Page 60 - 15OCT2018E

BOOK REVIEW

The author points out that Mushar- The book talks the book. When is was getting evi-
raf’s greatest weakness was his over- about about dently clear that the arch enemies
confidence which led him to think and nascent nuclear powers might
he could even get away with murder. Pakistan’s engage in a potential nuclear war, it
However, Durrani accepts that he transition state. was Vajpayee, on whom all depend-
was not ‘comfortable’ with the deci- ent to take a strong step. That the
sion to remove Musharraf, although, The author does former prime minister did when he
he too was part of it. “Though he was took the famous bus yatra to Lahore
aware of my views on some of his not shy away from in February 1999. In Lahore signed
decisions while in power, he and his presenting opinion the signed a declaration with then
wife still attended the weddings of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
my children,” Durrani writes. on the political Shariff heralding another era of
Throughout the book, the reader class, especially “nuclear confidence-building meas-
is given the sense that Durrani is ures and attempted to revive the
tiptoeing around the concept of Benazir Bhutto peace process.”
military rule, trying to portray is as However, like instances in the
the ideal rule which failed on its own past, this time too the peace process
accord. He writes that everytime the author writes. was put on hold when Pakistani
Political disorientation Pakistan’s military took power, it ship front, Durrani’s opinions takes troops occupied the Indian side of
On the India-Pakistan relation-
delivered better than its political
the Line of Control (LOC) in Kargil.
safe ground as he steers clear of any
counterpart in terms of economic
Pervez Musharraf taking over the
continue to rule Pakistan as well as foreign relations. What the hardline stand, even going as far as Shariff government in an apparent
author cleverly observes is that mili-
coup did not help placate matters
to vaguely mention that, at present,
most of the polls in Kashmir indicate between countries either, with India
tary and the political class has been
tactically cutting each other off from majority support for an independ- reluctant to engage in peace talks
power; an example he draws from ent stand , as opposed to staying with with the military in power. However,
the Bhutto- Ayub Khan tug of war. India to joining Pakistan. He also it was Vajpayee again who initiated
“After lording over the country explain, in terms of discussion, the peace process by inviting Mush-
Asad Durrani’s book, Before reading the book, it is ad- “My last encounter with her was for 13 years, the Ayub/Yahya com- the joint statement of January 6, arraf for the Agra summit in July
Pakistan Adrift: Navigating visable for readers to understand in 2006 in Doha on the sidelines of bine had to cede the reins to Zulfiqar 1997 by India’s late Prime Minister 2001. According to Durrani, this time,
where Durrani himself comes from.
a US–Islam conference sponsored
Ali Bhutto, who had fallen out with
it was the powers in Delhi, who, led
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then Presi-
Troubled Waters navigates Asad Durrani is a three star general by the Brookings Institute, a Wash- his military god father (Ayub Khan). dent Pervez Musharraf stills stands by LK Advani, stalled the discussions.
The relations between the two
the slithering grip of the in Pakistan’s army. He headed the ington-based think tank. During the Zia’s exit made way for the triumphal strong. The author explains it in the countries soured further post 9/11
return of the Bhutto clan, whose
following lines, “The very fact that
meeting, it became quite clear that
ISI from 1990 to 1992, a time which
Pakistan army on the saw Pakistan’s transition from be- she was anxious to get back home head he had hanged. And Mushar- the framework evolved in 1997 had when USA sought Pakistan’s sup-
nation and its constant tussle ing a military state to a democratic with the help of America and the raf’s departure promptly brought survived nuclear tests, the Kargil port in weeding out Al-Qaeda fro
with the political class one. Durrani brings much insight army. As she said, these were the back the two political forces that episode, a military coup, 9/11 and the Afghanistan. The attack on the Indi-
from his stints as an Ambassador only two ‘A’s that counted. I do not he considered to be the most evil,” standoff of 2002, proved that it was an Parliament did not helps matters
writes BEDASREE DAS in Germany as well as Saudi Arabia, know if the other two revered in he writes. Of course, democracy or a robust construct... The logic of the either. However, the fear of a nuclear
whereupon he attempts to present Pakistani folklore, Allah and Awam not, Pakistan’s military has heav- composite dialogue was prudently war, again kept both the sides at bay.
eading a tell-all tale is an international perspective of the (the people), ever figured in her cal- ily dictated its political members to based on resolving contentious Towards the end of the book,
almost commonplace upheavals at his home country. culations, but I am sure she had no act as stage props wherever the issues at a deliberate pace.” however, the reader realises that
these days. But, when it While the book primarily talks idea that her death would be most army deemed necessary. It, in fact, Vajpayee’s attempts to secure the author attempts to pose more
comes from the former about about Pakistan’s transition mourned by the masses she so relies heavily on the judiciary to to peace between the two countries questions then answer any. The
R head of the Inter Services state, Durrani does not shy away ignored.” endorse its takeover and legitimize finds mention in another section of book,definitely, has a lot of inside
Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan it always from presenting his opinion on the Although the former ISI chief its rule. stories on offer and while Durrani
makes it to the headlines. Such is the political class, especially, Benazir holds back nothing when it comes However, Durrani also believes is critical of the military leadership,
case with Asad Durrani’s new book, Bhutto. Benazir, according to him to Benazir Bhutto, his attempts to that the Pakistani army hides he also points out that it is a manda-
Pakistan Adrift: Navigating Troubled was overtly dependent on the USA criticize former Pakistan President, under the burden of its own expec- PAKISTAN ADRIFT: tory aspect of the country’s political
Waters. What makes the topic hotter and UK and paranoid about losing Pervez Musharraf can be termed tations. “The problem is that it does NAVIGATING spectrum. But does it really provide
is that this is the first time that a Di- power, even as her government fla- rather timid. At certain points, Dur- not believe that any other institu- TROUBLED WATERS any answer for an adrift nation?
BY: ASAD DURRANI
rector-General of ISI has presented a grantly immersed itself into corrupt rani goes on to laments the fact that tion could do better. The impasse Publisher: Westland Books The answer is yet to be navigated
candid insight on the tussle that has practices. The author ever so suc- the despite of positive developments, gets compounded because people 256 PP; 699 by the book.
plagued Pakistan for ages — that of cinctly declares his disapproval of the Musharraf era was lampooned expect more from the army regard-
the military with the political class. Bhutto’s ways in the given excerpt: by critics when the president left. less of its role or its limitations,” the LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
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