For the first time and after 25 years of the war, Pakistan’s Army has openly admitted its involvement in the 1999 Kargil War with India.
During a Defence Day event, Army Chief General Asim Munir paid tribute to Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives in various conflicts with India, including the Kargil War—a subject previously avoided in official statements for over twenty years.
Speaking at the Defence Day Event Munir said “The Pakistani community is a community of braves which understands the importance of freedom and how to pay for it.”
Later, admitting Pakistan’s role in the Kargil War, he said “Be it 1948, 1965, 1971, or the Kargil war of 1999, thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country and Islam.”
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Context Behind Asim Munir’s Remarks
Prior to this acknowledgement, Pakistan’s official stance had long maintained that the Kargil conflict was primarily driven by Kashmiri militants and what they referred to as “mujahideen.”
India on the other hand, called Kargil war a direct act of aggression by the Pakistani military. Evidence of this was highlighted by intercepted communications between General Pervez Musharraf and his Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz between May 26 and May 29.
However, his recent statement mark a significant shift from this narrative, as they directly acknowledge the deaths of Pakistani soldiers during the Kargil conflict.
Meanwhile, the 1999 Kargil War saw a tense confrontation between India and Pakistan, as Pakistani forces occupied strategic positions in Kashmir.
This provoked a robust military response from India, which ultimately resulted in Pakistan’s defeat, and U.S. President Bill Clinton exerted pressure on then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order a withdrawal of Pakistani troops from Kargil.
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