New Delhi
Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif has admitted to
committing mistakes during the 1999 Kargil war, saying that he
should have appointed an enquiry commission in the aftermath of the
conflict like India did.
"I may not have taken the action which I should have," Sharif told
CNN-IBN's Karan Thapar on the "Devil's Advocate" show.
"I think I also needed to appoint a commission immediately after
this episode. India appointed a commission, done a good thing. I
should have also done the same," Sharif admitted during the
interview that will be telecast on Sunday.
Asked if he had made a mistake by not appointing the commission, he
replied: "I think so."
Sharif, who has been living in exile in Saudi Arabia since President
Pervez Musharraf ousted him in a military coup in October 1999, will
be returning home Monday, ignoring warnings that he would be
arrested when he lands in Pakistan.
He has also said he would contest the presidential elections later
this year - and that Musharraf, with or without his uniform, has no
role to play in Pakistan's affairs.
"Nawaz Sharif and (former prime minister) Benazir Bhutto sat down.
We signed a charter of democracy which very clearly says that there
can be no negotiations and no deals with dictator. We have got to
struggle for undiluted democracy in Pakistan," he maintained.
That pact, however, is now on shaky ground as Bhutto has been in
prolonged negotiations with Musharraf on returning home from exile
and sharing power with the general.
Asked whether this meant Bhutto had backed out and betrayed the
charter, Sharif replied in the affirmative.
"I'm dismayed, I am disappointed and I think any party which
believes in democracy, any person who believes in democracy, must
never think of going with a dictator because at this time dictator
is on his way out," he said.
"We don't accept him neither in his uniform nor otherwise. He is not
acceptable and I think the civil society, the credible forces and
the lawyers community have demonstrated that," Sharif said.
Pakistan had witnessed countrywide demonstrations after Musharraf
sacked Chief Justice Mohammad Ifthikar Choudhry earlier this year.
The Supreme Court reinstated Choudhry after a prolonged legal
battle.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a clutch of petitions
challenging Musharraf's twin offices and his bid for re-election.
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