A history of the country's international relations from 1947-2005, Pakistan's Foreign Policy is a narrative of events and a recapitulation of fateful turning points. Aiming to provide objective background to policy decisions, the book also presents assessment of their costs and benefits. By no means an attempt to flaunt a 20-20 hindsight, its principal purpose is to provide insights into constraints and considerations that motivated policies, as perceived at the time and articulated by the decision makers on and off the record.
The author, with forty years of experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brings to the book knowledge gained from available records and by osmosis from senior colleagues and then as an analyst, contributor and participant in policy decisions. As Foreign Minister he was associated with the reappraisal following 9/11, as Foreign Secretary with the decision to conclude the Geneva Accords in 1988 that provided a fig leaf to the Soviet Union for honorable withdrawal from Afghanistan, and as member of the negotiating group at the Shimla Conference of 1972. Both as a senior official and a two-term Ambassador in New Delhi he participated in efforts for normalization of relations with India.
Best ever book written on Pakistan's foreign policy. It covers almost each and every major foreign policy decisions made by Pakistani authorities and diplomats along with discussing their consequences and what other options Pakistan may persue. One of the important point he present is that Soviet invasion has maintained Pakistan nuclear program otherwise it would become difficult for Pakistan. He presented all the events very subjectively and as far as I concerned, I noticed that he has remained more unbiased than normal in favour of higher authorities and their decisions and has criticized and evaluated little than it should be. In retrospect, Pakistan has always been expecting loyality from its counterpart in making relationship with them but in this age of globalisation there is nothing like morality and loyality in subject of foreign policy. Pakistan should make realistic strategic decisions not on the basis of idealism or expecting from its counterpart to act like the same way she is expecting from them. This drawback has always remained in Pakistan's diplomatic decision. In coming days, Pakistan should seek its own interests tactically observing the international norms.
This is one of the best books I've read so far this year about politics and history, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in politics, Css aspirants and all the students of international relations and political science. Great book, indeed. You should definitely pick this up without hesitation.
one of the beat book ever to be written on Pakistan's foreign policy. You can be an international relation expert just by reading this book. The book gives the positive acpect of our foreignism policy in relation to Indian hostility.