This is an in-depth study of the Pakistan Army. The scope of this book is wide because field marshals and generals ruled the country for many years. The author describes Pakistan?s violent internal politics and erratic international relations in the context of military involvement, with the deep knowledge gained through long association with the country and its armed forces.

Pakistan?s three wars with India are covered vividly, using unpublished sources and facts, and opinions from Indian as well as Pakistani accounts. The dramatic story of the country?s resurrection under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, after the disastrous war with India over Bangladesh, is told in an eminently readable way. The book also highlights the years of dictatorship that followed.

The later history of the army, while Pakistan was grappling with unaccustomed democracy and verging on anarchy, is told using close personal knowledge of many of the senior players. The author?s description of the present-day structure and control of the army - one of the world?s largest - in the subcontinent?s new nuclear age, is timely and compelling.

This new edition of the book contains a chapter which describes the dramatic resignation of the Army Chief in 1998 (giving his hitherto unpublished personal reasons), and the intrusion into Indian-administered territory in Kashmir by Pakistan-backed militants in 1999, using information provided by senior foreign officials as well as highly placed Indian and Pakistani sources.