President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said all institutions of the country must speak with one voice on national matters and clarified that on the Kargil conflict, the then government was fully on board.
Speaking at the launching of Urdu version of his autobiography "In the Line of Fire," the President said the then Prime Minister was fully in picture with regard to the Kargil.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, President PML Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Services Chiefs, federal ministers and other senior officials were also present at the book launching.
The President said that on July 2, 1999, he personally briefed the Defence Committee on Cabinet (DCC) on every military aspect of the issue, which was also attended by the then Prime Minister, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Raja Zafar-ul-Haq.
The President said that he told the meeting that the army was fully prepared to meet any challenge that might be posed by the adversary in Kargil conflict.
However, he added that when asked, he made it clear to the then Prime Minister said that to disengage troops was a political decision and, therefore, rested with the government.
Taking a lesson from the issue, the President stressed on the need of unity on matters of national importance. To be on a position of strength, he said that all pillars of state must show unity for a national cause. On Iraq the President said that any troops' withdrawal would have negative impact on the region and the world at large.
He was responding to a question that the West was rethinking its strategy on the war on terror in Iraq and other parts of the world. Without commenting on the merits of the decision of sending troops to Iraq, the President suggested that withdrawal of troops without an overall plan would have serious repercussion on the country, region and the world.
"Troops withdrawal (from Iraq will have far-reaching and negative impact on the region and on the world," he added and said environment should be analysed to prevent any negative impact before considering such a decision.
Musharraf said that Pakistan government had always been taking well thought-out decisions after a careful review of the situation, be it Afghanistan or Iraq.
"We always analyse a situation and its future effects and then take a decision accordingly," he added. In this regard, he recalled that despite requests, Pakistan did not send its troops to Iraq as it was not in the country's interests. Similarly, he said, Pakistan also did not send its troops to Lebanon for similar reasons.
However, he added, that after a direct request from the Lebanese government, the Pakistan government was sending some army engineers for mine-clearing.
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