The Tragedy of Afghanistan: A First-Hand Account

by Raja Anwar, Fred Halliday

Discusses the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, shares the comments of Afghan leaders, and suggests the cause of the crisis

Genres: Nonfiction, History

306 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Raja Anwar is a Pakistani journalist, writer, and former PPP political activist. He belongs to the Bhakral Rajput clan. He was born in Kallar Syedan Tehsil.

Anwar was appointed as an adviser on Students and Labour in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government (1974–1977). He escaped to Afghanistan after Bhutto was toppled by a right-wing military coup led by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
In Kabul, Anwar joined Bhutto's elder son, Murtaza Bhutto, and formed Al-Zulfiqar, a leftist insurgency committed to toppling the Zia dictatorship. Raja Anwar had a falling with Murtaza over the latter's controversial terror tactics in 1980 and wanted to return to Pakistan and help Murtaza's sister, Benazir Bhutto's political struggle against Zia. Anwar was imprisoned in a Kabul jail, the Pul-e-Charkhi, but was released in 1985 after Murtaza shifted his operations to Syria.

He came to attention for his book Jhootay Roop Ke Darshan, which is based on his love letters to his secret girlfriend KANWAL(The daughter of a high rank retired army officer), and her replies, during their tenure at Punjab University from 1970 to 1972.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Anwar