Nawaz Sharif's Claim

The Hindu, May 29, 2006

Pakistan establishment reacts angrily to Sharif claim
Islamabad, May 29 (PTI): Pakistani establishment today reacted angrily to the claim by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he had come to know about Kargil invasion by his Army from his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee and accused him of distorting the facts.

The ex-premier had been continuously informed regarding the Kargil operation and he himself had inspected the forward bases in the northern areas during the Kargil incident, Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani said reacting to Sharif's claim in an interview to PTI in London, which was widely carried by the Pakistani media.

"Nawaz Sharif was fully aware of the whole scenario but now his allegations are reflection of his petty personal motives. He is trying to falsify the truth," the minister said in a statement.

He said Sharif, in his interview, has not only distorted the facts regarding the Kargil issue but also violated the oath that he took as Prime Minister.

Durrani said the insistence by Sharif that he had no information of the issue and came to know through a call from Vajpayee is a proof that former Prime Minister was involved in a conspiracy against his own army.

Defence Spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said that a person who had been Prime Minister of the country twice should not have been making "irresponsible allegations".

"No sensible person could believe the story concocted by the former Prime Minister," he was quoted as saying by daily 'The News'.