Azad Kashmir contains the sector of Keran. The Indian checkpoints are within 800 meters from this area’s main road. Indian border force (BSF) soldiers opened fire on each moving car. Any vehicle that was struck by Indian fire would fall into the River Neelum. As a result, Indians in the area torched hundreds of vehicles, and these instances resulted in many fatalities. However, when an army officer was sent to Azad Kashmir, he discovered a suitable answer to this issue. To shield the road, he constructed a concrete wall.
8 feet tall and 5 feet broad, this wall. The Indian shooting was no longer a threat to the road. The Indian army continued to fire as work took place. In addition to defending the employees, the Pakistani Army also retaliated against the Indian firing. So, to protect cars, this wall was constructed approximately 800 meters from the LOC. The wall also performed admirably. Lt. General Abdul Qadir Baloch deserves praise. What’s the point of this tale?
owing to his attendance at the meeting. The Kargil tale would be lacking without this encounter. I’m Faisal Warriach, and here is the second-to-last installment of Dekho Suno Jano’s History of Pakistan series. You saw in the previous episode of History of Pakistan that the Kargil War was no longer a secret. The fighting was generating news in Indian and Pakistani media. On May 17, 1999, a gathering of formation commanders took place. High ranking military officials were present. The officers enquired as to if the reports of war on Kargil were true from General Musharraf and the others.
The idea could no longer be kept a secret by General Musharraf and his three senior generals. Senior officers and certain Corps commanders were not happy. They believed their leadership lacked confidence in them. Lt. General Mahmood Ahmad, commander of 10 Corps, gave a briefing on Operation KP to those present. He stated that the goal of the operation was to bring the Kashmir conflict to the notice of the world. He brought up Pakistan’s stance on the other side of the LOC. He claimed that Pakistan may utilize these positions to obstruct the highway connecting Ladakh and Srinagar. General Javed Hassan, FCNA’s commander, briefed the officers on the objectives of this mission.
He claimed that the forces had taken advantage of openings along the LOC to seize the strategic locations nearby. He felt sure that India would now be compelled to treat the Kashmir issue seriously. After the briefing, the majority of the policemen appeared content. However, one officer voiced important concerns about the entire operation. This figure was Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch, Inspector General of the Frontier Corps of Balochistan.
He wasn’t sure whether to block off the route that crossed the LOC. According to him, the Pakistani positions in Kargil were 3 kilometers away from this road. That distance was considerable. He claimed to have shielded a route, located about 800 meters from the Indian fortifications, from Indian fire. He stated that the Indians could defend the road from three kilometers like we did.
The Kargil planners were certain that India wouldn’t risk a nuclear conflict by responding harshly. This claim was denied by General Rafiullah Nazi, Major General Akram, and General Abdul Qader Baloch. They claimed that the military strategists misjudged either the Indian or the global response. Nasim Zehra spoke with a lot of cops. She claims Musharraf didn’t provide any rational explanations. The complaints were simply dismissed by General Musharraf. He asserted that we held unbeatable positions at LOC and that the brave always prosper. So, it was with us today. General Musharraf’s response divided the officers, with some finding it unsatisfactory and others not. After General Musharraf finished his 30-minute speech, the attendees prayed for the operation’s success.
The subsequent briefing, though, was more crucial. The PM had to be informed about this operation by the military hierarchy. The operation was no longer a top secret. Therefore, the PM’s formal consent was necessary by the military leadership. On May 17, 1999, at the Ojri camp, Gens. Tauqir Zia and Jamshed Gulzar Kayani briefed the PM and ministers. The four masterminds of Kargil were in this meeting. The officers gave the PM and his crew a briefing on a confusing map. On the map, not even the LOC was adequately displayed. On the map, places were indicated, but names were not given. Additionally, the military leadership briefed the prime minister and his cabinet on the posts that their soldiers had taken.
They stated that from a distance of 3 kilometers, they could attack the Key Indian supply route in IHK. The operation will be effective in five phases, they claimed. They believed they were on the verge of triumph. The PM may not have fully comprehended this argument. But he was most impressed by something else. In her book “From Kargil To The Coup,” Nasim Zehra writes,
that the PM felt flatter by Gen. Shahid Aziz Khan. Nawaz’s name would be inscribed in gold letters, according to Gen. Aziz, and he would be referred to as the Kashmir conqueror. Nawaz Sharif was so ecstatic that he asked General Shahid Aziz, “Tell me when you’ll hoist Pakistan’s flag in Srinagar,” and the PM was persuaded by General Pervaiz Musharraf’s assurance.
The return, according to Gen. Musharraf, is no longer possible. He said that the success was guaranteed by his experience. After the briefing, Nawaz Sharif requested input from his cabinet colleagues. The specifics of this conference are described in detail in the books authored by Sartaj Aziz and Lt. Gen. Abdul Majeed Malik. These books claim that Sartaj Aziz, the foreign affairs minister, publicly opposed the operation. The Lahore declaration, which was inked during Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore, was broken, he claimed. America would never back this action, he added. “Sartaj Aziz Sahib, can we ever take Kashmir through paperwork?” the PM responded.
“This is our chance to conquer Kashmir.” The action was also opposed by Lt. Gen. (r) Majeed Malik. He bombarded Gen. Mahmood with inquiries. This is described in the book “Hum bhi wahan mojud the” by General Majid Malik. He assured the commander of 10 Corps that, as the former commander of 12th Division, he was familiar with the surrounding area. The supply line would be impossible to operate throughout the winter, according to Gen (r) Majeed Malik. How would the planners manage the supply line, he wondered? This query didn’t pique the interest of the 10 Corps commander. He claimed that things had changed now.
He proclaimed that the issues of the past were over! Close advisors to Nawaz Sharif were raising concerns about this operation. Nawaz Sharif, however, disregarded their concerns. It might have taken place as a result of the strong effect Gen. Aziz’s words, “Victor of Kashmir,” had on him. However, the meeting came to an end once General Musharraf received official approval for the operation. Another participant in the discussion made the suggestion that Gen. Musharraf become the army head. Iftikhar Ali Khan, the defense secretary general (r), was Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s brother. During the briefing, he also noticed the hazy maps. But he was aware of the circumstance.
Nawaz Sharif was stopped in front of the PM residence. “Sir! Do you realize our army has crossed the LOC?” he questioned the PM. He also inquired as to whether the army had requested authorization from the PM to cross the LOC. “Army has truly crossed the LOC?” Nawaz Sharif exclaimed in shock. Gen. (r) Iftikhar didn’t respond to the query. He spoke “Sir! Do you aware that entering the LOC is a war crime?” Nawaz Sharif realized the gravity of the situation at this point. The following morning, he requested that Gen (r) Iftikhar call a meeting of the important ministers. After that, he fell asleep.
The following morning, the meeting was convened. Sartaaj Aziz, Mushahid Hussain, and Gen (r) Majeed Malik, At this conference, Gen (r) Iftikhar Ali Khan and other significant ministers were also present. Majeed Malik and Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz opposed the Kargil operation. Nawaz Sharif invited Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, the head of the army, to the PM residence following the conference. In the PM residence, there was a significant meeting. There were only 3 attendees during the meeting. Nawaz Sharif, Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, and Gen. (r) Iftikhar, the defense secretary, were among them.
The PM questioned General Musharraf Have you gone past the LOC? “Yes, sir,” General Musharraf said. Who gave you the okay, the prime minister then enquired? “I did this on my own responsibility,” General Musharraf retorted. “If you order, I will ask the troops to return.” The historic occasion was at hand. Now that he had all the facts, Nawaz Sharif was free to choose. He had the ability to order the troops back if he so desired. Although the army is a component of the government, we will support it, the prime minister asserted. The issue was now well understood by the prime minister. However, it wasn’t just General Musharraf who told the PM about this operation.
There was another person who dialed 911 in a rage. On May 26, 1999, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Indian prime minister, contacted Nawaz Sharif. He claimed that the circumstances following the Kargil operation were intolerable. Vajpayee lamented the heavy losses the Indian Army was suffering along the LOC. From the Kargil heights, the NLI forces were repelling the Indian Army. All access points and stations in Kargil were under the authority of the Pakistani army. Dras Sector was affected by the war. In order to neutralize this menace, the Indian forces brought gunship helicopters. The helicopters, however, were useless.
The helicopters were being shot down by the attackers. The Ladakh-Srinagar highway was completely shut down. The Indian army were essentially losing everywhere. This state persisted until May 26th, 1999. This was only the start. By this point, the Indian forces were aware that the attackers were a trained force rather than “Mujahideen.” When the Indian army was unable to win the battle, India sent in its air force. At a height of 17,000 feet, 100 planes launched cluster bombs on Pakistani positions. The laser-guided weapons started firing as well. Modern Bofors Guns were used on the battlefield by India. The Indian army’ prestige and ego were at stake.
They yearned fervently to take Kargil back. India began prepared for the battle to spread because it was difficult to retake these heights that the Pakistani army had taken over. The whole Indian military was commanded to get ready for battle by Atal Behari Vajpayee. The conflict was already being fought by the Indian air force. The Indian navy has since gathered its ships as well. The Pakistan Navy also assumed positions in response. This circumstance was not what General Musharraf and his three colleagues had anticipated.
Despite the ISI’s evaluation Wing had made unsuccessful attempts to alert them to this possibility. This was demonstrated to you in the prior episode. But it was already too late. However, the courageous Pakistani army personnel continued to fight in -20 °C temperatures on mountains that were 17000 feet high. Because of this, the Indian forces initially were unable to take these locations. Jet fighters and gunship helicopters were being lost by India. Additionally, Pakistanis were detaining their pilots. India adjusted its strategy after failing. The Indian air force is currently striking Pakistani supply routes. Operations were carried out by Indian forces in the shadow of Pakistani fortifications.
However, a few Indian Mig planes were shot down by Pakistani forces. However, India later introduced the Mirage, which can even compete with F-16s. The height and the cold had already weakened the Pakistani supply route. The air assaults made it weaker. The soldiers now had a food and equipment scarcity. The NLI men fought for weeks on end at numerous sites while going without food. Nawaz Sharif had come to the conclusion that there was no chance of winning by the middle of June. He also understood that he had been mistaken in thinking of himself as the “Victor of Kashmir.” China, Pakistan’s closest ally, also declined to back Pakistan. Also irritated was the United States.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey did not make any statements endorsing Pakistan in this situation. As a result, Pakistan was cut off from the rest of the world, especially China, who desired a truce. The operation in Kargil was no longer receiving assistance from the international world. Along with its army, India was also employing its navy and air force. Therefore, leaving the Kargil heights was not the actual problem. Pakistan now had to decide whether to use its air force and navy. The true query was, “Is Pakistan prepared for a full-scale war?” a conflict in which not even its allies were participating. It was clear that Pakistan could not resolve this issue on its own.
Because no battle can be won without allies on a global scale. Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz was dispatched by Nawaz Sharif to China for an urgent visit. China agreed with Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir but opposed the conflict. China made it very clear that the Kashmir problem could only be resolved through negotiation. War was not the answer. Following that, the foreign minister made a difficult visit to India. In New Delhi, he met with his Indian counterpart and shared several ideas for promoting peace. However, the negotiations fell through. But following these discussions, something else interesting happened. The Indian foreign minister unexpectedly traveled to China after over 8 years without doing so.
The Indian counterpart of the Chinese foreign minister also attended the meeting. He emphasized the dialogue once more. The Chinese government conveyed a word to the Pakistani foreign minister that the LOC must be respected. Now, everything were spiraling out of control. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pervaiz Musharraf once went to the front lines to encourage the troops. The Indian accusation states that during a similar visit, the Indian air force was about to target Gen. Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif. However, the Indian government held back till the very end. It is an Indian assertion that Pakistan has never corroborated.
The prime minister had to decide whether to use the Pakistani air force on this particular occasion. Should he permit the navy to deploy against the Indian fleet was another decision he had to make. Or attempt to finish the situation straight away. because Pakistan was not being supported by the international community. The PM recently traveled to Russia to foster better ties between the two nations. Russia, however, did not back Pakistan in this dispute. Additionally, the G8 nations demanded that India and Pakistan end hostilities along the Line of Control. To make one final effort, the PM went to China personally. However, nothing changed after this tour.
China expressed its support for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir in a diplomatic manner. However, it was opposed to having power over Kargil. It also rejected any hostility at the LOC. In an effort to terminate the conflict, the US was also in communication with China, Pakistan, and India. Although India had fully activated its air force, Pakistan was still seeking to achieve a ceasefire. It had one squadron stationed in IHK, but four squadrons were now present. Now Pakistan had to decide whether to employ its air force and launch a full-scale war. Pakistan did not employ its air force because it did not desire an all-out conflict. The forces at Kargil Heights were negatively impacted by this choice.
According to Colonel Ashfaq Hussain and Lieutenant General Shahid Aziz, Pakistani positions began to decline in June. There was no food or medicine supplies for the forces. They could only eat some dry fruit. However, the Pakistani army’s forces were engaged in fierce combat. The Chinese Foreign Office requested that Pakistan and India observe the Line of Control on July 2, 1999. It implied that no nation should cross the Line of Control. Both India and Pakistan should refrain from crossing this boundary in combat. If it is already carrying out this action, it must stop. Nawaz was aware that he had just two choices at this point.
He should either end the conflict or escalate it. He was aware that the hope for the liberation of Kashmir via Kargil was unreal. Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and even Afghanistan supported Pakistan throughout its nuclear testing. Nevertheless, they did not back Pakistan in the Kargil conflict. Nawaz Sharif therefore intended to send the troops from Kargil home. But he required assistance from a strong nation. He required a nation with the ability to sway both Pakistan and India. The logical choice was therefore the United States. The Fourth of July is when Americans celebrate their independence, hence American presidents are kept busy on this day.
Nawaz Sharif asked president Clinton for an emergency meeting. Clinton agreed to meet Nawaz Sharif. On the 4th of July 1999, Nawaz Sharif met Clinton in Washington. Yes this meeting took place on the 4th of July. It was a 90-minute long meeting. In this meeting only Nawaz Sharif and US president Clinton were present. But there was also a third person who was taking notes. This was special adviser to US president Clinton, Bruce Riedel . He later wrote the description of this meeting in his book. He writes that Nawaz Sharif wanted the US help to withdraw with honor and to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Also on the conversation was Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee. Pakistan’s withdrawal of soldiers from Kargil was decided. While the US will assist in settling the Kashmir problem amicably. Later, Nawaz Sharif met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the cease-fire and won his backing. Nawaz Sharif addressed the nation on July 12th, 1999. This was the withdrawal’s formal announcement. How long should we continue to produce bombs at the expense of our children’s future, questioned Nawaz? Nawaz Sharif omitted the information that NLI had carried out the operation and that there were no Mujaheedin across the LOC. He referred to them as “Mujaheedin,” and claimed that their departure would open the door to peace.
According to him, this action will guarantee Kashmir’s liberation. Brigadier Rashid Qureshi, the army’s spokesperson, likewise misled the country. He added that the military was unrelated to Mujaheedin’s departure. He said that only the Pakistani government received reports from the Mujaheedin. Maybe for this reason a lot of people believe Pakistan is in crisis because our leaders don’t speak the truth. As a result, the entire country, especially the impoverished, suffers greatly. People endure physical and emotional losses as well as property loss. The Prime Minister and the Army Chief visited the forward military posts after declaring their withdrawal from Kargil.
They sought to boost their soldiers’ spirits while appreciating their enthusiasm. The soldiers were currently heading back toward the LOC from the Kargil Heights. However, the agreement between Nawaz Sharif and Clinton was broken by the Indian Army. Regarding this arrangement, the Indian Prime Minister was given a pass. As part of the agreement, Pakistani troops were coming home. But the Indians went against the deal and started shooting. This unjustified attack caused Pakistan to suffer severe losses. In response to Indian fire, the Pakistani Army engaged in fierce combat. For long hours, a Pakistani Army member stopped the Indian army.
He did this to allow his friends to return to the safety of the -20 °C environment. The hardest operation in any conflict is always retreat and safe return. A similar circumstance existed for Hawaldaar Laalaik Jaan. At Qadir Post, he was assigned. With only 22 soldiers, he was able to repel 7 Indian attacks. He was the only person at the post on July 7, 1999. He engaged the adversary with his submachine gun for a number of hours. He had a meager supply of ammo. Additionally, he had been struggling for days without access to food and drink. He faced a challenge in trying to defeat the adversary at any costs. His troops were leaving.
He understood that all of his soldiers would be in risk if the enemy got close. To stop the Indian assault, he had to contend with gunshots and shells. The adversary was unaware that only one man and one submachine gun were stationed at Qadir position. Machine gun fire struck him as he attempted to toss a hand grenade at his adversaries. Nevertheless, despite his wounds, he stayed in place and stopped the Indian attack. He had his finger on the trigger and was focusing on the foe. To assist him, two troops descended from the back positions. He was mute and speechless. Water was given to him.
He asked the troops to come back when he was able to speak. He had been in battle for several days. He suffered lethal wounds and was too exhausted. For the medical assistance, there was no hope. The enemy was halted for several hours by Laalaik Jaan. His finger was still on the trigger and his eyes were riveted on the foe when he was slain. His fellow travelers had reached their positions in safety. Laalaik-jaan and Captain Karnal Sher Khan’s courage was also recognized by the Indian Army.
Both of these martyrs were kindly given Nishan-e-Haider awards by the Pakistani government. Newspapers published a picture of a youngster during the final days of the Kargil war,… He was making a cross-border wave to someone. Maybe he was saying that war is not a solution to anything, but rather a problem in and of itself. Following the Kargil war, a new fight erupted. Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf was determined to demonstrate the government’s incompetence and that Kargil was his victory. Nawaz Sharif was opposed by the religious groups and right-wing political parties.
Despite their failure in Kargil, the four generals were able to effectively plot their overthrow of the government in 90 days. The following and final episode of this series will tell the tale of these 90 days. This episode taught you about the Kargil conflict. Do you realize that Pakistan’s development as a nuclear power was a miracle? Which 7 unforgettable incidents occurred before to the nuclear tests. Click here to learn more about the famous conflict between China and India. Why did Socrates consume poison?Contact Us