Did General Pervez Musharraf spend a night with Pakistani troops 11 kms inside India just before the Kargil war? The former President of Pakistan tells NDTV he will not deny that charge.
Here's the full transcript of his interview with NDTV's Group Editor Barkha Dutt:
NDTV: General Musharraf, you have often come to India, you have spoken here at conferences, at conclaves, you have spoken through your interviews and you are aware that when you come to India, there are two things that you are always asked about. So, I'm also going to delve deeper into those two things, one is what happened in Kargil, the other is the 4-point formula that you mooted around Jammu & Kashmir. I have seen your statements debunking what some of your colleagues in your own Army have said. You have said that these are all false charges but I want to hear from you on the specifics. First, let us look at the allegation that has been made in a book by Col. Hussain that suggests that you as an Army chief actually entered 11 kms inside Indian territory and spent a night there ahead of the Kargil conflict erupting. Can you set the record straight? Did you as the Army Chief ever enter into the Indian territory as Col Ashfaq Hussain has alleged?
Musharraf: I don't want to deny it. I don't know about the 11 kms. Yes I have been in that sector. Certainly, I was in that sector and I have gone to the front in that sector. I will leave it at that. The other issue, I don't know, I don't want to talk about Kargil but whenever anyone from India talks about Kargil, I always...you know what my feelings are...this is a continuous, it is not a standalone case, it is a continuation of what we have been doing to each other since our independence. The intelligence of the two countries has been at the loggerheads. They have been harming each other inside the country, you in Pakistan and we in India. So let us accept this reality, this has been the case. It is not one-sided. Our country has been divided and then Siachen also is there. So this is all a continuation, I cannot accept a one-sided blame that what happened in Kargil...and we are the rogue. Well, if we are the rogues in Kargil, then you were the rogues in East Pakistan and Siachen. So let us not talk about that. These things need to be stopped.
NDTV: Gen Musharraf, may I first ask you to explain a little bit your opening remarks to my question when I said...did you as Army chief enter inside the Indian territory, you said 'I will not deny it, I went till the post'. Going to the post in Pakistani side and entering in the Indian territory are very different things as you say and you pretty much have said that Col. Hussain has a point when he says that on 28th of March, 1999, you were inside Indian territory, you came in a helicopter, you spent an entire night there. Can you confirm that Col. Hussain is correct and did you not worry that as an Army chief, you were actually violating the line of control?
Musharraf: First of all, what is the difference between line of control and International border? Why don't we call it international border between India and Pakistan. Line of control is violable, that is why you entered Siachen, right? Line of control is not a permanent international boundary. This is the first part. Second point is why are you interested? I mean why should I say whether I was on the other side of line of control or not? I mean these are military matters, what difference does it make whether I went across or not? I mean what is the point? What point do you want to make?
NDTV: You don't think it is significant that Pakistan's Army chief before a conflict erupts, because it was the conflict, actually enters Indian territory? Do you think this is an irrelevant and insignificant fact?
Musharraf: Because an Army chief or an Army commander must be with the troops. That is my belief. I have served in an institution or a special services group which is the elite of Pakistan Army. We have a belief that we are with the troops in the front, we lead from the front. I don't lead from behind. I have never led from behind. I have led from the front. So therefore, I'm there. I, whenever the troops were involved, whether it was in Siachen or any place, I have been to the front, everywhere, all over Pakistan. That is my theory of leading and commanding. So in that, I was with the troops. Now you should not be concerned whether I was across the line of control by 10 miles or 7 or 11. I was there; I did go to the troops, not once but...
NDTV: But you are not denying it. That is all I'm confirming. I'm just confirming that you are not denying Col. Hussain's point?
Musharraf: I'm not confirming, I'm not denying but I'm telling you that I have been spending nights with my troops.