London: It was from an urgent call from his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee that he first learnt about the invasion of Kargil by Pakistani troops, the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif disclosed on Sunday.

Mr. Sharif squarely blaming Gen. Pervez Musharraf for the "misadventure" for which he would like the military ruler to be tried.

"Mr. Prime Minister, what is happening" in Kargil, an indignant Mr. Vajpayee asked him over telephone in May 1999, according to the 56-year-old Pakistani leader.

Almost all Pakistani Corps Commanders were also unaware of the "ill-conceived, ill-planned and ill-executed misadventure" of Gen. Musharraf and "just two or three of his cronies,"

Mr. Sharif, who is living abroad in exile for over six years, told PTI in an interview here.

Sabotage

Through the Kargil operation, Gen. Musharraf, the then Chief of the Army Staff, had "sabotaged" the understanding reached by him with Mr.Vajpayee at Lahore to resolve all Indo-Pak problems including Kashmir, he said.

Mr. Sharif found it ironic that India should be talking to Pakistan's military ruler. "You are talking to the same Musharraf [who did Kargil]. I fail to understand," he said.

A 36-point Charter of Democracy signed on May 14 by Mr. Sharif and Benazir Bhutto for restoration of democracy in Pakistan includes a proposal to set up a Commission to fix responsibility for Kargil and identify causes that led to it.

Those involved would have to be brought to book, Mr. Sharif asserted, after saying that a high-level Commission "something higher than a Judicial Commission" would be set up by a democratic government to go into the Kargil episode.

Does that mean that Gen. Musharraf could face trial? "It is very clear. The clause [in the Charter] says that the Commission will fix responsibility and then [those found guilty] would conceivably face trial," the former Pakistani Prime Minister said.

Mr. Sharif could not forgive Gen. Musharraf for Kargil because that had brought India and Pakistan very close to a war. "The Indians could have done anything at that time because they were attacked without any rhyme or reason," he said.

Recalling his frantic July 4, 1999 meeting with President Bill Clinton in Washington, Mr. Sharif said he had sought the U.S. leader's good offices to resolve the matter amicably.

But he refused to say whether Gen. Musharraf had pleaded with him to rush to Washington as Indians were beating back the Pakistani intruders.

Conferred legitimacy

By inviting Gen. Musharraf to the Agra Summit, India had conferred legitimacy on the General. ``To me it amounted to recognising a military dictator although his rule is still unconstitutional, unlawful and immoral. Why should you talk to a man like that," he asked.

Nonetheless is he happy with the Indo-Pak peace process? "Well, the foundation of all these were laid when I was the Prime Minister. Mr. Vajpayee was very kind to visit Pakistan and the foundation was laid then by us. Things started moving then. But, of course, the Kargil episode came in between."

A very good opportunity for resolving Indo-Pak issues was thus missed, rued Mr. Sharif, describing the Lahore Declaration as a "tremendous opportunity" sabotaged by Kargil misadventure.

`Obsession' for long

Asked if the General had done so because he did not support the Lahore Declaration, Mr. Sharif replied: "No. I think Musharraf and his cronies had some obsession about it [Kargil] for a long time."

Mr. Sharif dismissed as "wild ideas" Gen Musharraf's solutions to the Kashmir issue such as demilitarisation and joint control.

"Solutions are not given in television interviews. Musharraf does not know what diplomacy means," he said.

— PTI

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