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Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Relations Including Details of the Kashmir Framework By Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri Oxford University Press, 2015 Pages: 851, Price PKR 2450
The author is a former foreign Minister and an eminent Pakistani politician with a rich socio-cultural background. His ancestors have played a significant role in the freedom struggle in British India; and his family, especially Mrs. Nasreen Kasuri, has made a remarkable contribution for the promotion of education, generating employment for millions and making a great deal of efforts for women empowerment in Pakistan. The Kasuri family has also played a prominent role for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. It is not surprising that in a background chapter of his book, the author rightfully mentions that Lord Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy in India, 'was more interested in cutting and running away from India than saving precious Indian lives at the time of Partition.' And that under Mountbatten's influence, the Partition Plan and the Radcliffe Award were changed at the eleventh hour.
This book is a very valuable contribution towards the existing knowledge on Pakistan's foreign relations because the author has provided a wealth of information for policy-makers, teachers, students, researchers as well as for the ordinary readers. The major portion of this voluminous book is based on the firsthand knowledge on the subjects of discussion. Khurshid Kasuri has recorded history with an unbiased mind; he has been extremely generous in giving credit to every deserving player, even to his political adversaries. The author has meticulously followed the principles and practices for presenting an authentic research work. After using the original and primary sources, the author has acknowledged and quoted the very best and celebrated printed books and sources. As foreign minister of Pakistan, Mr. Kasuri had been personally engaged in very many high-level negotiations for five years, 2002-07. It was during his tenure as foreign minister that Pakistan was able to make a great deal of improvement in its relations not only with its neighbors but also with the major World Powers and the Muslim World.
Some startling revelations, the reader finds in the book are: that due to the marathon negotiations on the Kashmir Dispute, at one point both Pakistan...