Dismissing President Pervez Musharraf's claims that Kargil has "internationalised" Kashmir problem, a senior Pakistani opposition leader has said in fact, the "misadventure" has made cross-border terrorism a global issue.
"It (Kargil) did not internationalise Kashmir as an issue of a people's right to self-determination.
Instead it internationalised it (Kashmir) as an issue of cross-border terrorism," according to Faratullah Babar, spokesman of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples Party.
Kargil led to "Pakistan's isolation as never before," he said in an article published in The News on Monday.
Musharraf, reacting to allegations levelled by Sharif on Kargil, said last week that it succeeded in internationalising Kashmir issue and released photographs of Sharif being briefed by him and fellow military commanders in February 1999.
Babar said, "merely flaunting pictures of a meeting is no proof that Nawaz was actually briefed on Kargil. The best way for Musharraf is to release any signed minutes of the meeting."
Babar also questioned the oft-repeated theory of Pakistan military that acquisition of nuclear weapons brought in a level of deterrence against India.
"From what followed in the wake of Kargil one thing is clear. Nuclear-armed Pakistan could not deter India from deploying its troops on the borders and adopting coercive diplomacy...The bluff of nuclear deterrence was called," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"From what followed in the wake of Kargil one thing is clear. Nuclear-armed Pakistan could not deter India from deploying its troops on the borders and adopting coercive diplomacy...The bluff of nuclear deterrence was called," he said.
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