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Pakistan Adrift: Navigating Troubled Waters
Asad Durrani served as a three star general in the Pakistan army, and later headed the Inter-Services Intelligence agency from 1990 to 1992. His time in service encompassed the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan and dissolution; shifting regional and international alliances, particularly with the US; and contending with India's economic recovery. On the home front, Pakistan passed through a transition from military rule to a democratic order.
As an intelligence chief General Durrani dealt with many critical issues at home and abroad. Here he reflects on his time in office--refined by distance and by diplomatic stints in Germany and Saudi Arabia, his assessment of the challenges faced by Pakistan in the last decades is both novel and informed. Though critical of the country's civil and military leadership-- also conceding some of his own flaws--he argues that the real causes of Pakistan's travails differ from what international observers have come to believe.
This insightful book concludes by offering new perspectives on Saudi involvement in and reaction to 9/11 and on the Kingdom's shifting foreign policy goals following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
As an intelligence chief General Durrani dealt with many critical issues at home and abroad. Here he reflects on his time in office--refined by distance and by diplomatic stints in Germany and Saudi Arabia, his assessment of the challenges faced by Pakistan in the last decades is both novel and informed. Though critical of the country's civil and military leadership-- also conceding some of his own flaws--he argues that the real causes of Pakistan's travails differ from what international observers have come to believe.
This insightful book concludes by offering new perspectives on Saudi involvement in and reaction to 9/11 and on the Kingdom's shifting foreign policy goals following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 24, 2018
This book caught my eye because of the title. I was always fascinated by the power play that happens in neighboring Pakistan between the powerful Military and the civilian dispensation. The fact the author is a retired Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army did raise the possibility that the narrative was going to be heavily lopsided in favor of the Military establishment. However, it is to the credit to the retired General that he tries to paint a balanced picture, even though he is successful at that, only through a part of the narrative. Durrani does mention that he was unceremoniously kicked out of service due to his differences with the establishment. He had stints as the DG ISI and as DG MI and these appointments gave him a ring side view of the machinations of the Pakistani establishment in the international arena. After his exit from the Army the General had stints as Ambassador in Germany and Saudi Arabia.
The narration is not linear, and the author flits between various timelines based on what he has covered in each chapter of the book. He gives insights into the working of the political establishment and the politicians of Pakistan. Needless to say, like a true soldier, he is passionate in his hatred towards politicians of all hues. He is particularly critical of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. According to him, both these politicians had the least of concern for the well-being and progress of the country. This might well be true, considering the state in which the country finds itself in at the present moment in time. He is quite open about the machinations and backstabbing that happens in the political arena in Pakistan. An interesting incident he narrates is the part he played in collecting donations for funding a particular political party which later led to corruption charges against him. It is pertinent to note that he was heading the MI at that point in time. Needless to say, it shows how much clout the Army had in running the country.
The role played by the military dictators in Pakistan is something which he definitely could never have avoided talking about in a book of this nature. Being from the same establishment, it goes to his credit that he is equally critical of the Army as he is of the civilian politicians. He has no love lost for Zia Ul Huq and Musharraf. He says that he had served with Musharraf when the latter was a youngster in the Force, and the Musharraf that he saw later as a military dictator was a totally different person. From the narrative, Musharraf comes across as a petty man full of self-importance, having a notion that he could do no wrong. He paints a pathetic picture of the military ruler just prior to his being ejected from office. However, time and again he makes a mention of the fact that the military guys were no match to the civilian politicians when it came to wheeling and dealing. It does sound like a farfetched attempt to show the Military as a martyr in spite of the services that the Force has extended to the country in times of need. It might impress a native reader, but definitely not an independent observer of Pakistan.
Durrani gives an elaborate account of his tenure as Ambassador to Germany and to Saudi Arabia. From his account about his stint in Germany, he would have us believe that Germany had a particularly close association with Pakistan. This was something that I was not aware of. It was then that I recollected about the way in which the “Father of the Nuclear Bomb”, A Q Khan, was accused of stealing nuclear technology from Europe. Durrani makes no mention of that chapter in history, but I presume that there is a connection. His narrative about the Saudi connection would have us believe that Pakistan was the ultimate friend that the Saudis had. But, that is not what is generally thought to be the fact. However, I feel that Pakistan is a country that gets into intensely transactional relationships with other countries. In most of the instances, it gets sidelined, once the other partner has extracted their pound of flesh in the relationship. This may be due to the fact that the country is solely lacking in charismatic statesmen of international stature who can forge personal relationships with other world leaders. The account that the author gives about the conduct of the annual Haj pilgrimage by the Saudis does sound impressive, due to the sheer scale of operations that happens during that event.
Indo Pak relations are talked of, obviously in a partisan manner. I wouldn’t blame Durrani for that, being a patriot and a soldier at that. The nuclear race between the two nations, 26/11, and the Kashmir problem are all dealt with in a predictable manner as would be expected from an India baiter. I had expected some valuable insights into the planning and the involvement of the Pakistani state in the events leading to 26/11, but alas, he deals with it in a perfunctory manner. Durrani suggests that India finds excuses to avoid talks with his country, not realizing that no self-respecting nation would want to sit at the negotiating table with a gun held to its head. He again talks very little or nothing at all about the imbroglio in Kashmir, even though on a couple of occasions, he lets it slip through that it is very difficult to manage an uprising against another country. He also talks about the “calibration of terrorist activities against India” and maintaining it just under the “threshold level”. It is a well-known fact that supporting the inimical elements against the Indian State is a matter of state policy of Pakistan. Earlier in the book he does talk about the kick that Pakistan has received from its own home-grown terrorist groups, but like always, the Pakistani establishment fails to appreciate the fact that a snake invariably strikes the hand that attempts to feed it.
The Pak American relationship is another sore point in every Pakistani’s lexicon. Predictably America is painted as an unreliable ally, who is in the lookout for its own interests. It might partly be true, but to put the blame for every bane in Pakistan at America’s doorstep does sound rather cliched. The darling in the Pakistan’s foreign policy horizon as on date is China, about which Durrani does talk in glowing terms. But how far this relationship is likely to mature to the benefit of Pakistan remains to be seen.
The author also throws light on the fissiparous tendencies that dominates Pakistan. The soft underbelly of Pakistan, Sindh, is of particular worry for them. It was to neutrelise the Sindhis that the military establishment actively supported the Mohajirs in the formation of a political party called the Mohajir Quami Movement. Needless to say, like all the genies that the establishment helped to construct, MQM too became a thorn in their side. MQM was involved in mass internecine strife in the port city of Karachi, and it was with great difficulty that the State was able to broker peace. Another province that the Pakistani State is genuinely worried about is Baluchistan. Durrani faults Musharraf for killing the Balochi leader, Bugti, which led to the worsening of the situation there and further alienating the people in that province.
Being an Indian, one would expect an emotion of schadenfreude to consume you while reading the book. But the effect was just the opposite, because, one gets to understand the complexity of the country called Pakistan. Moreover, being our immediate neighbor, a thought that definitely should be worrying an Indian reader, is how much of a destabilizing effect Pakistan can have on India, should it continue on the path on which it is currently traversing.
The narration is not linear, and the author flits between various timelines based on what he has covered in each chapter of the book. He gives insights into the working of the political establishment and the politicians of Pakistan. Needless to say, like a true soldier, he is passionate in his hatred towards politicians of all hues. He is particularly critical of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. According to him, both these politicians had the least of concern for the well-being and progress of the country. This might well be true, considering the state in which the country finds itself in at the present moment in time. He is quite open about the machinations and backstabbing that happens in the political arena in Pakistan. An interesting incident he narrates is the part he played in collecting donations for funding a particular political party which later led to corruption charges against him. It is pertinent to note that he was heading the MI at that point in time. Needless to say, it shows how much clout the Army had in running the country.
The role played by the military dictators in Pakistan is something which he definitely could never have avoided talking about in a book of this nature. Being from the same establishment, it goes to his credit that he is equally critical of the Army as he is of the civilian politicians. He has no love lost for Zia Ul Huq and Musharraf. He says that he had served with Musharraf when the latter was a youngster in the Force, and the Musharraf that he saw later as a military dictator was a totally different person. From the narrative, Musharraf comes across as a petty man full of self-importance, having a notion that he could do no wrong. He paints a pathetic picture of the military ruler just prior to his being ejected from office. However, time and again he makes a mention of the fact that the military guys were no match to the civilian politicians when it came to wheeling and dealing. It does sound like a farfetched attempt to show the Military as a martyr in spite of the services that the Force has extended to the country in times of need. It might impress a native reader, but definitely not an independent observer of Pakistan.
Durrani gives an elaborate account of his tenure as Ambassador to Germany and to Saudi Arabia. From his account about his stint in Germany, he would have us believe that Germany had a particularly close association with Pakistan. This was something that I was not aware of. It was then that I recollected about the way in which the “Father of the Nuclear Bomb”, A Q Khan, was accused of stealing nuclear technology from Europe. Durrani makes no mention of that chapter in history, but I presume that there is a connection. His narrative about the Saudi connection would have us believe that Pakistan was the ultimate friend that the Saudis had. But, that is not what is generally thought to be the fact. However, I feel that Pakistan is a country that gets into intensely transactional relationships with other countries. In most of the instances, it gets sidelined, once the other partner has extracted their pound of flesh in the relationship. This may be due to the fact that the country is solely lacking in charismatic statesmen of international stature who can forge personal relationships with other world leaders. The account that the author gives about the conduct of the annual Haj pilgrimage by the Saudis does sound impressive, due to the sheer scale of operations that happens during that event.
Indo Pak relations are talked of, obviously in a partisan manner. I wouldn’t blame Durrani for that, being a patriot and a soldier at that. The nuclear race between the two nations, 26/11, and the Kashmir problem are all dealt with in a predictable manner as would be expected from an India baiter. I had expected some valuable insights into the planning and the involvement of the Pakistani state in the events leading to 26/11, but alas, he deals with it in a perfunctory manner. Durrani suggests that India finds excuses to avoid talks with his country, not realizing that no self-respecting nation would want to sit at the negotiating table with a gun held to its head. He again talks very little or nothing at all about the imbroglio in Kashmir, even though on a couple of occasions, he lets it slip through that it is very difficult to manage an uprising against another country. He also talks about the “calibration of terrorist activities against India” and maintaining it just under the “threshold level”. It is a well-known fact that supporting the inimical elements against the Indian State is a matter of state policy of Pakistan. Earlier in the book he does talk about the kick that Pakistan has received from its own home-grown terrorist groups, but like always, the Pakistani establishment fails to appreciate the fact that a snake invariably strikes the hand that attempts to feed it.
The Pak American relationship is another sore point in every Pakistani’s lexicon. Predictably America is painted as an unreliable ally, who is in the lookout for its own interests. It might partly be true, but to put the blame for every bane in Pakistan at America’s doorstep does sound rather cliched. The darling in the Pakistan’s foreign policy horizon as on date is China, about which Durrani does talk in glowing terms. But how far this relationship is likely to mature to the benefit of Pakistan remains to be seen.
The author also throws light on the fissiparous tendencies that dominates Pakistan. The soft underbelly of Pakistan, Sindh, is of particular worry for them. It was to neutrelise the Sindhis that the military establishment actively supported the Mohajirs in the formation of a political party called the Mohajir Quami Movement. Needless to say, like all the genies that the establishment helped to construct, MQM too became a thorn in their side. MQM was involved in mass internecine strife in the port city of Karachi, and it was with great difficulty that the State was able to broker peace. Another province that the Pakistani State is genuinely worried about is Baluchistan. Durrani faults Musharraf for killing the Balochi leader, Bugti, which led to the worsening of the situation there and further alienating the people in that province.
Being an Indian, one would expect an emotion of schadenfreude to consume you while reading the book. But the effect was just the opposite, because, one gets to understand the complexity of the country called Pakistan. Moreover, being our immediate neighbor, a thought that definitely should be worrying an Indian reader, is how much of a destabilizing effect Pakistan can have on India, should it continue on the path on which it is currently traversing.
August 29, 2019
Pretty candid offering from someone who held sensitive positions in Pakistan. Asad Durrani doesn't hold punches and doesn't even spare the USA. He goes on to quote Churchill to drive home his point: "Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the alternatives". He admits that "the Indian factor in Afghanistan has been highly exaggerated in Pakistan" while analyzing the Afghan imbroglio. Durrani is extremely critical of the army though he himself spent most of his career in uniform. In his view "the slide in the army may not have kept pace with the rot outside due to service discipline, but it was nearly in tandem". Brave comment. He doesn't appear to be biased though on occasions his assessment appears to be flawed as in case of his comment relating to Balochistan which as per his assessment had "overwhelmingly supported the creation of Pakistan". He, however, concedes that "the Kargil enterprise was an unmitigated disaster"
An interesting read indeed.
An interesting read indeed.
May 26, 2025
Pakistan Adrift, Navigating Troubled Waters by Asad Durrani is the memoir of the former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. In fact, this book on Pakistan is a testament to the saying that says, "Every nation has an army, but Pakistan's army has a country." Because since its creation on 14 August 1947 to date, not a single prime minister of Pakistan has been able to complete his or her term. In fact, there were three military coups (1958, 1977, and 1999) by Pakistan's army that show the dominance they've had within their nation. This book is for those readers who are interested in reading about the history of Pakistan and its turbulent trajectory.
February 1, 2023
A book that is full of insights into 1990's Politics, machinations and political intrigues of Pakistan. Written by Lt General (R) Asad Durrani. Who was DG(MI),DG(ISI), Ambassador to Germany and Saudi Arabia.
November 30, 2018
I read this book as soon as it came out. It was well written and had a lot of interesting nuggets. The author did not mince any words and allowed us to view things from his perspective. Read the book from cover to cover in one sitting. It's a must read for those who want to know more about Pakistan.
July 21, 2020
1. An insider account by Top Brass of Pakistan Army who remained at vital posts like DG MI & ISI, in the era when the USSR was in the process of dismantling while a power struggle in Afghanistan ensued. Gen Durrani conveniently divided his book into three parts namely “The view from a Vintage point, Hindsight and the overview”. In the author's own words the first part includes “the truths or facts “, the second part provides us with his assessment of various events during the tenure while the third part enumerated as “Reflection “provides logic and rationale for his actions during service.
2. In the first Part - the book explains the uneasy power struggle which surrounds Politician, Judiciary & Army. He explains various political and kinetic actions that were undertaken from the 80s till the early 2000s and provides his own assessment on them. He also confessed Army’s involvement in providing financial support to Politician, but elaborately explained that the decision was taken by brass sitting at the helm of affairs to save the country from a quagmire. He reflected upon Asghar Khan Case and his own actions in Politico-mil engagements. The author also furnished the readers with the experience of his ambassadorship in Germany and KSA, where he was found mending ties to bring eco prosperity to the country. The author went on explaining GWOT, and tough decisions that nations have to undertake in choosing sides. He besides criticizing President Musharraf’s prompt acceptance of US conditions also elaborated on the role which Pak-US uneasy knot had on the regional geopolitics. He deductively opined that the US used Pakistan as a tool to achieve/further her national interest. The author explicitly enumerated the duality in US policy towards Pakistan, Pressler Amendments and blind eye followed by sanction on Pakistan’s nuclear pursuits.
3. In Second Part – the author explains the Afghanistan Phenomena, deductively concluding that only sincerity for Peace and table discussion could lead to peace in the war trodden country. He also explained Pakistan's viewpoint about Taliban, strategic encirclement, and residual threat been faced by Pakistan & Iran after US withdrawal. He explains elaborately that the presence of Foreign power on Afghanistan's soil rekindle the urge in Afghans to free their country from foreign reigns, thus making the Taliban strong. He also provided an insight on Terrorism and its rise in Pakistan, he considers Pakistani actions in South Waziristan Agency as a prime reason for Terrorists fall back and the rise of TTP. According to him, grievances exploited by foreign intelligence agencies and backstabbed by the US were the main reasons for the rise and terror reign of TTP in tribal areas. He advised that Diplomatic channels need to be activated with the Taliban’s to bring eternal peace in the Region.
4. In his final chapter, the author tries to provide his own rationale and logic about the events and his insight on measures that should have been taken. His reflections ranges from USSR expulsion, the Afghan war, Taliban rise, Political struggle in Pakistan, missed opportunity in Kashmir during the 90s, GWOT, Kargil, Mil Putsches, conspiracy theories, the rise of TTP, Kinetic and WHAM measures, and the list goes on.
5. Overall a good read, which provides insight into Pakistan’s Power Game from a Top Brass, successfully identifying Pakistan’s sensitivities and priorities which it will not forgo, what so ever is the cost.
2. In the first Part - the book explains the uneasy power struggle which surrounds Politician, Judiciary & Army. He explains various political and kinetic actions that were undertaken from the 80s till the early 2000s and provides his own assessment on them. He also confessed Army’s involvement in providing financial support to Politician, but elaborately explained that the decision was taken by brass sitting at the helm of affairs to save the country from a quagmire. He reflected upon Asghar Khan Case and his own actions in Politico-mil engagements. The author also furnished the readers with the experience of his ambassadorship in Germany and KSA, where he was found mending ties to bring eco prosperity to the country. The author went on explaining GWOT, and tough decisions that nations have to undertake in choosing sides. He besides criticizing President Musharraf’s prompt acceptance of US conditions also elaborated on the role which Pak-US uneasy knot had on the regional geopolitics. He deductively opined that the US used Pakistan as a tool to achieve/further her national interest. The author explicitly enumerated the duality in US policy towards Pakistan, Pressler Amendments and blind eye followed by sanction on Pakistan’s nuclear pursuits.
3. In Second Part – the author explains the Afghanistan Phenomena, deductively concluding that only sincerity for Peace and table discussion could lead to peace in the war trodden country. He also explained Pakistan's viewpoint about Taliban, strategic encirclement, and residual threat been faced by Pakistan & Iran after US withdrawal. He explains elaborately that the presence of Foreign power on Afghanistan's soil rekindle the urge in Afghans to free their country from foreign reigns, thus making the Taliban strong. He also provided an insight on Terrorism and its rise in Pakistan, he considers Pakistani actions in South Waziristan Agency as a prime reason for Terrorists fall back and the rise of TTP. According to him, grievances exploited by foreign intelligence agencies and backstabbed by the US were the main reasons for the rise and terror reign of TTP in tribal areas. He advised that Diplomatic channels need to be activated with the Taliban’s to bring eternal peace in the Region.
4. In his final chapter, the author tries to provide his own rationale and logic about the events and his insight on measures that should have been taken. His reflections ranges from USSR expulsion, the Afghan war, Taliban rise, Political struggle in Pakistan, missed opportunity in Kashmir during the 90s, GWOT, Kargil, Mil Putsches, conspiracy theories, the rise of TTP, Kinetic and WHAM measures, and the list goes on.
5. Overall a good read, which provides insight into Pakistan’s Power Game from a Top Brass, successfully identifying Pakistan’s sensitivities and priorities which it will not forgo, what so ever is the cost.
January 14, 2021
The candour with which Mr. Durrani has written this book is ironic in light of his role as a hawk. This book provides a ring-side view into the equation between the troika in Pakistan. With the complexities detailed, one wouldn't be surprised with cyclic shift between democratic and military rulers in the riding seat. Beyond the internal affairs, his accounts and views on the US, Saudi Arabia, India, Iran and most importantly the Afghan quagmire in which the different factions operate. As someone with a self-proclaimed obsession with perceptions, certain aspects of the book appear such, where reality doesn't see the narrative eye-to-eye.
October 5, 2019
A book written by a Lt General of the Pakistan army who was also the head of the ISI. I must compliment the author on writing a factual book about Pakistan and it's internal problems--a rarity otherwise.
There is no India bashing. In fact in a matured manner various incidents and the relationship between the two countries are analysed.
It's informative to read about USA, China and Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan is dealt with in great details.
It was a pleasure to read this book written by an experienced professional.
There is no India bashing. In fact in a matured manner various incidents and the relationship between the two countries are analysed.
It's informative to read about USA, China and Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan is dealt with in great details.
It was a pleasure to read this book written by an experienced professional.
December 27, 2020
A good read to understand how Pakistan navigated through troubled water of Afghanistan
Durrani has articulated well the perfect imbalance that exists between the political setup and Army, who feels he is the savior of Pakistan.
Durrani has articulated well the perfect imbalance that exists between the political setup and Army, who feels he is the savior of Pakistan.
November 11, 2018
Informative though. Whatever you had been seeing on face of it had so much in background, keeps you involved in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2019
A task to read
March 5, 2019
Pakistani perspective on events
As an Indian I rarely read books by Pakistanis so this was a change from the regular diet. Some new perspective on Baluchistan etc
As an Indian I rarely read books by Pakistanis so this was a change from the regular diet. Some new perspective on Baluchistan etc
June 15, 2020
Lt Gen Asad Durrani - an author, diplomat, soldier and an ex-DG ISI - provided an insight into the political intrigues of Pakistan and the region.
April 16, 2021
Adrift to nowhere
Like his county writer is also adrift with his thoughts. A failed state of affairs all round. Meaningless existence of no consequence
Like his county writer is also adrift with his thoughts. A failed state of affairs all round. Meaningless existence of no consequence
September 21, 2021
A good and entertaining insight from a sesoned general, on the 4 A of Pakistan Allah, Army, America and Awaam(people) how these plays out in Pakistan internal and foreign policies
January 24, 2019
The book has earned hardly my tree stars, the third star reluctantly. Most part of the book appears autobiography, but good to read knowing how the general, even after retirement, regards deeply his former institution strongly and whose loyalty sticks to it despite serving twice in a civilian institution as diplomat. The book reveals inside mind of a general how he sees political and civil institutions. It shows the writer's worldview and approach towards various events. What makes a reader ennui is superficial analysis on several occasions and referring without a single reference which seems the writer used to note diary everywhere by making note-taking wherever he moved in his professional and social life. Because, he has penned every meticulous details of his sittings whom he met decades ago written with such afresh mind as such happenings have taken place yesterday or a few days back.
Good to read, however, I do not recommend it for general readers.
Good to read, however, I do not recommend it for general readers.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews