Frontline Pakistan: The Path to Catastrophe and the Killing of Benazir Bhutto

(Hardback)

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As Pakistan teeters on the brink of the abyss, Zahid Hussain draws on his unparallelled access and sources amongst the intelligence services, the jiahdi networks, and those surrounding President Musharraf to find out what's going on behind the scenes in this turbulent country, on whose fate the security of the whole world hangs. Does the country's fearsome intelligence agency, the ISI know where Bin Laden is Are they helping the Taliban Why didn't Musharraf stamp out radicalism as he promised Did he mean it, when he pledged his support to America Does he have the strength to hang on to power What is his real relationship with Benazir Bhutto Hussain takes us on a journey from the mountain passes of Waziristan to the officers mess tables in Rawalpindi to the sectarian madrassas of the Punjab to paint an unforgettable portrait of a country in crisis.

Reviews

"The first serious exposure of the rise and continuation of Islamic extremism in Pakistan...Hussain shows the links between the major jihadi groups of Pakistan, Al Qaeda and the ISI with a degree of detail not seen in any Western writing on the subject" Ahmed Rashid, author of 'Taliban' "authoritative and comprehensive" Sir Hilary Synnott, International Institute for Strategic Studies "A timely warning about the dangers of taking a wavering approach to terrorism". Bronwen Maddox, Foreign Affairs Editor, The Times. THE BOOKSELLER, 6 October 2006 ''Frontline Pakistan' reveals the gap between what Musharraf has promised and what has actually happened.' SUNDAY TIMES 'Hussain offers some chilling details...a largely upbeat narrative' Amir Tahiri DAWN GROUP '...through investigation, thoughtful interviews with key players, and numerous field trips to the conflict zone.' IRISH TIMES '..analyses how Pakistan went to war with itself' TIMES 'It is well researched, well written, impeccably sourced and balanced, accurate, reliable, and above all, amazingly clear and comprehensible.' 'Unlike many commentators on militant Islam, Hussain writes with nuance and understanding of the differences between the various forms of militancy and the crucial distinctions between the madrassa-educated peasant foot soldiers of the Taleban and the sophisticated international terrorists of al-Qaeda, many the bourgeois products of Western universities.' - William Dalrymple BUSINESS STANDARD 26.02.07 'Wide-ranging vision, riveting analysis...Frontline Pakistan provides an interesting and unusual perspective on Pakistan's complex relationship with Afghanistan.' 'Zahid Hussain's analysis provides a sane and balanced backdrop for a fascinating tale... a must read.' - Ajai ShulkaBUSINESS WORLDHussain goes over issues with a fine tooth comb, unearthing in the process facts that are sometimes startling. That is the importance of this book: scrupulous objectivity.Jawed NaqviJOURNAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH LAWYERS' ASSOCIATIONHussain's analysis is insightful and painstakingly researched."An important and informed inside look" Seymour Hersh" well researched, well written, impeccably sourced and balanced, accurate, reliable, and above all, amazingly clear and comprehensible" William Dalrymple, The Times

Author Bio

Zahid Hussain is the Pakistan correspondent for The Times of London, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek