‘There was 90% chance of war with Pakistan in early 2000’
DM Monitoring

NEW DELHI—Brajesh Mishra, the then National Security Advisor in the BJP-led NDA government has said there were two occasions when“there was 90 per cent possibility of going to war” with Pakistan after India mobilised troops in the wake of the attack on Parliament in early 2000, the Indian Express reported.
Speaking to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk — Mishra, asked to mention “two moments you thought now it (war) will definitely happen”, he said: “Mobilization was ordered in the third week of December (2001), and in the first week of January (2002), the Army said plans were made. Then the Americans approached us and said Musharraf is going to make a statement... I would say there was 90 per cent possibility of going to war.”
Breaking his silence six years after the attack on Parliament, Brajesh Mishra further said the second time war looked imminent was after the Kaluchak massacre 31 were killed in May 2002, including 18 Army family members.
When asked on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Mishra said the Manmohan government “did talk to me but on each occasion I said it is not enough, you must go to the politicians because talks between politicians are talks between two equals.”
He said he would let the deal go ahead “if he is convinced that the strategic weapons programme is safe and intact.”
With a disclaimer that he was not speaking for any party, he said: “The deal, which is offered, has been made the centrepiece of the strategic relationship. I don’t think the Clinton administration would have offered (such a deal). That is why I say it is a dilemma for a person like me who is worried about the strategic programme and also the deal not going through,” the daily added.