Watch: After 25 years, Pakistan Army accepts role in 1999 Kargil war

Between May to July 1999, the Kargil war or Kargil conflict unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district

Twenty five years after the Kargil war, the Pakistan Army made its first apparent admission of its involvement in the deadly conflict with India. In a speech on Defence Day, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir said, “Be it 1948, 1965, 1971, or the Kargil war of 1999, thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country and Islam.”

The statement marks a departure from the country's previous narratives. Historically, Pakistan's Army has refrained from publicly admitting its direct involvement in the Kargil conflict, and instead claimed that it was the work of "mujahideen" or "freedom fighters" in its official narrative.

Between May to July 1999, the Kargil war or Kargil conflict unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district. The hostilities were triggered when Pakistani forces and armed militants crossed the Line of Control (LoC), infiltrating Indian territory and seizing control of key elevated positions in the area.

First time ever #PakistaniArmy accepts involvement in #KargilWar. Pakistan Army Chief General #AsimMunir confirms Pakistan Army's involvement in #KargilWar. Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in a defence day speech on Friday said, "1948, 1965, 1971 or Kargil war between pic.twitter.com/Um83MwSrwM
Upendrra Rai (@UpendrraRai) September 7, 2024

In response to the infiltration, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Vijay to evict the intruders and reclaim the occupied territories. The operation involved intense fighting in difficult and treacherous terrain, with Indian soldiers showcasing extraordinary bravery and resilience. The war officially ended on July 26, 1999, when the Indian Army announced the complete eviction of Pakistani forces from Indian soil.

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's Prime Minister during the Kargil war, has publicly denounced the military operation, which is frequently characterised as a strategic "blunder" by Pakistan's armed forces.

Lt Gen (retd) Shahid Aziz, a former Pakistani military officer, had previously acknowledged the role of their troops in Kargil after his retirement. His admission came after he retired from the forces.

Aziz described the operation as a “four-man show,” known only to General Pervez Musharraf and a few other top commanders. Sharif, who signed the 1999 Lahore Declaration with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, later admitted that Pakistan had violated the agreement through its actions in Kargil.