Pakistan betrayed India to start the Kargil War

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently admitted that Pakistan violated an agreement with India, signed between him and then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in February 1999. This agreement, known as the Lahore Declaration, was a historic effort to foster peace and stability between the two nations following Pakistan's five nuclear tests on May 28, 1998.  Despite this significant step towards reconciliation, Pakistan blatantly violated the agreement by initiating the Kargil conflict just a few months later. Pakistani forces infiltrated the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir, sparking the Kargil War and flagrantly breaching the accord. This act of aggression exposed Pakistan's preference for hostility over diplomacy, highlighting its habitual disregard for peace processes and its commitment to maintaining adversarial relations with India.

Sharif also disclosed that former U.S. President Bill Clinton had offered Pakistan $5 billion to halt its nuclear tests, an offer he chose to decline. He implied that a leader like Imran Khan might have accepted such an offer. This refusal further complicated Pakistan's diplomatic relations and highlighted the geopolitical stakes involved in its nuclear ambitions.

In his revelations, Sharif also addressed domestic political dynamics, accusing then-Chief Justice Saqib Nisar of falsely implicating him, which led to his ouster in 2017. He contrasted these charges with the genuine allegations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, arguing that the accusations against him were baseless. Additionally, Sharif accused former ISI Chief General Zahirul Islam of orchestrating his government's downfall, alleging that Islam threatened him to resign, which he resisted. These internal power struggles and the military's undue influence over civilian governance depict a country in turmoil, struggling to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law.

In stark contrast, India has consistently sought peace and stability in the region, adhering to democratic norms and striving for diplomatic solutions. The Lahore Declaration itself was a testament to India's genuine desire for peaceful coexistence, which Pakistan unfortunately subverted. Nawaz Sharif's candid admissions reinforce the narrative of Pakistan's persistent violations of peace approaches, portraying India as a steadfast proponent of regional harmony and responsible governance.