By: Ameertarin 04-02-2023
General Parvez Musharaff, in his successful military adventure, displayed prowess, dexterity and excellence in Kargil district of Kashmir State warfare with India (1999). India was forced to run for help and when the situation became out of control, the super power USA intervened to rescue India from humiliating defeat. Kashmir’s province of Ladakh including Kargil would have been cut-off for good leaving many thousands of Indian army no option but to surrender.
The corrupt regime of Nawaz Sharif in power succumbed to the threat of dire consequences from known international quarters and in the end Sharif ordered his army chief Musharraf to retreat. In the end Pakistani forces withdrew from all captured Indian positions along the LoC. Thereafter, the differences between Nawaz Sharif and General Musharraf took a serious turn leading to the army takeover. Nawaz Sharif did not stop there and in a blatant betrayal committed a heinous crime of handing over data files of Kashmiri Freedom Fighters to Indian occupational army. Carnage started and thousands of Kashmiris were rounded up and expended brutally in a matter of days.
India later claimed that Kargil war in all probability saw the highest Pakistani causalities during “Operation Vijay (victory)” and the province with a new road now is connected with India. The conflict was triggered by India’s stubborn attitude to persecute Muslim population of Kashmir and the autocratic and ruthless control of defenceless populace. The conflict started on the Ceasefire Line between India and Pakistan in the State of Kashmir as the Freedom Fighters were already engaged in for over seven decades armed struggle with Indian army.
Indian army caught napping were targeted like sitting ducks. The scene of hundreds of Indian army trucks carrying body-bags were witnessed by local population making a bee-line down from Ladakh highway to Srinagar the capital city of Kashmir, for their onward journey to India. Kashmir’s national highway connecting Kashmir to India was totally out-of-bounds for civilian population and this continued for several weeks.
Kargil a Muslim majority district of Kashmir State is located 205 km from Srinagar. The combating sides faced significant problems in the difficult mountainous terrain and with it the support, supplies and reinforcements hugely drained the meagre resources available for both especially India with the large percentage of population living below the poverty line. Kashmir’s Skardu district, under Pakistan administration, is capable of providing logistic and artillery support to Pakistan army. The road between Kargil and Skardu (173km) exists and is fully operational till date.
As and when the pressure on international level mounts, India promises to work for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir conflict bilaterally and the convenient narrative used by India helps ward-off the pressure and much needed third party intervention. The three conventional wars already fought without any tangible results necessitated acquiring more weapons from the international market. So the best option available initially thought by India was to go nuclear. India, secretly, developed a nuclear bomb and conducted its first test in 1974. Pakistan alarmed by the situation also developed its nuclear capability successfully conducted the tests in 1998, just two weeks after a second series of tests by India.
True to Akhand Bharat, Indian patriotic people remember and respect Benazir Bhutto for ending Sikh militancy and their desire for creating the Sikh homeland Khalistan. Rajiv Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister is on record having stated that “Benazir Bhutto Pakistani Prime Minister handed over all intelligence related material and files of Sikh militants to my government in a goodwill gesture”. Thousands of Sikhs and their families in Indian Punjab were hunted down and neutralised in cold blood.
Sikhs for the right reasons abhor Benazir for smearing her hands with the blood of people fighting for their legitimate rights. India overcoming the Khalistan problem provided its army space and ample time to subdue Muslim Kashmir. Indian army was given free licence to kill, plunder and commit atrocities never known in the history of occupying armies. Pal Singh Bhullar a Khalistani activist from Indian side of Punjab in his book gave detailed account of how Benazir Bhutto stabbed Khalistan in the back.
Times of India on December 22, 2007 wrote that former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto claimed that it was her initiative that militancy could end in (Indian) Punjab. The former prime minister, who was replying to questions by a news weekly, said the fact was that it was Rajiv Gandhi who failed to deliver on his promise to pull out troops from Saichen in exchange for Islamabad’s choking-off support to Khalistani secessionists.
“If anyone kept the word, it was I not Rajiv, stated Benazir. He (Rajiv) went back to India and then called me on his way to the Commonwealth to say that he could not keep his promise to withdraw from Saichen and that he would do it only after the 1989 elections. How can anyone say I have not kept my promises when the single biggest result of that meeting was the end of the Sikh insurgency.” In the current messed up political scenario the news circulating in Pakistani media circles report of Asif Zardari seeking help and protection from Prime Minister Modi of India.
However, the man responsible for wiping out Khalistani militancy, KPS Gill, rubbished Bhutto’s claim taking all credit for the containment of militancy in the bordering state. NO PM IN Pakistan would have the stature to change the ‘destabilize India policy’ Gill told Times of India.
Punjab Monitor in its publication reported that in lslamabad datelined news an item on the TVs and newspapers appeared that the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto alleged that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had secret plans to form Greater Punjab in collision with Khalistanis. She alleged that Nawaz was bent upon damaging Pakistan and that Nawaz might repeat 1971 when one wing of the Pakistan was clipped.
Nawaz Sharif, however, accused Bhutto saying that it was in fact Benazir herself who created a situation like that of 1971. He alleged that the Bangladeshi people were in fact compelled to the recourse they took in 1971. He said, “Despite the 1970 elections Bangla people were deprived of their rule.” He said it was all part of a conspiracy. Sharif said that similar conditions were created in Karachi before he took over. People of Karachi were suppressed and murdered, so much so that in 1995 alone at least 2000 ‘muhazirs’ (Migrants) were troubled.
Late General Hamid Gul, erstwhile ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) chief had been very critical of General Musharraf for, as many believe, his successful military speculation. Gen Gul unleashed a tirade against Musharraf helping Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to tell the nation that Kargil enterprise was factually a debacle that undermined the Indo-Pak peace process.
In an open letter published by Jung newspaper, London on June 21, 1999, General Gul wrote to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “Once again Pakistan stands at a very crucial turning of history and I dare address you so that I remind you of certain very important events. Allah has again given you a unique chance, which you could utilize to join the list of big and successful people of history. However, like in the past even now there is an apprehension, God forbid, we might lose this great opportunity. Pakistan has had a history of tragic tales of mistakes and inaction. I want to prove my point by giving one or two examples”.
- In 1948 we were about to reach Srinagar when we were stopped and dragged to the United Nations where we bowed down to the West and America.
- In 1962 India engaged in a war with China, the opportunity to liberate Kashmir came our way. The war decisively won by China provided a favourable time to liberate Kashmir but again we wasted a clearly visible success.
- The third very important chance was squandered when Afghanistan was victorious against Soviets, we, unfortunately, signed Geneva Treaty and succumbed to American pressure. On the contrary, we should have allowed formation of caretaker government paving the way for a united, independent and prosperous Afghanistan. The prosperity would have nodded at our doors as well.
Strangely enough, General Gul further writes “Mian Sahib, history has been kind enough to provide us with ample opportunities to keep our head up but the lack of wisdom and inaction of our leaders allowed these chances to go waste. Nature bestowed a unique chance through Kargil victory to you…..today we are a nuclear power and America using so called friendship narrative still persists in making demands from us. President Clinton in his phone call to you made it crystal clear that it is India who is America’s natural friend and not Pakistan….., though India never sided with America but always stayed as true friend and ally of Soviet Union and later of Russia.
If America, while side-lining us, chooses its friend then we should also take a fresh look at our relations with America, especially regarding Kashmir a lot needs to be changed. A new tactics has become imperative. Kashmir Mujahideen and the blood of 70 thousand martyrs is on our side and the situation in Kargil points towards the will of Allah, which is also in our favour….. On the basis of some possible danger we cannot surrender our right based on truth….. Pray to Allah for wisdom and take the right decision. India has got tangled in Kargil in a bad way and is avoiding a full-fledged war restraining itself from crossing the line of control fearing that this problem may assume an international position. The truth is that India should and must get out of Kashmir.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan in his over three year rule tried to salvage Pakistan’s national pride, and redeem political and economic damage done through corruption, loot and plunder. Khan also raised Kashmir issue to new heights and gave people of Kashmir a hope that their voice will now be heard on international level offering them peace and riddance from ruthless Indian occupation. The whole process came to a temporary halt because the corrupt political mafia joined hands with Pakistan’s enemies to grab the power receiving help to destabilize their own country. The purpose to save their own skin and riches was apparently fulfilled.
Imran Khan, though encircled by the powerful and criminal political mafia, displayed resilience, courage and steadfastness to fight for the democratic rights of the people of Pakistan. The criminal elements of the installed prevailing political system enjoys protection of Pakistan’s adversaries in the region and on international level. Imran Khan enjoying the support of Pakistan’s overwhelming majority is destined to steer his country to prosperous outcome as he believes in Allah and the democratic principle of free and fair elections.
Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone, but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to cemetery …………..
KASHMIR 