From Within The Deep State

Traditionally, writers believe there is no such thing as fiction—a first novel generally tends to be autobiographical. Be that as it may, Asad Durrani, Pakistan’s foremost military intellectual, has produced a work of true grit, comparable with a spy thriller.

- A.S. Dulat

HONOUR AMONG SPIES

By Asad Durrani

The story emanates from Durrani’s earlier ‘dhamaka’, The Spy Chronicles, (referenced in his new novel as ‘the Spy book’) which created more than a stir in the subcontinent, landing him in a soup at home, ostensibly for co-authoring a book with yours truly, an adversary from a hostile country. Given the treacherous nature of the Pakistani establishment and friends who could be more unreliable than enemies, silence was never an option for a general who believed that the pen was mightier than the sword. The narrative had to be out, sooner rather than later. Combativeness had been part of his training: Never let the b*****ds grind you down.

Predictably, much of the book deals with the author’s (or his alter-ego Osama Barakzai’s) trials and tribulations, but between the lines of his sometimes “delirious” (his word) ramblings, there are notable nuggets pertaining to contemporary Pakistan. In his memoir, Pakistan Adrift published almost simultaneously with The Spy Chronicles (2018), Durrani had warned of the rot and corruption in the military. As he says, “political power never did any good to the service; one knows that the fish was rotting from the head.” Those who have tasted power inevitably suffer from hubris. A man can only manage so much; after that Allah takes over.

Born on what he perceives to be an auspicious day, Durrani believes in his preordained destiny—this is not uncommon in the sub-continent. Always known to be a gambler playing for high stakes, Durrani ruffled too many feathers while in service, leading former colleagues to settle old scores. Mercifully, he learnt to judge people better.