The US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya were destroyed by terrorists on August 7, 1998. What role did Pakistan have in this incident? Lahore was buzzing with excitement on February 20, 1999. For the first time in 50 years, Pakistan and India were so close that they started a Dosti (friendship) Bus service, which was how Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee traveled to Pakistan. He would also go to Minare Pakistan to disprove the notion that Indians have never memorized Pakistan.
Whether the prime ministers of Pakistan and India were aware that another front was warming up in the snow-covered mountains 1200 kilometers away? In the History of Pakistan series by Dekho Suno, Jano, I am Faisal Warraich. I’ll show you everything. On August 7, 1998, between ten and eleven in the morning, bombs detonated outside the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The American embassies were struck by two trucks carrying explosives. Both buildings had suffered significant damage. In Kenya, the multi-story US embassy was reduced to ruins.
In these attacks, almost 200 people have died in Kenya and 11 in Tanzania. America attributed the assaults on Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda. It was the first time that the US and the rest of the world learned about Osama’s animosity toward America. Osama bin Laden was added to the list of the most wanted people worldwide at the same time by the US FBI. But the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden was irrelevant. You have already seen a thorough video on Osama’s connections to the US and the Taliban. The Taliban in Afghanistan held Osama in their care, and America was well aware of this.
After taking Mazare Sharif, the Taliban at the time had almost complete control over Afghanistan. The Ameerul Momeneen of the Afghan Islamic Emirate was Mullah Omar. The United States then started to demand that the Ameerul Momeneen take custody of bin Laden. After Mullah Omar, America too required Pakistan’s assistance. because those who carried out the strikes in Kenya were seeking to travel to Afghanistan They had to travel across Pakistan to get there. A person was detained by Pakistani intelligence agencies as he was attempting the same effort. Apparently, this man was responsible for the explosions at the US embassies. This man was attempting to enter Afghanistan through Pakistan while using a phony passport.
Sadiq Awda was a resident of Saudi Arabia. When Pakistan sought to strengthen its connections with the United States, he was not welcomed there. As a result, Kenya received this individual right away. given that Kenya was the location of the attack. Pakistan helped the Americans in their investigation of the incident as a result. Mullah Omar, however, rejected the American demands. First, Mullah Omar sought to persuade the US that Osama had nothing to do with the attacks on its embassies. However, America was the issue.
On the basis of intelligence reports, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which had close ties to the Taliban, suspected Osama bin Laden. Sadiq Awda has been questioned by the ISI, Pakistan’s intelligence service. As a result, it was aware of information that Mullah Omar and others might not have known. On the one side, America increased its pressure on Mullah Omar. On the other hand, it was requesting Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s assistance in capturing Osama bin Laden. Do you know which nations recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s leadership under Mullah Omar?
They were Pakistan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. America has since made a demand of the Taliban. In the event that they turned over Osama bin Laden, that America would also recognize their rule. Pakistan also made an effort to explain to Mullah Omar via its intelligence services. The Taliban administration should join the global mainstream and stop siding with bin-Laden. Mullah Omar, however, vehemently refused to accept it. Giving Osama bin Laden to American authorities has been categorically rejected by the Foreign Minister of the Taliban. When it was forced to agree to the demand, the Taliban government issued scathing words.
For Osama bin Laden, the Taliban promised to give their life. However, they refused to turn him over to America. The Taliban’s foreign minister was also subtly warning the US not to invade Afghanistan or else they would know about it. Just two years ago, Mullah Omar’s Emirate (regime) was created. And it was his rule’s first significant strategic blunder. That Mullah Omar miscalculated the reaction of the United States. The first result of it was that Saudi Arabia closed the embassy in Afghanistan. and broke off contact with the Taliban regime.
Pakistan was the next victim. that on August 17, 1998, the US listed Pakistan as one of the dangerous states. and told the Americans to get out of Pakistan. In just one day, 600 American diplomats departed Pakistan. For Pakistan, the circumstance was rather embarrassing. because Pakistan was offering America full cooperation. So why did it occur? It was not true that Pakistan was ignorant of the circumstances. Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, was aware of everything and making efforts to explain it to the US. He now realized that Americans would try to strike Afghanistan while standing on Pakistani soil. And America was removing its citizens from Pakistan in order to deal with the consequences.
He was communicating with America to let it know that Pakistan had demonstrated its commitment by detaining Sadiq Awda and turning him over to Kenya. Pakistan should thus not be subjected to any other tests. He also reminded Americans that the Taliban, who are currently labeled terrorists, were actually taught by the US. It should be noted that Bill Clinton was at the time dealing with the embarrassment of a failed romance. He made the painful decision to attack Afghanistan in this predicament. In the Arabian Ocean, American Navy warships began maneuvering on August 20, 1998, close to Pakistani maritime territory.
The US submarines were also aboard these ships. This military device would be used by America to launch missiles from the sea to land. The Pakistani Navy was aware of the entire American operation. and disclosed it to the government. Pakistan was now aware that the United States was about to strike Afghanistan. Additionally, America had learned that Pakistan had deceived it. However, there was now an issue. that Khost, an area of Afghanistan, was the target of an American attack. It intended to strike Khost’s Zhawar Killi Albadar Camp. In order to accomplish this, American missiles had to go over Pakistani airspace. Pakistan may respond to it strongly.
On August 20, 1998, the US attacked Sudan and Afghanistan despite all of these objections. Only America promptly alerted the Army and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that missiles had been fired. that American cruise missiles were flying across Pakistani airspace. They weren’t intended for Pakistan; they were for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Tomahawk Cruise missiles were used in this assault. Missiles fired towards Sudan came from the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia, while those fired at Afghanistan came from the Arabian Sea outside Pakistan’s maritime boundary.
However, this endeavor was unsuccessful. because America chose the incorrect target. The Zhawar Killi Albadar camp had nothing to do with al-Qaeda. It was clear from the fact that not even a single Taliban member, much less Osama or Al-Qaida leaders, were killed in that attack. Another disadvantage of the attack was. Tomahawk Cruise missiles did not hit the target with perfect accuracy, according to US General Zinni. Some missiles accidentally fell inside Pakistani territory rather than Afghanistan as a result of this technical flaw. That missile stock was taken up by Pakistan. One of the most advanced wartime technologies at the time was the cruise missile. This technology was not available in Pakistan.
As a result, the US started to ask for the return of the missiles that were fired into Pakistan. Pakistan took the appropriate action rather than sending the missiles back. Pakistan strongly objected to America. Al Qaeda gained a lot from this unsuccessful US attack. That Al-Qeada and Osama bin Laden gained worldwide recognition The newborn babies were named Osama by a large number of parents. Children in Africa were sporting T-shirts with bin-Laden’s image to show their support. People were also inspired to join Al-Qaeda by the US missile attack that failed. According to the story, Al-Qaeda started planning a major terror attack similar to 9/11 at the same time.
Although the truth may be different, statements made at the time seemed to confirm this impression. Al-Qaeda had grown in strength, but Pakistani-US relations had once more deteriorated. PM Nawaz Sharif denounced US assaults in Sudan and Afghanistan. He denounced them as an assault on national sovereignty and objected to a violation of Pakistan’s airspace. Pakistan also declared that it would petition the Security Council to oppose America. The Security Council, the most powerful body in the UN, was also also attained by Pakistan. The Islamic states and Russia both criticized the US action.
Therefore, it was President Bill Clinton’s turn to apologize. Bill Clinton apologized over the phone to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the US missiles that had landed on Pakistani soil, according to the 9/11 attacks investigation. After then, the problem was resolved quickly. A few days after that incident, Nawaz Sharif was scheduled to visit the United States. And for that, a calm setting was required. Call it coincidence, luck, or both. That in the US effort to target Osama bin Laden, Tomahawk Cruise missiles had also been dropped in Pakistan. Pakistan conducted the first successful test of a nuclear warhead carrier Cruise missile seven years later. It is known to us as Babar-one.
When the US invaded Pakistan a second time with the newest Stealth helicopters to apprehend Osama bin Laden One chopper crashed inside Pakistan. The helicopter was instantly sought back in America. But it fell short. We have previously informed you about Bill Clinton’s struggles at the time with an unfulfilled love. Therefore, there was a conspiracy hypothesis surrounding US strikes on Sudan and Afghanistan. His girlfriend, Monica Lewinsky, was tape-recording the statement on the scandal of love before the jury on the day that US embassies were assaulted. Additionally, Clinton had acknowledged his questionable ties to Monica two days prior to the attack on Afghanistan and Sudan. And he felt bad about it.
The scandal had a terrible effect on President Clinton’s personal and professional life. We tried everything to gain their love, but it didn’t work out. According to reports, Clinton launched the attacks in an effort to deflect attention away from his love scandal. additionally, to obtain the Pentagon’s backing. It might be a hoax or it might be true. However, despite their disputes, India and Pakistan became closer after some meetings in America. The Kashmir problem was brought up in front of Kofi Annan by the Pakistani Prime Minister on his visit to the United States at the end of 1998.
both the Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and US President Clinton. While speaking to the UN General Assembly, PM Nawaz Sharif also defended Pakistan’s nuclear tests. In response to India’s nuclear test, he made it plain that Pakistan will continue to conduct nuclear tests. At that time, it was widely acknowledged that the Kashmir dispute had to be resolved before the Pakistan and India disputes could be resolved. As a result, the globe put pressure on both governments to find a quick solution to their differences. After the US gave the IMF and the World Bank the go-ahead for economic assistance to Pakistan, this pressure increased. Additionally, the US pledged to withdraw the restrictions imposed on Pakistan after those country’s nuclear testing.
Additionally, the restrictions put on India had been loosened. Leaders of both states were therefore under international pressure and had a moral imperative to look past their differences. Thus, Dosti (friendship) Bus Service was announced to be launched by Nawaz Sharif and Vajpayee. The Bus Service traveled from Delhi to Lahore. Vajpayee made the announcement that he would take the Dosti Bus on its inaugural trip to Pakistan. The news was significant. However, it did not sit well with India’s and Pakistan’s religious establishments. On February 20, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) declared a strike and a protest against Vajpayee’s presence. Shiv Sena in India stormed the Cricket Board of India’s offices. Pakistan,
India cricket matches were also a crucial step in reestablishing regular relations between the two countries. In India, the Pakistani team was scheduled to go first. On February 20, 1999, PM Vajpayee crossed into Pakistan across the Wahga border. A red carpet welcome was extended to him. Vajpayee and his group were scheduled to visit the symbolic Minare Pakistan. In order to dispel the notion that India did not firmly accept the partition of India, Indian BJP PM Vajpayee visited Minare, Pakistan. The JI held a sizable gathering that blocked Vajpayee’s caravan to Minare Pakistan.
Vajpayee’s visit to the Minar was 90 minutes later than expected due to the JI rally. A great deal of tension was present as police attempted to scatter the JI employees. While the police had turned to charging with batons, the JI employees started throwing stones. The vehicles carrying diplomats were also attacked with stones. In the end, the police won, and the JI employees—including JI Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad—were taken into custody. The Indo-Pak friendship caravan arrived in Minare, Pakistan. The commander of Pakistan’s three armed forces was also present.
At the Minare, Vajpayee Pakistan gave the Lahore Declaration its seal. Both nations had stated that they were in agreement on how to resolve the Kashmir dispute. The last time an Indian prime minister and a Pakistani president reached a common declaration to resolve the Kashmir dispute. One of them disputes is the one in Jammu and Kashmir. Within the framework of a composite discussion, we are having this conversation. On this and all other matters, we will bargain honestly. The Lahore Declaration might have gone down in history had it been carried out in accordance with its original intent.
the main reason being that there was no Indo-Pak war. Perhaps neither of the commanders was aware that a war was raging in the Kargil peaks, 1200 kilometers away. Maj-Gen Javed Hassan was appointed as Pakistan’s military attaché in the United States. He was appointed commander of Force Command Northern Areas upon his return to Pakistan. He reported to Corps 10-Division, which at the time was led by Lt. Gen. Mahmud Ahmad. The Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Mahmood Aziz, held the most significant position after that of Chief of the Army Staff. The FCNA was under the command of Gen. Aziz a while back. He was therefore familiar with the operation as well as the situation in the Northern Areas.
Gen. Mahmud and General Pervez Musharraf were both members of the same unit. It might explain why Maj-Gen. Javed Hassan persuaded the other three generals to support Operation “koh pema” so easy. What was Operation “Koh Pema” all about? Capt. Kurnal Sher Khan and Hawaldar Lalek Jan were on duty at Domail in severe cold conditions when this operation was being planned. These young warriors had no idea that they would give their lives in battle for the final time in the 20th century. And all of that with just one sugar cube and one bullet each day.
You will be shown in full, but in the following episode, the bravery of the jawans, the generals’ planning, India’s Bofors weaponry, and the Kargil story on the diplomatic front. In this episode, we make a subtle reference to the connections between Osama bin Laden, the Taliban, and America. To learn more about the connections between Pakistan, the Taliban, and America as well as the story of the 30 trucks, click here. To see an incredible account of Pakistan’s history regarding the Green Shirts’ World Cup victory, click here. Subscribe Dekho, Suno, Jano, and also click the Bell icon to get timely access to all of our updates.Contact Us