In Pakistan: Journeys in the Land Beyond the Headlines

Despite warnings of incipient danger, the author and his reluctant wife journeyed to Pakistan to see what had happened to the country that had fascinated him since first reading Kipling in grammar school and that he had come to love through many visits. They were warmly welcomed by old friends and introduced to others who told them of Pakistan's ancient, often exotic, and almost forgotten history and gave them a glimpse into the tensions now racking this important and little understood American ally. The son of one of the founders told them what his father and others hoped Pakistan would be. They visited a school for the daughters of Afghan refugee set up by a Swiss-born American Quaker, delved into the mystery of the world's oldest and largest urban civilization, traveled on the remarkable and landslide-prone Karakoram Highway into three of the world's highest mountain ranges, and recalled ancient traditions from no-holds-bared polo to shamanic dances. "In Pakistan is a great and compelling book," comments Ron Nessen, press secretary to President Gerald R. Ford. "Rich in detail, it weaves together the author's own experiences with history, politics, and interesting people to create a serious report told in a personal way." John O. Marsh, the longest serving Secretary oif the Army in American history, notes that "In Pakistan is a grass roots summary of a visit to old friends in a society that is rapidly changing and finds itself as a background in the war on terrorism. The author is an accomplished writer with experience at the senior level of the U.S. Government and he leaves to the readers to shape their own opinion on the future of this key country." A former U.S. intelligence officer with long experience in Pakistan and India says, "We certainly need a book on Pakistan that seeks to explain some of its complexity. In Pakistan certainly does this in a very charming and readable way."