Q: What books are you currently reading?

A: Currently, I am reading two books: Andrew Small’s ‘The China-Pakistan Axis’ and Nelson Mandela’s ‘Conversations with Myself’, which is the private story of a great public figure.

Andrew Small seeks to explain what he believes is emerging Asian geopolitics as driven by the China-Pakistan friendship. Andrew also talks about some of the most sensitive aspects of the Pak-China relationship, such as China’s dealings with Taliban, support for our nuclear programme and military preparedness for crises in Pakistan.

Q: Which highly acclaimed book or classic were you unable to finish?

A: Some time ago, I started reading Henry Kissinger’s over 1,500-page ‘White House Years’ but could not complete it.

Q: What is your all time favourite – the book you return to again and again?

A: There are quite a few books that one likes to read over and over again, or at least some parts of it. I have been tempted to re-read chapters from a classic, ‘Civilization: Its Cause and Cure’ by Edward Carpenter; first published towards the end of the 19th century and its final available edition published in 1921. It is a compendium of high quality essays. Two of the essays, namely ‘Defence of Criminals: A Criticism of Morality’ and ‘Modern Science: A Criticism’ make for great reading that open up new vistas of thought.

I have also been tempted to re-read chapters from Dr Khalifa Abdul Hakim’s ‘Fikre Iqbal’ and masnavi of Maulana Rum. The more one re-reads the more one finds new horizons unfolding.

Q: What is the one book you would recommend to all the leaders of Pakistan’s political parties?

A: I would recommend the political party heads to read ‘Conversations with Myself’. This great biographical work enables one to spend time with the iconic Mandela. It is as if Mandela whispers directly, clearly and intimately into the ears of the reader instead of pontificating from the pedestal of a saint or an icon.

Reading it will help Pakistan’s political leaders understand and appreciate the value of tolerance, endurance and sacrifice in achieving anything worthwhile.

As noted by Barack Obama in his foreword to the book: “Even when faced with temptation to seek revenge, he saw the need for reconciliation, and the triumph of principle over mere power’. This is something that most of our political leaders need to learn most.

I should also like to recommend reading books on military in politics and military in business, such as ‘Military Inc’ by Ayesha Siddiqa and Aqil Shah’s ‘The Army and Democracy’ for a clearer understanding of the complex and seriously flawed civil-military relationship.

Q: What are you planning to read next?

A: I am planning to read, in the coming days and weeks, Madeleine Albright’s ‘Memo to the President Elect’. Madeleine Albright was an adviser to two American presidents and possesses unique insight into the issues of our time. Information gleaned from reviews of the book suggests that it contains a discussion on issues ranging from terrorism to the possibility of nuclear war to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, among others.

Interview conducted on email by Adeel Raza

Published in Dawn September 21st, 2016