Kargil Coup: Pakistan Under Nawaz Sharif 1997-1999

A gripping account of power, ambition, and betrayal, this book delves into the dramatic second term of Nawaz Sharif, a period that reshaped Pakistan’s destiny.

From the moment Nawaz Sharif returned to power, his government was marked by high-stakes political maneuvering. He moved swiftly to consolidate authority, curtailing the powers of President Farooq Leghari, clashing with the judiciary, and sidelining rivals in a sweeping crackdown. His ambitions grew bolder, even courting the title of Amir ul Momineen, positioning himself above the very institutions he was meant to uphold.

Then came the defining moment: Pakistan’s defiant nuclear tests in 1998, a bold response to India despite intense international pressure. The fallout was immediate, economic sanctions, frozen assets, and global isolation. Yet Sharif pressed on, launching an unexpected peace initiative with India’s Prime Minister Vajpayee, even as elements within Pakistan’s military quietly orchestrated the ill-fated Kargil operation.

The final act unfolded in 1999. After a desperate appeal to President Clinton to mediate Pakistan’s withdrawal from Kargil, Sharif returned home to a storm of backlash. His attempt to dismiss General Pervez Musharraf backfired spectacularly, ending in a coup that would plunge the country back into military rule for years to come.

Packed with insider revelations and sharp analysis, this book captures the whirlwind of events that derailed Pakistan’s fragile democracy, a story of hubris, intrigue, and the relentless struggle for power.

PAGES: 528
AUTHOR: NAJAM SETHI