The Political Era of General Pervez Musharraf (1999–2008): Coup, Reforms & Controversies
The roots of General Pervez Musharraf’s rise to power lie in the Kargil War of 1999. This conflict, secretly initiated by the Pakistani military high command under Musharraf, turned into a diplomatic and military failure. While Nawaz Sharif, then Prime Minister, sought to distance himself from the debacle by blaming the army, Musharraf and his allies shifted the narrative against Sharif, claiming he compromised Pakistan’s position by negotiating a ceasefire in Washington without consulting military leadership. In retaliation, Nawaz Sharif decided to remove General Musharraf from his position as Chief of Army Staff while Musharraf was on an official visit to Sri Lanka. On 12 October 1999, as Musharraf’s plane approached Pakistan, orders were issued to divert it mid-air, effectively denying him entry into the country. The pilot insisted there wasn’t enough fuel to land elsewhere, leading to a standoff. Meanwhile, key generals loyal to Musharraf, including Lt. Gen. Aziz Khan...