archive: Kargil operation had mandate from Sharif: The Nation
Kargil operation had mandate from Sharif: The Nation
PTI
The Telegraph
June 30, 1999
Title: Kargil operation had mandate from Sharif: The Nation
Author: PTI
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: June 30, 1999
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not only aware of the Kargil operation
of the Pakistani Army but had himself approved its "basic contours",
contrary to the belief held by a section of Indian leadership, a
leading English daily reported here today.
The Nation in an investigative report said that even in Islamabad
there is widespread belief that the Kargil operation was an "army's
way of wing-clipping Nawaz Sharif". But this be though, "tempting, is
misleading," it said. The report based on extensive background
interviews in the Pakistani political establishment said that "Mr
Sharif has been kept in the broad picture of Pakistan's Kashmir
policy, the basic contours of which he himself approved."
The report further said that Kashmir was discussed extensively in a
series of high-level meetings in late 1998 and in the first quarter of
1999 which, "Mr Sharif along with-his close aides, some Cabinet
Ministers, secretaries of important Ministries had with the military
top brass." The basic aim of the Kargil operation, which had been
decided at these meetings according to the report, was that, "Pakistan
has to bring India to the negotiating table to seriously discuss
Kashmir and to find solution."
The report further said the argument that the Army leadership could
have made moves outside the parametres of the policy laid down by
Sharif himself is "not correct" because, they (Army Generals) had the
mandate from Mr Sharif."
The report justified Indian Prime Minister' Atal Behari Vajpayee's
statement that he had been back-stabbed by Sharif because when the
Pakistani Premier was hugging Vajpayee in Lahore in February last year
and signing the Declaration, Sharif had already given a go-ahead for
the Kargil operation, which was to catch the' Indian Defence
establishment completely off-guard and would prompt Defence Minister
George Fernandes to say that Nawaz Sharif was not aware of this. The
Nation report, however, said the Kargil operation has also set up a
tough task for Sharif in view of the mounting international pressure
on Pakistan to withdraw from Kargil tops with even threats of stopping
economic aide which is crucial to keep the fragile Pakistan economy
going.
"There are obvious political risks," the report said adding that any
move to withdraw would alienate the powerful religious parties and the
militant groups which are "excited" by the success in Kargil and
Drass.
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