 Musharraf akawana mukurumbira munyika yose paakakwidziridzwa kuva mukuru wemauto ane nyeredzi ina nemutungamiri wehurumende Nawaz Sharif muna 1998, zvichiita kuti Musharraf ave mukuru wemauto. Akatungamirira kupinda muKargil uko kwakapotsa kwaunza India nePakistan kuhondo yakazara muna 1999. Mushure memwedzi yekukakavadzana pakati paSharif naMusharraf, Sharif akaedza pasina kubudirira kubvisa Musharraf semutungamiri wemauto. Mukutsiva, mauto akaita coup détatmuna 1999, izvo zvakabvumira Musharraf kutora Pakistan somutungamiri wenyika muna 2001. Akazoisa Sharif pasi pekuvharirwa pamba asati atanga mhosva yepamutemo yekumupomera. 