North News
New Delhi, September 7
Pakistan’s military has, for the first time, publicly acknowledged its direct involvement in the 1999 Kargil War with India, marking a significant shift in its stance on the conflict. Army Chief General Asim Munir, in a ceremony honoring Pakistani soldiers killed in various battles, including Kargil, broke a two-decade-long silence on the matter, according to local media reports.
“The Pakistani community is one of bravery, understanding the price of freedom,” Munir said. “From 1948 to 1965, 1971, and the Kargil war of 1999, thousands of soldiers have laid down their lives for the nation and Islam.”
This acknowledgment departs from Pakistan’s previous narrative, which largely attributed the Kargil conflict to Kashmiri militants and “mujahideen” fighters. Munir’s statement directly recognized the loss of Pakistani soldiers in the conflict, where Pakistani forces had taken key positions in Kashmir, triggering a strong military retaliation from India. The operation ended in a significant setback for Pakistan, with then-U.S. President Bill Clinton pressuring Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to withdraw troops from the Kargil region, the news outlet The Hindustan Times reported.
