Authored by Brigadier (retd) Naseem Akhtar Khan, the book "Caught in the Crossfire - The Inside Story of Pakistan's Secret Services" is being internationally released on 31st July 2024.
Published through a renowned International Publisher Pen and Sword, UK, the book represents an insight into Pakistan’s national security hypothesis from the perspective of an insider who has been part of its first line of defence, as an intelligence operative during past few eventful decades in the country’s history.
The author believes that all the international strategic maneuverings in the region mostly rely on information that is entirely fabricated and portrayed by Pakistan’s adversaries to harm its interests. In his opinion, knowing a realistic picture of Pakistan and the Pakistan army in its true perspective is important not only for people inside the country but also for the international community so that they may pursue their relationships and cooperation in the region based on ground realities. He thought of writing this book to share his personal experiences in the field of security and counterintelligence operations during the last four decades, providing virtuous material for analysts to ponder history through an authentic premise and predict futuristic security scenarios based on a realistic perspective.
The story of the power play in South Asia by the regional and international power brokers will be a fruitful read for the strategists to contemplate their future journey through the changing world order more realistically.
To present his arguments with facts and figures in a cohesive manner, the author has presented the narrative in shape of his lifelong experiences suitably interrelated, taking full measures of the individuals, institutions and the organizations that made a strong impression on his life. During the process, an effort has been made to take the readers along the same curve he followed so that they can clearly grasp the dynamics that drive the life of a Pakistani soldier. The book concludes with some thought-provoking arguments for the people to contemplate.
The author Brigadier Naseem's association with the Pakistan Army and its premier intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), spreads over four decades (1969-2010). Besides full-time regimental soldiering in an elite Self-Propelled Artillery regiment of the Pakistan Army, he served with the ISI for more than two decades. His career in the army and intelligence grew side by side all through these years, giving him ample opportunities to experience the best in both the fields during peace as well as in combat operations.