and Pakistan Wether former army chief had violated the border limits bewen two countries.,and remained in Indian territory for whole night Indian armed forces concerned quarter said.Indian army chife. alleged that general Musharraf had entered into the Indian territory and remained there for all night with his armed forces Former Indian chief described it General Musharraf's internal caourge .What happened subsequently whole world knows. To any enemy we granted no permission to come in .
No,no courge had been shown by Musharraf,the fact is that It was a golden chance for Musharraf,to free Kashmire but increasing tention between army and civilian leadership . Pakistan lost the whole war on the table.
@hamza khan: " each of those questions has already been answered " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That maybe so, but how does Musharraf reach his conclusion that Kargil was a military victory? Please do share your insights. Thanks
Never shown any bravery by Pakistani generals ,,l.. only when fully safe in retirement they come out as shame proof minions
Excellent analysis. How he would have spent 20 crores on his mansion, if he had listened to his concious and resigned. He is not stupid.
@Fizza.....
True color of a pakistani......
@Fizza Rizvi: How was the military infiltration 'good'? We now know that Indians immediately brought in their biggest guns and started pounding and blowing the infiltrators to smithereens. Why was this possible reaction not foreseen? Admit it, Kargil was an unmitigated disaster both tactically and strategically.
@Yoghurt lover:
if you study and research, each of those questions has already been answered by musharraf truthfully and accurately. you can dispute facts if you wish, but they will remain facts. the operation was kept in wraps because there was no need to unveil it to the whole army. what difference would that have made? this was not a war and did not involve regular army troops, just second line. the head of the FCNA who commands the divisions there was on board and his infantry the NLI was used extensively. there was some involvement of SSG troops disguised as mujahideen, but they were few. all of your other points are nonsense and politcally motivated.
Hi Author,
Why are your attacking the messenger. Is it not good enough that the Messenger is telling the truth? In Pakistan, speaking truth is a tough one when you know you might get killed for it. The sad truth for India is, it just takes one crazy Pakistani General to start a war with India and we have to live with that!
Fully agree with author! His story was very difficult to digest. Watched his interview & it seems that he is still living in 70s. We would never ever learn from our past mistakes & till eternity and will keep on making the same mistakes again & again & again. Why are we so India centric?
Why Late? Better late than never. The truth shall prevail
If one of you have Mia Musharraf's email, please forward this article to him.
I don't understand how he can utters heaps of lies over heaps of lies. The following he said about Kargil have been lies :
1) Who knew the operation
2) What was Pakistan's status in the war.
3) How many Pakistani soldiers dies.
4) Who were involved in the operation.
5) Who sent Nawaz to US.
6) What was the outcome.
7) How much longer could Pakistan have sustained India's aggression.
The list is even longer. Yet the only people who believe him are himself and his loyal followers.
@Fizza Rizvi: You obviously dont care about International agreements or for that matter common sense. The land of Kashmir is currently divided into 3 parts. One Area with India, one with Pakistan and the 3rd given up by Pakistan to China. How on earth "Kargil" was the 'right thing"?
Are you insane? Would you be okay if Indian Army was to launch attacks on Pakistani sides without provocation? What military success are you talking about? Are you interested in War then say it openly.
You my friend are perfect example of why Pakistan is doomed. We have one section of Pakistanis that constantly say they want peace and condemn terrorism on India from Pakistan and then there are people like you who consider attacks on India whether Kargil or Mumbai 26/11 as 'success".
Pervez Musharraf is an international criminal like Hafeez Saeed. Both these men are taking revenge of 1947 where they suffered personal losses. But even then whose fault is that? It was Muslims who wanted a separate country and got it using violence while corrupt congress watched on. But thats not gonna happen anymore.
Wake up and see the truth. Pakistani terrorists whether under Jihadi Flag or in Uniform will be punished and in their quest they will drag you as well. Pervez Musharraf should be tried in a military court and then jailed for his criminal acts of Kargil and then dislodging of an elected Nawaz Sharif Govt that wanted peace with India.
Nawaz Sharif might or might not have been corrupt but at least he was not putting your country Pakistan under threat to fight a personal battle!
Eventually, it was all about high profile army positions, DHA plots, Golf clubs member ships, NAB Chairmanship. Why only the politicians are called opportunists, among us each and every individual is as opportunist as possible, yes, including the Aam Awaam.
Agreed with most of your views but not all. Kargil operation, form military point of view, was good. There is no issue in infiltration as well - all countries do this, whether they accept it or not. Sometimes, it fails, as in 1965 but the more risk you take, the more benefit you gain. However, it was really insane to start a military operation without involving the parliament or at least the PM. You can't win with your external enemies, if you are divided from inside. As Nayantara Sahgal put it "There can be no basis at all for external affairs, if internal affairs went wrong"
Damn right you are