Islamabad, July 6 : The PML-N, a key constituent of Pakistan’s ruling coalition, on Sunday demanded setting up of a commission to probe the Kargil conflict in the wake of PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari’s assertion that both President Pervez Musharraf and ex-premier Nawaz Sharif were responsible for it.

“Zardari’s comment underscores the need for a commission to be set up to probe the Kargil issue,” Sharif’s PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said.

The PML-N has for long demanded that a commission should probe the 1999 Kargil conflict with India.

In an interview with an Indian TV channel, Zardari had said “both Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif were responsible” for the Kargil episode.

Farooq parried pointed queries on Zardari’s statement but said several books written by leading personalities, including former US President Bill Clinton and ex-US Central Command chief Gen Anthony Zinni, had made it clear that Sharif was not aware that Pakistan Army had launched an operation in Kargil.

Sharif has for long contended he was kept out of the loop by the army and only learnt about the operation after hostilities began. He has also said that he found out about the Pakistan Army’s involvement in Kargil when he got a phone call from then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Farooq pointed out that the Indian government had set up an official inquiry commission soon after the conflict was over and it had submitted its report within a short period of time. Therefore, there was no reason for Pakistan to delay in setting up a similar commission, he said.