The Spy Chronicles - Book Review by Dr Naeem Mushtaq

[S.R.H. Hashmi]

I have met the gentleman in question. Intellectual level, no doubt high and he is articulate and his demeanor is unlike that of a typical general. But being a spy master he should have been careful. What he said or did not say, his engagement with the Indians in the end became an embarrassment to say the least for GoP. One expected more from a person of his caliber and position.

As far as his eagerness to come into the limelight... I stick to my claim

If his (Pakistani spy chief's) mere engagement with the Indians became an embarrassment for GoP, I would think that there is something wrong with our approach.

After all, keeping a hostile posture, and even fighting quite a few wars, did not help us much. Perhaps it is time to try the peace initiative.

Just like us, the European countries also fought quite a few ferocious wars with each other in the not-too-distant past, but are now the best of friends with each other, which benefits them all. And there is no reason why we can't do that.

So any move towards peace should be welcome, and engagement is of course the first step towards that.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Hi,

The events for the creation of Pakistan had occurred long before Pakistan came into being---.

The basic fundamental idea was for a place where muslims of the sub continent be free of persecution and have opportunity to have a better life and prosper---.

The idea for " islam " as a banner was not the primary goal---the primary goal as I stated was a place for the miserable subjugated masses who called themselves muslims to have an equal opportunity to get at the good things in life---like freedom---education---employment---to be masters of own destiny.

But if you want to believe in what you do---it is upto you---.

hi,

stick to the topic

 

[Tps43]

How should I sum it up? Outrageous and promising too

 

[Aamir Hussain]

If his (Pakistani spy chief's) mere engagement with the Indians became an embarrassment for GoP, I would think that there is something wrong with our approach.

After all, keeping a hostile posture, and even fighting quite a few wars, did not help us much. Perhaps it is time to try the peace initiative.

Just like us, the European countries also fought quite a few ferocious wars with each other in the not-too-distant past, but are now the best of friends with each other, which benefits them all. And there is no reason why we can't do that.

So any move towards peace should be welcome, and engagement is of course the first step towards that.

Sir engagement is and never should be an issue. And I am certainly not eluding to this in my post. However, being the head of an intelligence agency....care should have been taken when discussing the role of ISI and GoP in the relationship viz a viz our erstwhile neighbor. I wonder copies of what was said by the Indians during this "Dialogue' are with General Sahib??? If so it would be an interesting reading of what the participants from India said about their Governments role in their management of Pakistani problem!

IMHO what was said during such dialogues/confidence building should not be divulged in open. Notes from such talks should have been confidential and remained so. General Sahib trusted the other side, may be, too much. This is where I hold him responsible. He should have known better with his background, intellect, and experience to not to surmise for example about the OBL incident like a street wisdom of a rickshaw driver!

My 2C worth.

 

[Zhukov]

Anyone having the soft copy or the link of this book. Please share.

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/the-spy-chronicles-raw-isi-and-the-illus-a-s-dulat.560742/

 

[MZ-PDF]

Very nice.

 

[MastanKhan]

hi,

stick to the topic

Hi,

Why---because it just shook your fundamental ideology of what you believed in.

Propagation of islam was the farthest thing in the minds of the fore fathers for the creation of a seperate state---survival---welfare---education---better jobs---security and economy was the real reason---.

If you have a problem---which you often do---why don't you post something on the subject matter / topic---.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Hi,

The events for the creation of Pakistan had occurred long before Pakistan came into being---.

The basic fundamental idea was for a place where muslims of the sub continent be free of persecution and have opportunity to have a better life and prosper---.

The idea for " islam " as a banner was not the primary goal---the primary goal as I stated was a place for the miserable subjugated masses who called themselves muslims to have an equal opportunity to get at the good things in life---like freedom---education---employment---to be masters of own destiny.

But if you want to believe in what you do---it is upto you---.

There was a method in which he wanted this to occur. This type of stuff doesn't happen out of thin air without any guidance. Read and listen to the Quaids final speech at the inauguration of the state bank. You are correct he wanted this to occur but in a system that is tailored for Pakistan. Pakistan won't go anywhere copying the British system of governance. British people and Pakistanis have different values. People like to believe Pakistan was less corrupt and more open minded back then but in reality nothing has changed since 1947.

 

[MastanKhan]

There was a method in which he wanted this to occur. This type of stuff doesn't happen out of thin air without any guidance. Read and listen to the Quaids final speech at the inauguration of the state bank. You are correct he wanted this to occur but in a system that is tailored for Pakistan. Pakistan won't go anywhere copying the British system of governance. British people and Pakistanis have different values.

Hi,

The final speech of Jinnah had nothing to do with the creation of pakistan---.

Just like shalwar kameez a national dress---had nothing to do with Islam / pakistan / ---but then a supposed politician came forward with this idea---that now you are getting a nation---let us have a national dress as well---

The creation movement of pakistan started with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan---and for decades the ideology stayed the same---. Till in the last years---religionists started to look into the futuristic opportunities and thus stuck their foot into the door---.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Hi,

The final speech of Jinnah had nothing to do with the creation of pakistan---.

Just like shalwar kameez a national dress---had nothing to do with Islam / pakistan / ---but then a supposed politician came forward with this idea---that now you are getting a nation---let us have a national dress as well---

The creation movement of pakistan started with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan---and for decades the ideology stayed the same---. Till in the last years---religionists started to look into the futuristic opportunities and thus stuck their foot into the door---.

I never said creation but how Pakistan and Pakistanis should govern themselves and how it's future should look like. Those are two different things everyone mixes up. Syed Ahmed Khan was not so in touch with the realities of the Muslims in the subcontinent. It doesn't matter what he wanted what matters is what the people want. Quaid e Azam was more in touch with the common man especially towards the end of his life.

 

[MastanKhan]

I never said creation but how Pakistan and Pakistanis should govern themselves and how it's future should look like. Those are two different things everyone mixes up. Syed Ahmed Khan was not so in touch with the realities of the Muslims in the subcontinent. It doesn't matter what he wanted what matters is what the people want. Quaid e Azam was more in touch with the common man especially towards the end of his life.

Hi,

Young man---wants and needs of the people have no consequence over what they get---.

It is always the few at the top who make decisions for the majority---the masses are like a herd of sheep directed to the direction of those in lead---.

If it was not for Sir Syed Ahmed Khan---the awakening would not have arrived as it did---.

As for Jinnah's being more in touch with the common man---that was in his last days---by that time everything else was done and dusted.

The last days of his " PERSONALITY " did not get him the victory that he got---it was due to his personality of his earlier days that the muslims of the sub continent got Pakistan---.

• There comes a time in the age of a person---that he cannot fight with the incompetent and those with lesser mental capabilities---and that is what happened with Jinnah---.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Hi,

Young man---wants and needs of the people have no consequence over what they get---.

It is always the few at the top who make decisions for the majority---the masses are like a herd of sheep directed to the direction of those in lead---.

If it was not for Sir Syed Ahmed Khan---the awakening would not have arrived as it did---.

As for Jinnah's being more in touch with the common man---that was in his last days---by that time everything else was done and dusted.

The last days of his " PERSONALITY " did not get him the victory that he got---it was due to his personality of his earlier days that the muslims of the sub continent got Pakistan---.

• There comes a time in the age of a person---that he cannot fight with the incompetent and those with lesser mental capabilities---and that is what happened with Jinnah---.

"It is always the few at the top who make decisions for the majority." and how has that worked out for Pakistan? It can work but it is risky, like if the top few are corrupt. Jinnah was an Indian nationalist in his earlier days. It wasn't until he started to voice the sentiments of the (so called incompetent) people he became very popular.

IMO he wanted Pakistan to be unique in which Islam takes center stage in governance, economy etc. (not run by mullahs) at the same time be able to flourish socially and economically.

 

[MastanKhan]

"It is always the few at the top who make decisions for the majority." and how has that worked out for Pakistan? It can work but it is risky, like if the top few are corrupt. Jinnah was an Indian nationalist in his earlier days. It wasn't until he started to voice the sentiments of the (so called incompetent) people he became very popular.

IMO he wanted Pakistan to be unique in which Islam takes center stage in governance, economy etc. (not run by mullahs) at the same time be able to flourish socially and economically.

Hi,

young man---you can hold onto starws for as long as you want---.

 

[Safriz]

General Asad Durrani was ISI chief from 1990 to 1992 and retired in 1993. After that he went into diplomatic service and served as Pakistani ambassador in Germany and Saudia.
In his book "Spy Chronicles" he is discussing matters and incidents which happened years after his retirement from Military. Such as Kargil war and OBL.
After retirement, military generals are not provided with sensitive information and General Durrani has written whatever he wrote, based on past experience, speculation and some secondhand information from military circles.
He did not discuss anything in the book, which happened during his military or ISI service.
There is a chance that he remained serving as ISI analyst or policy maker after retirement and in that capacity kept in touch with ISI operatives. Because there are plenty of civilians and retired military personnel who serve in ISI.
He mentions a certain unnamed retired Pakistan army colonel who assisted the Americans in finding OBL while the colonel was an ISI operative. According to the book the Americans rewarded the ISI operative retired colonel with money and immigration to USA.
Although general Durrani didn't mention a date or time frame of the incident but a very similar incident did happen in 1999.
A retired Pakistan army colonel was an ISI operative, did go missing with family and later found in USA living a lavish life.
That particular incident was different from how general Durrani described it. The person in question found OBL In 1999 and upon informing the Americans, he was paid to keep shut about the matter and also given immigration to America so that the information doesn't get leaked.
It took Americans another 12 years to come after OBL when in 2011 president Obama wanted a boost for his election campaign and OBL / Abbottabad incident happened. Obama mentioned that in pretty much every election rally or debate and went to win the elections. With OBL / Abbottabad incident Obama reelection chances were slim.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

General Asad Durrani was ISI chief from 1990 to 1992 and retired in 1993. After that he went into diplomatic service and served as Pakistani ambassador in Germany and Saudia.
In his book "Spy Chronicles" he is discussing matters and incidents which happened years after his retirement from Military. Such as Kargil war and OBL.
After retirement, military generals are not provided with sensitive information and General Durrani has written whatever he wrote, based on past experience, speculation and some secondhand information from military circles.
He did not discuss anything in the book, which happened during his military or ISI service.
There is a chance that he remained serving as ISI analyst or policy maker after retirement and in that capacity kept in touch with ISI operatives. Because there are plenty of civilians and retired military personnel who serve in ISI.
He mentions a certain unnamed retired Pakistan army colonel who assisted the Americans in finding OBL while the colonel was an ISI operative. According to the book the Americans rewarded the ISI operative retired colonel with money and immigration to USA.
Although general Durrani didn't mention a date or time frame of the incident but a very similar incident did happen in 1999.
A retired Pakistan army colonel was an ISI operative, did go missing with family and later found in USA living a lavish life.
That particular incident was different from how general Durrani described it. The person in question found OBL In 1999 and upon informing the Americans, he was paid to keep shut about the matter and also given immigration to America so that the information doesn't get leaked.
It took Americans another 12 years to come after OBL when in 2011 president Obama wanted a boost for his election campaign and OBL / Abbottabad incident happened. Obama mentioned that in pretty much every election rally or debate and went to win the elections. With OBL / Abbottabad incident Obama reelection chances were slim.

Col Iqbal told them in 2001, 50 million for that and American citizenship. He is said to have a retarded son for whom he used to remain very worried....Probably for his medical care in America he did this.