Pakistan Army Acknowledges Role in Kargil War, Honors Sacrificed Soldiers

Photo : AP

In a significant shift from decades of official narrative, the Pakistan Army has publicly acknowledged its involvement in the 1999 Kargil War against India for the first time. Army Chief General Asim Munir made this admission during a Defence Day event, marking a rare instance of direct recognition of the army's role in the conflict.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by senior military and government officials as well as the families of soldiers, General Munir paid tribute to Pakistani soldiers who had fallen in various conflicts with India, including the Kargil War. He stated, "The Pakistani community is a community of braves which understands the importance of freedom and how to pay for it." He added, "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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This acknowledgment represents a significant departure from Pakistan's long-standing official stance, which had framed the Kargil conflict as largely involving Kashmiri militants and what they refer to as "mujahideen" rather than regular Pakistani military forces. The conflict, which occurred when Pakistani forces occupied strategic positions in Kashmir, prompted a strong military response from India. The operation ended in a significant defeat for Pakistan, with U.S. President Bill Clinton playing a pivotal role in persuading then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order a withdrawal of troops from the Kargil sector.

India has consistently maintained that the conflict was a direct act of aggression by the Pakistani military. Evidence, including intercepted communications between General Pervez Musharraf and his Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz, pointed to the involvement of Pakistani forces in the conflict, despite their earlier denials.

The Pakistani Army Chief’s remarks come amid ongoing strained relations between Pakistan and India, marked by persistent tensions over the Kashmir dispute and frequent cross-border skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC).

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