The Kargil 'misadventure' planned by General Pervez Musharraf was known to only two top commanders close to the Army chief, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed.
Sharif insisted he had 'no knowledge about the misadventure indulged in by Musharraf' that was a closely guarded secret, with only two of his top commanders aware of the plan.
"General Musharraf had informed only General Aziz Khan, the then Director-General Military Operations, and General Mehmood, who was later made ISI chief by Musharraf, about the Kargil plan, Sharif said, adding, "No other corps commander was told about it."
In an apparent dig at Musharraf, the deposed former prime minister wondered how those who were dubbed as 'Mujahideen and Jehadis became terrorists today,' referring to Musharraf's statements in the past backing militants as freedom fighters.
"Why is it being said that we would not allow our soil to be used for terrorism. Was it used for this purpose earlier," Sharif queried, referring to Musharraf's assurance to India that he would not allow the Pakistani soil to be used for purposes of terrorism against India.
Sharif admitted in an interview with Sindhi TV channel that his decision to promote General Musharraf as Army chief, superseding other senior military generals, was a 'mistake.'
"As prime minister, I committed many mistakes. I admit. Promoting General Musharraf as Army chief, superseding two senior generals, was my mistake," he was quoted as saying.
While his admission was no big revelation, it was perhaps for the first time that Sharif, who was overthrown by Musharraf in 1999 in a bloodless military coup and later sent to exile, admitted it as a mistake.
It was largely perceived that Sharif chose Musharraf after the resignation of the then Army Chief General Jahangir Karamat in October 1998 because Musharraf was a 'Mohajir,' a term used to describe the migrants from India after the partition of the subcontinent.
Musharraf was also chosen for the top post as one of his seniors, General Ali Kuli Khan, had openly advocated marshal law when Sharif sought Karamat's resignation for proposing the formation of a National Security Council as a consultative body between the government and the military.
Musharraf's coup was not the first in Pakistan's history that a general chosen by a leader to play second fiddle to him revolted and took power. Former Prime Minister Z A Bhutto had chosen General Zia-ul-Haq, considered to be an amiable commander, who later took power and hanged Bhutto.
In his interview to Sindh TV, Sharif said Bhutto should not have been hanged, as he was the founder of the nuclear programme of the country.
The Pakistan Muslim League leader also thanked the judge of the anti terrorism court for sentencing him to life instead of slapping a death sentence, as had happened in Bhutto's case.
"I am grateful to Judge Rehmat Ali Jaffri from Sindh who had not awarded the death sentence to me despite the fact the rulers desired capital punishment for me," Sharif said, adding that he had not entered into any written or verbal agreement on his exile with Musharraf.
"I have come from Saudi Arabia to London. I am talking openly while Musharraf used to say that I could not utter a word. I remained tight-lipped during my stay in Saudi Arabia as I respected the customs of the country. They never stopped me from speaking. I have great respect for them. They thought about me and helped me. I am grateful to them," the former premier said.
"I will neither talk to President Musharraf nor will I strike any deal with him. I do not believe in such things," he said, implying that the deal was between the Saudi royal family and Musharraf.
With regard to support from former US president Bill Clinton, he said, "Clinton had expressed sorrow with me when I was overthrown after the coup in 1999. If a democratic government commits mistake, it does not mean that the army should revolt against him, an elected prime minister and arrest him."
