We've Learnt Nothing from History - Pakistan: Politics and Military Power

by M. Asghar Khan

This book examines the early entry of Pakistan's armed forces into the country's politics and the struggle for the restoration of democracy since 1968. It deals in some detail with the rule of General Yahya Khan and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto during the 1970's, the General Ziaul Haq during the 1980's. The author also reviews the events that led to the re-entry of the armed forces into politics in 1999, after a short and turbulent period of 'demomcracy', and provides some insights into possible political developments in Pakistan in the future.

Genres: Pakistan, History, Politics, Military Fiction

324 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Air Marshal Mohammad Asghar Khan was the Pakistan air force's first native commander. Entering politics after a storied tenure, Khan became one of the country's most prominent proponents of democratic rule. His works largely document Pakistan's drift towards military dictatorship and his own ultimately unsuccessful political struggle.

Reviews

[Ali Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a personal account of the writer's political struggle in Pakistan. However, I didn't like it much because it seemed to me many times that the writer wanted to hide the facts or deliberately avoided going to the details of the historical events that changed Pakistan's destiny and left the country in the deep quagmire of unending political, economic, religious and moral destruction. The title of the book simply suggests to the readers that they haven't learned history accurately which they should have. But how can it be done when the writer himself failed to tell the readers the correct history of the country or just hid the facts or details and had kept just going through the event to event without their background or enough details which may have helped the readers understand the history of the country.

[Muhammad Imran Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in search of a book that would shed some light on the political events as they unfolded right from the inception of Pakistan to the present, in an unbiased and critical approach and I believe this is that book. Plus this is a great story of unwavering principles and courage, which pulls out a pessimistic reader who has lost faith in all humanity from the chasm of distrust to the valley of hope. A must read for every Pakistani, especially for ones who want to enter Pakistani politics.

[Raja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I’ve read it years ago! I was looking back and thinking today we really haven’t learnt anything from History.

[Omama. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an apt title. We really learn nothing from history, and maybe, that's why we are doomed to repeat the past mistakes and suffer at the hands of political miscreants or army generals. As the first and youngest commandeer in chief of PAF, Asghar Khan has penned down an insider's view of the Army' early entry into politics; and as a politician, he has detailed out his struggles for the restoration of democracy in the country since 1960s. It is not a very extra-ordinary book, but the bits about his political journey during Yahya Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhuuto, and Zia-ul-Haq's regime are interesting to read.

[Zara Rizwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Pakistan's first Air Chief, (Late Asghar Khan) this book extensively narrates the events, political upheavals and aftermath of martial law in Pakistan. It encompasses Pakistan's political and military history ranging from Quaid's period to the Musharaf era. It is also the journey of the author from becoming Air Chief to choosing his later life as a political activist. A must-read for non-fiction readers and those interested in Pakistan's political history.

[زین · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They should have this on our money"