Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif Admits Violation of Peace Agreement with India in 1999

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif made a startling admission on Tuesday, acknowledging that Pakistan had “violated” an agreement with India in 1999, referring to the Kargil war. Sharif’s revelation came during a meeting of the PML-N general council, where he was elected president of the ruling party six years after being disqualified by the country’s Supreme Court.

Sharif recounted the events of May 28, 1998, when Pakistan conducted five nuclear tests followed by an agreement with then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, Sharif admitted, “We violated that agreement…it was our fault,” as reported by news agency PTI.

The agreement in question was the “Lahore Declaration” signed between Sharif and Vajpayee on February 21, 1999, aimed at fostering peace and stability between the two nations. Unfortunately, just months later, Pakistani troops infiltrated the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, sparking the Kargil War.

During the PML-N council meeting, Sharif also revealed how he defied pressure from the United States, including a $5 billion offer from President Bill Clinton to halt nuclear tests. He took a swipe at current Prime Minister Imran Khan, suggesting that Khan would have accepted the offer, unlike him.

Furthermore, Sharif accused former ISI chief Gen Zahirul Islam of orchestrating his government’s downfall in 2017 to pave the way for Imran Khan’s rise to power. He challenged Khan to address the alleged involvement of the military establishment in his ascension to office.

In a bold statement, Sharif also accused former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar of unjustly removing him from the Prime Minister’s office in 2017 based on false charges.

Sharif’s revelations have reignited discussions on Pakistan’s tumultuous political history and its complex relationship with India. The admission of past mistakes and political maneuvering shed light on the challenges faced by the nation in maintaining stability and peace in the region.