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Partners or pawns? Not too sure

Fresh from co-authoring a blockbuster with former RAW chief AS Dulat that fetched him a rap on the knuckles from the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), Gen Asad Durrani’s writing bug remains unvanquished.

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Sandeep Dikshit

Fresh from co-authoring a blockbuster with former RAW chief AS Dulat that fetched him a rap on the knuckles from the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), Gen Asad Durrani’s writing bug remains unvanquished. Here the General provides an overview of Pakistan’s progress or lack of it as a modern nation state. In those years, the general had the opportunity to participate in more than half at close quarters. 

To get an idea of what lurks between the covers, it is best to know the man. Durrani early in life had two choices. Join the army or become a chemical engineer. But, since a chemical engineer had zero chances of becoming the president of Pakistan, Durrani opted for an alternative that gave four khaki presidents to Pakistan. And, during the high noon of fauji rule, he made bold to advise Gen Zia to restore complete democracy resulting in him enduring some years in wilderness till the General Zia’s plane fell out of the sky.

Durrani got counted after heading the ISI, the tenure, like most of his predecessors, was short, a mere 18 months. But as per his account, faujis start out early and do not have to earn stars to dirty their hands in political skullduggery. Durrani though earned in-house acclaim as man of letters early in life with a little help from the Military Intelligence’s Psychological Warfare Directorate which, he believes, was the only coup this wing pulled off.

Durrani has remained consistent ever since he made his views about faujis running the country known to General Zia. And claims that this view holds true among a large number of Pakistani military officers who prefer living under the civilian rule provided they respect certain red lines. The only problem with this sensible-sounding arrangement was in the constant tussle between Pakistan’s troika — the president, the army and the PM — the lines kept shifting according to the individual’s predilection. That makes for a rollicking political history of any country, and Pakistan, with Durrani at the writer’s desk, does not disappoint. 

The author had his share of shenanigans with politicians, besides watching army chiefs to majors dabbling in boosting voting percentages and effecting political reconciliation. Call it military temperament that made army officers eat the humble pie but his conclusion is that in most skirmishes, the Pakistan army was never a match for politicians. The narration is wry, often tongue-in-cheek, and many pen sketches of leaders and generals have been delightfully left open-ended for readers to reach their own conclusions.

What about Modi? Judging from his 167-second huddle with Nawaz Sharif in Paris, the melodramatic crash-landing in Lahore, heating up the LoC, the Ufa non-event and frequently giving an earful to Pakistan, the General feels Modi loves to keep others guessing and bask in media glare. These traits may be politically helpful, but inimical to stable relations. 

The General wears his pips and medals lightly. That enables him to heed and take note of the voices of wisdom peppered throughout the book. Interspersed with irreverence towards the once-high and mighty, General Durrani successfully demolishes the myth of power, making the book an off-kilter, non-judgmental window into the deadly games played in the subcontinent. 

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