Musharraf's Kargil remarks spark political debate in India

Leaders of various political outfits on Thursday lashed out at former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf over his remark that he was ‘proud of the Kargil operation’ during which the Pakistani troops had crossed the Line of Control and occupied positions on the Indian side in 1999.

Communist Party of India leader D Raja said that Musharraf wants to reposition himself in Pakistani politics, and added that the latter must regret over the Kargil operation.

"Musharraf must realise no body can take pride for a war that too a war military conflict between India and Pakistan. In fact, he must regret what happened in Kargil and how he takes pride or how he feels proud of Kargil operation, he has to explain," Raja said.

"Now, we understand he is addressing his people. He wants to regain his lost ground. He wants to reposition himself in Pakistani politics. So, he speaks all kinds of things, which really do not deserve anybody to consider," he added.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it seemed that Musharraf admits that he was heading the mercenaries unit as the dictator of Pakistan.

"The Kargil operation was an act of mercenaries and it seems that Musharraf admits that he was heading the mercenaries unit as the dictator of Pakistan. These are hollow claims by a banished dictator who suffered befitting defeat," said Rudy.

"The Pakistani mercenaries and the other mercenaries and the Pakistani forces suffered a befitting defeat from the Indian army and his coming back is a dangerous symptom and a tacit support to the pro-Taliban elements in Pakistan," he added.

Samajwadi Party leader Kamal Farooqi on his part said that this would impact the bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan.

"He should be rather ashamed of it whatever he is saying because he is the one who created a kind of environment wherein the peaceful co-existence became very difficult. That was a time when our government was very sincerely trying to go in for the rapprochement with Pakistan," said Farooqi.

"But Kargil and thereafter Musharraf played the spoils boy shot and this has definitely affected the peaceful co-existence of the countries and definitely the bilateral relationship has also been affected in a big way," he added.

Former Indian army official, Lieutenant General (retd) P N  Hoon, commenting on Musharraf''s remark said that the political leaders should stand up hard if they want to be competitive.

"I would like to tell our politicians whoever they may be, they are of any party I am not bothered that please look after India and the people of India and don’t look after yourselves now. The time has come to stand up and stand up hard and fast if we want to be competitive and successful in this world," he said in Chandigarh.

Musharraf was the Pakistani army chief when the Kargil operation was launched. Musharraf, who later toppled the Nawaz Sharif Government and assumed power, returned to Pakistan on Sunday after nearly four years in self-exile.