Kochi: Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has admitted Pakistan military’s direct role in the 1999 Kargil war against India, media reports said.
The Pakistan army had always denied its role in the 1999 Kargil war, saying that it was an act of “freedom fighters” of Kashmir.During his Defence Day speech at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Friday, Munir said “…1948, 1965, 1971, the Kargil war between Pakistan and India, or the war in Siachen, thousands sacrificed their lives and were martyred for the safety and security of the country,”.
Munir’s statement is being seen as a first of its kind confession by a sitting Army Chief for the past 25 years.However, former Army Chief General Musharraf had admitted the role of Pakistan Army’s 10 core FCNA (Force Command Northern Areas) in the entire operation.
“Initially, there was mujahideen activity in the area. Later on FCNA decided to man the 150 mile vacant area of the Line of Control (LoC). For this, there is no need to get approval or permission from anyone,” reports quoting Musharraf had said.The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Ladakh and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC). The Indian Air Force and Indian Army flushed out the Pakistan Army and paramilitary troops from vacated Indian positions along the LoC.
