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Islamabad: Fresh tensions have gripped the ruling coalition with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari blaming both President Pervez Musharraf and his partner in the ruling alliance, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, for the Kargil conflict of 1999 that invited international criticism.
"I think, both Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif were responsible for Kargil," Zardari said in comments to an Indian news channel a few days ago, prompting an angry Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to demand an independent probe into the armed conflict that brought Islamabad to the brink of a full-fledged war with New Delhi.
Fact-finding panel sought
"I think we need to have an independent fact finding commission on the issue," said PML-N spokesperson Sidiqul Farooq.
The PPP says Zardari's remarks have been twisted out of context but PML-N leaders seem in no mood to be mollified.
"It's no more a secret as to who initiated and who ended the conflict," Farooq said, referring to Sharif's sudden visit to the US in 1999 after which Pakistan withdrew its forces from the heights of Kargil.
"This is such an irresponsible statement that it may force the PML-N to consider completely withdrawing support to the coalition government," said another PML-N leader requesting anonymity.
He said the Kargil statement would be discussed during the proposed meeting between Zardari and Sharif in London.
"The whole world knows that Nawaz Sharif saved the country from larger conflict, but strangely the PPP chairperson has given this controversial statement, angering PML-N cadres," he said.
The PML-N official added that Zardari was scheduled to fly to London from Dubai to meet Sharif who was already in the British capital but no date had been firmed up.
The two leaders would also be discussing other coalition issues, he added.
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