Pervez Musharraf's death: BJP v Congress after Shashi Tharoor tags Pakistan ex-dictator 'force for peace'

The death of former Pakistan dictator Pervez Musharraf led to a war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in India.

As news broke of the former Pakistani President's death, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted condolences. Tharoor said that Musharraf was once an "implacable foe of India", but became a "real force for peace" between 2002 and 2007. The Congress leader added that he found the Pakistani leader "smart, engaging, and clear in strategic thinking".

Subsequently, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticised Congress for praising the "architect" of the Kargil conflict, a general who had refused to accept the bodies of his own soldiers. Poonawalla added that Musharraf had called Taliban "brothers" and al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden a "hero". The BJP leader added that Congress may be fond of Musharraf because the Pakistani leader had called Rahul Gandhi a "gentleman".

Musharraf died in Dubai on 5 February after a prolonged battle with amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body.

In a statement issued immediately after Musharraf's death, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan military, said that Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad and all the services chiefs express their heartfelt condolences. "May Allah bless the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family,” it said.

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Nawaz Sharif's younger brother and current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended condolences and sympathy to Musharraf’s family. "Praying for the forgiveness of the deceased and patience of the family,” he said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

(With PTI inputs)