Saman Hamid
The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace. It is the book that is a dream come true for the ordinary citizens, exploring the exciting world of intelligence that the James Bond series has sensationalized, or is it really? Let us not forget that this comes at a time when Pakistan is exposed to one of the worst propaganda attempts. Starting from Hussain Haqqanis’ attempts to find a career outside Pakistan capitalizing on his time served in a Pakistani office to former PM Nawaz Sharif’s interview to a renowned newspaper talking about the Mumbai attacks again compromising gravely on Pakistan’s stance. Cherry on top is of course this book. Former ISI Chief, Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani and AS Daulat have co-authored the book, with renowned Indian journalist Aditya Sinha.
The book carries information about various events; Kashmir, Hafiz Saeed, 26/11, Kulbhushan Jhadav, surgical strikes, Osama bin Laden. The US, Russia ties with respect to the Indo-Pak relationship above all how terrorism hampers the relationship between both countries. The views of both Chiefs on all these issues is what makes the book so attractive to the audience always hungry for the truth trusts these accounts based on the authenticity of the prominent positons of both authors. As far as Osama bin Laden is concerned, Durrani asserts that Pakistan assessed the situation and handed over Laden as part of some deal, Daulat agrees. Kulbushan Jhadav evokes somewhat opposing views where Duakta tries to question such a sloppy operation, Durrani brings forth an answer to the Pathankot controversy. The Foreign Office vehemently denied, Lt. Gen. Durrani’s assumption that Jhadav will eventually be handed back to India.
Many especially in India do not understand the reason why Lt. Gen. Durrani is on the Exit Control List. All he did was to exercise is fundamental right i.e. freedom of expression. The answer is very simple the military code of conduct bars any serving or retired military official against making any remarks compromising on Pakistan’s security. It is high time we make an example out of people compromising on National security. Nowhere in the world do people publish material against their country in such a manner. Even if Lt. Gen had the idea, no publishing house should have been able to publish the material. People will come out and cite whistle blowing practices abroad. There are Oswald’s reports, the Chilcot reports. The timing is the main factor, all the so –called facts and realities that surface anywhere in the world there is a significant time lapse in these “revelations”. The book in question discusses issues that will act as fodder for all those trying to make Pakistan a case like Iran. Especially for the Indians find the entire scenario working in their favor as they are at the moment trying their level best to paint Pakistan as sponsors of all things wrong with them.
The best option would be to try to come up with the perfect answer to the book. We must have answers to the “assertions” and “assumptions” of the two former Chiefs basking in the spotlight at the moment. As hard as it may sound, as Pakistanis we should treat the book as forbidden fruit and try not to buy it, as at the end of the day it is pure commerce that is a driving force in all attention seeking behaviors. As far as the media is concerned it is high time that the two Generals are left alone and the spotlight is shifted elsewhere. It is high time that post Hussain Haqqani’s so called expose’s and Cyril Almaida’s informed epiphanies about this country come to a standstill. We need to have a strong gate keeping policy for out media and anyone who remotely loves his/her country will agree wth this notion that no one should be allowed to get a loud speaker and spay whatever they feel like about Pakistan whenever they are feeling low. The name in the ECL and the fact that no visa to Gen Durrani was issued sgould give him some idea about the “bold step” he has taken.
