<p>The then Pakistan army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf’s bravado could have landed him in Indian custody in March, 1999, just a few weeks before the Kargil conflict flared up between the two countries.<br /><br /></p>.<p>And, who knows the limited Kargil war would not have happened, and Musharraf would not have been in a position to snatch power from the democratically elected government of Nawaz Sharief in a bloodless coup later that year, if only Indian intelligence agencies and the army discovered in time that the General travelled a few km inside the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kashmir for a one-night stay.<br /><br />In a sensational revelation, a retired Pakistan army officer has said that Musharraf flew in a helicopter across the LoC on March 28, 1999, travelling a distance of 11 km into the Indian side and spent a night at a location known as Zikria Mushaqar, in Jammu and Kashmir. <br /><br />Making the disclosure, retired Pakistan army officer Col. Ashfaq Hussain, who was then a senior officer in the army’s media arm, said that Musharraf was accompanied by Brig Masood Aslam, then commander of 80 Brigade. They spent that night in Zikria Mustaqar, where another Pakistani officer, Col Amjad Shabbir, was also present with his troops.<br />Indians unaware<br /><br />Musharraf returned to the Pakistani side without being noticed by the Indians. Col Hussain did not disclose what was the “mission” the army chief was on, or if the venture related to the future Kargil conflict. <br /><br />Hussain first made the revelation in his book “Witness to Blunder: Kargil Story Unfolds”, which was published in late 2008. <br /><br />He repeated the assertion last night on a television talk show on the Kargil episode in the wake of another retired Pakistan army offer Lt Gen Shahid Aziz’s assertion that the ill-advised and ill-planned intrusions by Pakistani troops were planned by a group of four generals led by Musharraf.<br /><br />As per standard Indian operating procedure, if Indians had found the General on the Indian side he would have been warned about his illegal intrusion, then challenged and then taken into custody. <br /><br />Then the army would have tried to establish under what circumstances he crossed over (some times, cross-over can happen due to natural calamities). <br /><br />After this, appropriate action would have been taken through official channel. <br />» Musharraf, Page 13</p>
<p>The then Pakistan army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf’s bravado could have landed him in Indian custody in March, 1999, just a few weeks before the Kargil conflict flared up between the two countries.<br /><br /></p>.<p>And, who knows the limited Kargil war would not have happened, and Musharraf would not have been in a position to snatch power from the democratically elected government of Nawaz Sharief in a bloodless coup later that year, if only Indian intelligence agencies and the army discovered in time that the General travelled a few km inside the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kashmir for a one-night stay.<br /><br />In a sensational revelation, a retired Pakistan army officer has said that Musharraf flew in a helicopter across the LoC on March 28, 1999, travelling a distance of 11 km into the Indian side and spent a night at a location known as Zikria Mushaqar, in Jammu and Kashmir. <br /><br />Making the disclosure, retired Pakistan army officer Col. Ashfaq Hussain, who was then a senior officer in the army’s media arm, said that Musharraf was accompanied by Brig Masood Aslam, then commander of 80 Brigade. They spent that night in Zikria Mustaqar, where another Pakistani officer, Col Amjad Shabbir, was also present with his troops.<br />Indians unaware<br /><br />Musharraf returned to the Pakistani side without being noticed by the Indians. Col Hussain did not disclose what was the “mission” the army chief was on, or if the venture related to the future Kargil conflict. <br /><br />Hussain first made the revelation in his book “Witness to Blunder: Kargil Story Unfolds”, which was published in late 2008. <br /><br />He repeated the assertion last night on a television talk show on the Kargil episode in the wake of another retired Pakistan army offer Lt Gen Shahid Aziz’s assertion that the ill-advised and ill-planned intrusions by Pakistani troops were planned by a group of four generals led by Musharraf.<br /><br />As per standard Indian operating procedure, if Indians had found the General on the Indian side he would have been warned about his illegal intrusion, then challenged and then taken into custody. <br /><br />Then the army would have tried to establish under what circumstances he crossed over (some times, cross-over can happen due to natural calamities). <br /><br />After this, appropriate action would have been taken through official channel. <br />» Musharraf, Page 13</p>
