Pakistan

Kargil Operation: Musharraf kept Kayani in the dark, book reveals

The writer, Lt General (retd) Abdul Majeed Malik, gives full credit of atomic tests to Nawaz Sharif.

Aamir Rana March 04, 2015

Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister Lt General (retd) Abdul Majeed Malik has disclosed that General Pervez Musharraf kept former army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the dark while carrying out the Kargil Operation in 1999.

Malik, in his book Ham Bhi Wahan Mojod Thay, has made startling revelations regarding the Kargil adventure and shared his secrets. He has written that at the time of Kargil Operation, General Kayani was heading 12 Division that was responsible to guard Kashmir.

However, the former military ruler General Musharraf did not keep Kayani in the loop, who later opposed the operation. He said Musharraf was entirely responsible for the operation and he did not even brief the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif about his plans.

He has disclosed that General Musharraf called his chief of general staff from China to seek details of the briefing given to prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Kargil Operation – a briefing that was tapped by Indian intelligence agencies.

It was a grave breach of security to discuss such a sensitive issue on telephone call, Malik wrote. According to him, Nawaz Sharif made a wrong decision when he appointed General Ziauddin Butt as army chief after dismissing General Musharraf.

The book shares how Pakistan conducted atomic tests. Malik has given full credit to Nawaz Sharif, who, according to him, was mentally ready to go for atomic tests despite opposition from certain close cabinet members.

He has written that had Raja Zafarul Haq been picked as acting president of the party instead of Javed Hashmi during Nawaz Sharif’s exile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would not have faced splits.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (44)

Seadorff | 9 years ago | Reply @shah: And all your PMs and Generals have been calling U.S Presidents since long with a begging bowl.

shah | 9 years ago | Reply @ Not bad The good information is that your Indian PM Vajpayee continuously called US President Clinton to put pressure on Pakistan to withdraw the troops which finally happened after Indian Army with the help of IAF was unable to take the peaks. This is the final good info which can not be challenged !!!!!

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Not bad | 9 years ago | Reply @shah: If you have any good information, please share. If not, please do not waste the time of the readers. Thank you.

shah | 9 years ago | Reply @ Not bad You have very bad information

Not bad | 9 years ago | Reply @Assad: You did a good job. I admire your patriotism. But, dear, Kargil was not properly planned and not even the top military brass was in agreement with Musharraf, as reported in Wikipedia, for example, as follows: "Musharraf had severe confrontation and became involved in serious altercations with his senior officers, chief of naval staff Admiral Fasih Bokhari,[41] chief of air staff, air chief marshal PQ Mehdi and seniorlieutenant-general Ali Kuli Khan.[42] Admiral Bokhari ultimately demanded a full-fledged joint-service court martial against General Musharraf,[41] while on the other hand General Kuli Khan lambasted the war as "a disaster bigger than the East-Pakistan tragedy",[42] adding that the plan was "flawed in terms of its conception, tactical planning and execution" that ended in "sacrificing so many soldier.[42][43] Problems with his life long friend, chief of air staff air chief marshal Pervez Mehdi also risen when air chief refrained to participate or authorise any air strike to support the elements of army operations in the Kargil region.[44]" See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharraf

Assad | 9 years ago | Reply ET, can you print my comments for a change please? More nonsense by a crony of Nawaz Sharif. Why would the GoC of XII even matter in the planning of the Kargil operation? Secondly, Indians were interdicting us all along Neelum Valley prior to this operation, after this operation, that interdiction stopped completely and to this day this has remained the case. The operational details were communicated on a need to know basis. This is the general rule within the Army. If you are not involved in a localized operation, you do not need to know about it. Lastly, all those blasting Musharraf for this operation should realize that Quaid-e-Azam permitted a very similar operation in 1948 in Kashmir. Ayub Khan did the very same in 1965 so why is Musharraf singled out for trying to tackle the Kashmir issue? Do we really think that India will just offer up Kashmir on a platter to Pakistan? If these conflicts are such a problem, then those complaining should actually work to change the whole discourse about Kashmir. Perhaps the national leadership should tell the Army to not worry about it and let India have all of it. What is the purpose of funding a military capability if its not used to gain leverage on the ground? Did the Indians not use this same capability to change the situation on the ground in Siachen in 1984? So why this lame self-flagellation? Lastly, Kargil is across the LoC. LoC is not the same as IB. In other words, Indians adjust this violable LoC and we can do the very same. Siachen conflict is a case of Indians adjusting the LoC (now they make the distinction that Siachen is north of the LoC so it does not count which is plain nonsense), so why are we so apologetic? Decide if you want to fight for it (Kashmir) or let it go. If you don't have the guts to deal with this when you have an advantage then have Nawaz Sharif and Messrs call the Army off of the heights of Kashmir and call it a day! You can't have your cake and eat it too (meaning you cannot have Kashmir and that too without trying).

Tyggar | 9 years ago | Reply @oBSERVER: Your nuclear tests were a joke, everyone knew they were about to happen after india tested and it was the worlds worst kept secret. Your talk of panic in "Look Sabha" is even more funny and all this happened inside your head while you were perhaps smoking locally grown opium

oBSERVER | 9 years ago | Reply @Asok: Remember the panic in your Look Sabha while Advani was boasting in his speech about your tests earlier, a man rushed in.Day was 28 May. This man was in total panic and informed your sabha about Pakistan's Nuclear Tests. It was pathetic to see your leaders reaction. Short of wailing they did everything you people are famous for. I am sure some portions of the Look Sabha floor also were wetted.Ask your DD to play that video for the likes of you.

Dipak | 9 years ago | Reply Hey, Musharaf do you have a comment on your misadventure? Air it out if you consider yourself a man!!!

Saqib | 9 years ago | Reply All the things , to most of the masses, known already, no new information even wikipedia can tell more than this...a good way to publicize the book.

Dipak | 9 years ago | Reply Dipak@Ronnie: the sad thing that Musharraf did was to refuse to take his 2000 dead soldjeirs back to Pakistan for State Funeral, instead, India had to bury them in Mass Graves.

woody | 9 years ago | Reply He said Musharraf was entirely responsible for the operation and he did not even brief the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif about his plans . Any other country this guy would be rotting in a jail cell. Not sure how even his "supporters" can condone a unilateral military strike against a nuclear power - sure sign of a megalomaniac who has no regard for the govt, his fellow military officers or the people of Pakistan.

APK | 9 years ago | Reply Kayani's opposition or reluctant acceptance of Musharraf's Kargil misadventure brings out Kayani's professionalism. Kayani was a genuine man of the institution, he served, which he never exploited for personal power.

Aahjiz BayNawa | 9 years ago | Reply @Mohammad: "...Nawaz Sharief who pulled the troops out of Kargil." Wrong. When the Kargil operation saw failure and casualties, NS was "ordered" by Musharraf to seek Washington's help for a "secure" withdrawal from Kargil. A soft coup had already taken place and NS was only a front-man PM for Musharraf between July and October whence Musharraf formally took over. Other point is: we should not consider Kargil failure as that of the great Pak army. Rather, it was a failure of an ambitious General using the pretext of Pakistan's security for gaining personal power. Actually, the army as an institution should absolve itself of Musharraf's acts as they were abuse of his position.

oBSERVER | 9 years ago | Reply If this is a genuine Army General then he is trying to protect his 'Graanye' from Chakwal. In any case Musharraf would have sacked him if found untrustworthy. But experience has shown us that Kayani always avoided his real job. Inaction in North Waziristan and after OBL fiasco bears testimoney to this.

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply It is important to understand what Gen Majeed is saying. The fact is that Kianai was Div Commander 12 Div in Murree with no linkage with Kargil operation. The operation was carried out in FCNA (Force Commander Northern Area) under a different General. Gen Majeed's intent by writing this in his book is nothing other than to make it more spicy so that it sells well in the market.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply Te way Kargil turned out....it was poor Mush who was roaming around in the dark.

Bindiya | 9 years ago | Reply Hahahaha... "LOIN of Pakistan" The loins of actor Ajit would have been filled with great pleasure to read that comment.

Gurion | 9 years ago | Reply @Pakistan:

Loin of Pakistan!

"Loin" of entire Pakistan? Are you sure, Sir?!

ameer akhund | 9 years ago | Reply Completely absurd details about Gen kayani and 12 Div...Gen Majeed Malik got retired years ago before Kargil. He is a known opportunist in military circles. He can make ripples in gossip savvy media but people in and out of uniform know his true worth and the contradiction to realities. Useless book just to get some attention and a higher slot from NS.

Mohammad | 9 years ago | Reply @Humza: Thanks for the answer, but I possess different ideology... To suppress and keep your enemy behind the lines from any aggression, Kargil was important. Imagine if Nawaz Sharief didn't pull the troops or lay flat in front of US, we have had taken Siachen back as well the dominant positions to nail India for any future misadventures. Our Answer to world would be.. " They took over Siachen so we took over Kargil, we are at par. Everyday you see Indian aggression on border.. if we had the Kargil peaks, our answer would have been... " Here you Start...........there we START" !! If India ever need to beat China in economic terms, they need road to reach Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Middle East, Europe and even beyond, and there on that road lies the Pakistan - India will come to talk one day..

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @harkol: Inidians are bound to scream whenever Gen.Musharraf is mentioned because he taught them a much needed lesson in Kargil.

shah | 9 years ago | Reply LOLzz.. This book looks like a work by a tout general of NS to save PML-N from the issue of Kargil. To make information clear, Kargil operation was done by FCNA of Northern Areas, not 12 Azad Kashmir Div. All the fighting was in the northern areas. This article is just for getting attention in the public. Lastly, according to the book, Malik gives full credit to NS for being mentally ready to go for atomic tests despite opposition from certain close cabinet members. This looks complete comedy.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @Humza: If accountability of misdeeds etc. is truly enforced, NS will be in front of the queue.

PAkistani | 9 years ago | Reply WE love u Mushraf....Best leader pakistan ever had

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply Musharraf We salute you.

Feroz | 9 years ago | Reply Everybody knows that COAS Musharraf kept everyone including the PM of the country in the dark about the Kargill operation. He thought he would become the national hero and get the strength to take over the country, which he anyway did. He should have been Courtmartialed and tried for treason but Army men being God in Pakistan, no such thing was possible. Such characters suffering from acute megalomania have landed Pakistan into such a hole that the best efforts of the world seem insufficient to rescue it.

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply @Mohammad: Everyone supports the right of any nation to defend its borders and interests but I don't believe anyone would support a rogue general conspiring behind the government and wasting the lives of so many soldiers for nothing. Think about what you say. No one blames soldiers doing their duty and no one says that the Siachin or Kashmir occupation by India is justified. The UN will eventually come around to respecting the right of the people of Kashmir to decide their own destiny in accordance with UN resolutions. The job of the military is to defend the nation against aggression and not grandstand, involve itself in mischief that can undermine a nation or worse, take unilateral actions. Did Kargil achieve any strategic goals? No. Do not try to confuse love for a nation and its defense forces for support to a rogue general. The professionalism of Kayani and Raheel Shareef stands in contract to Musharraf.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply Does the author of the book not belong to PMLN?!

the Skunk | 9 years ago | Reply This is only cheap publicity trying to curry PM's favor for a cheap slot in the PMLN. Salams

Mohammad | 9 years ago | Reply Kargil was best answer in retaliation to Siachen, Kashmir and Bangladesh. Those who are bashing Musharraf for this, are the poorest one in understanding. When Indian Army occupied and held the Siachen in a similar way, no one had any cry for Pakistan, none of you even are aware of the incident. Similar way, if Pakistan occupied Kargil, everyone bashing Musharraf, the Pak Army but no one uttering a word against Nawaz Sharief who pulled the troops out of Kargil. Let me tell you my fellow Pakistanis, when there will be fight for Pakistan in the streets of Lahore or Karachi or ISB (God Forbid), all your elite class will run away abroad, the left over will be true patriotic Pakistanis, The Army and General Musharraf. It wasn't a misadventure, but even if it was..it gave a moral boost to Army and Pakistani Nation. Long Live Pakistan and Long Live Pak Army!

Except | 9 years ago | Reply @Asok: Except for deterring Indian aggression, especially after all the Indian punitive policy. This itself is enough to prove the utility of Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, which shall never be used by either side as both are in a nuclear equilibrium of mutually assured destruction (MAD.) Not a good way to maintain peace but unfortunately both India and Pakistan have fallen to this level of hostility.

Except | 9 years ago | Reply @Asok: Except for deterring India invasion.

bahaha | 9 years ago | Reply @Asok: Nawaz is reaping the benifits of that RIGHT decision even today, years hence; besides it was a decision that the Nation DEMANDED. Western GOODWILL is not what this world is all about.

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply I don't think Pakistan has gained anything by going overtly nuclear. Nawaz didn't make the right decision.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply This is so absurd. Kayani is the commander of 12 Division and he was not aware of developments on ground. An army chief really has no power over ground troops as it's always through Corp Commanders, so I don't how Musharraf as Army Chief was moving troops. The question may be posed as Kayani's Corp Commander did not inform him or kept him out of loop. But if Kayani was opposed then how come he became Musharrafs intel man & later hand picked chief. Not buying this story at all. But, seriously these books are means to achieve fame. Done and Dusted Chaps. Move on. We Won.

Ronnie | 9 years ago | Reply What

s the revelation here?  Everyone already knew the story. Indians themselves released tapes of the conversation between Gen Musharraf in China and the other Pakistani Commanders in Pakistan to prove Pakistani Military involvement. & Yes, it

s really silly to do what Musharraf has done, just like his predecessors Ayub Khan. Kargil Operation was illconceived with no plans of couter action when Indians react, so finally Pakistan with no International Support (even from China) had to go through face saving withdrawal after losses of over 9000 soldiers. Lives were lost for no reason.

Pakistan | 9 years ago | Reply Loin of Pakistan!

harkol | 9 years ago | Reply This is not surprising. It is in keeping with his commando 'cowboy' character. The commando was reckless, and led Pakistan to a disastrous campaign in Kargil. It is strange that he enjoyed & continues to enjoy any degree of popularity in Pakistan.

Dr. Khan | 9 years ago | Reply " a briefing that was tapped by Indian intelligence agencies." An Eye opener !!!

vasan | 9 years ago | Reply We all know this. Indian tapping of mush's conversation has already revealed that. Except for washing the linen in public once more, nothing else is achieved by this leak

Fazal Dad | 9 years ago | Reply Malik is an opportunist and changes his colors with the direction of the wind.

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply No surprises here but this book by General Abdul Majeed Malik confirms many of the nation's worst fears about the character of Musharraf who behaved like he was above the law and threatened the whole nation. Musharraf deceived the whole nation and should be held accountable for his misdeeds. If not, such reckless and lawless behaviour will continue. Nawaz Sharif deserves blame too for taking an unsuitable man and promoting him to army chief out of turn when more senior and professional officers were in line for promotion.

Sunder Sapna | 9 years ago | Reply The book shows how Musharraf did Kargil in opposition to then PM, no matter who. So Musharraf should be tried on this count too and brought to justice. No patriotic Pakistani can consider Musharraf’s adventures as in the best interest of Pakistan. Just consider the Kargil adventure. How could any country in the post-war period, that is, since 1945 think of changing borders with brute force? How could Pakistan ignore the international community when embarking on the Kargil misadventure? The Kargil “expedition” was designed by Musharraf who thought that if successful would lead to his popularity and could lead to his taking over the country on the back of popular movement in his favor. Failure on the other hand could still provide him with the excuse to topple government. Musharraf had been looking to grab power for quite a few years before 1999, when he actually got a chance he could avail.

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