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In the Line of Fire (book)
Encyclopedia
In the Line of Fire: A Memoir is a book that was written by former President
of Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf
and first published on September 25, 2006
. The book contains a collection of Musharraf's memories and is being marketed as his official autobiography
.
. The memoir also includes some very important international events which had direct connection with Musharraf and his policies.
, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
and 1999 Kargil Conflict. According to Musharraf, India started all the wars and crossed the Line of Control
on each conflict, of which, according to him, United Nations
had forbidden.
and reveals his view point on Sharif's plane hijacking. He criticizes Nawaz for setting him aside as military commander and believes Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif
had been under the immense influence of his father, Mian Mohammad Sharif, who influenced prime minister
Sharif to stage the coup against him.
but to back the U.S.-led war on terror. Pervez Musharraf agreed to back the U.S. led war against terror
, fearing the threats made by that time U.S. Secretary of State
Colin Powell
on a phone call to him. He said "You are either with us or against us". The next day, he says, Powell's then deputy, Richard Armitage
, telephoned the chief of Pakistan's top spy agency, and threatened to bomb Pakistan back to the stone age.
On the pressure aforementioned, Musharraf accepted all the seven points, set before him as demands, by Colin Powell
. This readiness amazed Washington
and has been criticized since in Pakistan.
Currently the book is published in four editions: Pak (English & Urdu), US, and UK. All feature the picture of Pervez Musharraf at the centre of the green and white background. The Urdu edition hit the market 3 weeks after the initial publication in English.
In the US edition the president appears in a salutary posture with his right hand fingers touching the forehead. In the UK edition, the author seems in a thinking posture with his left hand fingers kept on his chin. In comparison with the US edition, the UK edition spots a crescent on the silky green background of the book.
publisher published the Hindi
version of his book titled as Agnipath (The Path of Fire).
The Hindi edition, getting translated and printed in India, came out in early October 2006. The Hindi version was sold in India for Rs 395, about one third of the English version's cost.
version of book titled as In the Line of Fire.
translation of his book, titled உடல் மண்ணுக்கு (Udal Mannukku) (ISBN 81-8368-252-9), under its கிழக்கு பதிப்பகம (Kizhakku Pathippagam) imprint.
The Tamil edition's title was taken from the popular Tamil quote “Udal Mannukku, Uyir Thamizhukku!" (My body to the soil, my life to Tamil!) . Nagore
Rumi translated the book into Tamil. B. S. Raghavan, a former Ministry of Home Affairs
bureaucrat of the Government of India
, released the book in Chennai during the 30th Chennai Book Fair
January 10, 2007.
The Tamil version is priced at Rs. 250, about a quarter of the price of the English edition, which is sold in India for Rs. 950.
These allsents are error ed if u did something i don't thinks so there is necessity to explanation.
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
and first published on September 25, 2006
2006 in literature
The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
. The book contains a collection of Musharraf's memories and is being marketed as his official autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
.
Synopsis
The book consists topics regarding Musharraf's personal life to the international and national issues and his rise to power. He writes about his childhood and education and a life he spent in TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The memoir also includes some very important international events which had direct connection with Musharraf and his policies.
Views on war against India
Musharraf writes in his memoir about the wars that took place between the two rival countries after independence, namely Indo-Pakistani War of 1965Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
and 1999 Kargil Conflict. According to Musharraf, India started all the wars and crossed the Line of Control
Line of Control
The term Line of Control refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which, to this day, does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary but is the de facto border...
on each conflict, of which, according to him, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
had forbidden.
About Nawaz Sharif
The book includes a chapter on Musharraf coup against Nawaz SharifNawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
and reveals his view point on Sharif's plane hijacking. He criticizes Nawaz for setting him aside as military commander and believes Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif
Shahbaz Sharif
Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is a well-known conservative Pakistani politician and currently President of Pakistan Muslim League . He is the brother of Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is the chief minister of Pakistan's most populous province Punjab since 2008...
had been under the immense influence of his father, Mian Mohammad Sharif, who influenced prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Sharif to stage the coup against him.
On September 11
Musharraf, in his memoir, says, he had little choice after the September 11 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
but to back the U.S.-led war on terror. Pervez Musharraf agreed to back the U.S. led war against terror
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, fearing the threats made by that time U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
on a phone call to him. He said "You are either with us or against us". The next day, he says, Powell's then deputy, Richard Armitage
Richard Armitage (politician)
Richard Lee Armitage, GCMG AC CNZM was the 13th United States Deputy Secretary of State, the second-in-command at the State Department, serving from 2001 to 2005.-Early life and military career:...
, telephoned the chief of Pakistan's top spy agency, and threatened to bomb Pakistan back to the stone age.
On the pressure aforementioned, Musharraf accepted all the seven points, set before him as demands, by Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
. This readiness amazed Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and has been criticized since in Pakistan.
Editions
In the US edition the president appears in a salutary posture with his right hand fingers touching the forehead. In the UK edition, the author seems in a thinking posture with his left hand fingers kept on his chin. In comparison with the US edition, the UK edition spots a crescent on the silky green background of the book.
In India
All the 8000 copies of the English version were sold out in India during the initial stage of the launch. The Indian distributor had ordered another 4000 copies to meet the demand, according to the news reports. Copies sold in India outnumbered the copies sold in Pakistan citing the curiosity in analyzing his viewpoints. A lot of views from India were that the curiosity of Indian readers has only added to the sales and popularity of the book which contains nothing but a fabricated story depicting himself as a hero and justification of his actions.Hindi edition
A New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
publisher published the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
version of his book titled as Agnipath (The Path of Fire).
The Hindi edition, getting translated and printed in India, came out in early October 2006. The Hindi version was sold in India for Rs 395, about one third of the English version's cost.
Bengali edition
The Bangla bazar publisher published the BengaliBengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
version of book titled as In the Line of Fire.
Tamil edition
New Horizon Media, an Indian language publishing house based in Chennai, India has published the TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
translation of his book, titled உடல் மண்ணுக்கு (Udal Mannukku) (ISBN 81-8368-252-9), under its கிழக்கு பதிப்பகம (Kizhakku Pathippagam) imprint.
The Tamil edition's title was taken from the popular Tamil quote “Udal Mannukku, Uyir Thamizhukku!" (My body to the soil, my life to Tamil!) . Nagore
Nagore
Nagore is a town in the Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located approximately 16 km south of Karaikal and 4 km north of Nagapattinam. Tiruvarur , Mayiladuthurai , Muthupet are nearby towns. It has a population of approximately 90,000. The prime attraction is the renowned...
Rumi translated the book into Tamil. B. S. Raghavan, a former Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs is a name for an interior ministry. It may refer to:*Ministry of Home Affairs *Ministry of Home Affairs...
bureaucrat of the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, released the book in Chennai during the 30th Chennai Book Fair
Chennai Book Fair
Chennai Book Fair or Madras Book Fair is an annual book fair organized in the Chennai, India by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India . The fair typically lasts for about 10 days during the New Year-Pongal season...
January 10, 2007.
The Tamil version is priced at Rs. 250, about a quarter of the price of the English edition, which is sold in India for Rs. 950.
Urdu edition
An Urdu edition named "Sab Se Pehle Pakistan" (Pakistan Comes First) of the book was also released. It however removes the controversial comments made in the English book including that the government was paid for the capture of Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.Criticism
This book and its launch generated a fair amount of criticism. As expected, it was subjected to harsh reviews in India.- Musharraf claimed that Daniel PearlDaniel PearlDaniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda.At the time of his kidnapping, Pearl served as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, and was based in Mumbai, India. He went to Pakistan as part of an investigation into the alleged links between...
's murderer was an MI6 (British Intelligence) agent; The PentagonThe PentagonThe Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
however released a statement that Al-Qaeda trained, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had confessed to the murder.
- Bhasin R.V. has authored "Musharraf's Skewed Line of Fire" in 2007. The book satirically outlines flaws and "untruths" by the General in his autobiography.
- Later during an interview to the CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Musharraf backtracked on some of the claims mentioned in the book. To a question quoting the passage from his book ("Those who habitually accuse us of not doing enough in the war on terror should simply ask the CIA how much prize money it has paid to the Government of Pakistan."), he answered, "You know, I don't know whether this is to the Government of Pakistan. I don't think I wrote `the Government of Pakistan'."
- By penning his memoirs while still in office, Musharraf is emulating another military dictator of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan, as a strategy to sell it while in limelight. Ayub Khan wrote Friends, Not Masters while still in office. The former prime minister of PakistanPrime Minister of PakistanThe Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Benazir BhuttoBenazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
has described the memoirs as a cheap attempt to gain popularity at the cost of Pakistan’s vital national interests.
- The book is believed to have been ghost writtenGhostwriterA ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
by Humayun Gauhar, the son of a Pakistani bureaucrat. Mistakes may have crept in because the editor in charge asked for rewrites to change the content and style.
- Ayaz AmirAyaz AmirAyaz Amir is a renowned Pakistani Journalist, and is a newly elected Member of National Assembly in Pakistan's Parliament.He is most famous for his columns in the newspaper Dawn. He is also known as a politician. His columns are critical of the Pakistan Army's role in politics throughout the...
, a reputed Pakistani journalist and known for his critical views on the military’s involvement in Pakistani politics, says the book is a sellout of the nation’s pride for the sake of the author’s personal gain. The book is seen as an embarrassment to the country rather offering any new facts. Many media reports in Pakistan and abroad have panned the book for its inaccuracies and the attempt to portray himself as a saviour at the cost of showing Pakistan in poor light.
- The daughter of controversial Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ KhanAbdul Qadeer KhanAbdul Qadeer Khan , also known in Pakistan as Mohsin-e-Pakistan , D.Eng, Sc.D, HI, NI , FPAS; more widely known as Dr. A. Q...
has criticised claims made by President Pervez Musharraf in his autobiography. Khan was put under house arrest after admitting passing nuclear secrets to Iran, North KoreaNorth KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and Libya. In the book, Musharraf said that Khan sent a letter to his daughter, Dina, asking her to "go public on Pakistan's nuclear secrets" through British journalists, a claim which she vehemently denied as ludicrous.
- The references of the Kargil conflict-related contents have irked many around the world, including Pakistanis. The English version of the book has left out the number of Pakistani casualties, while the Hindi version lists Pakistani casualties numbering 357. Its quoted that such remarks do little help in the ongoing dialogue between the two countries. Even Pakistani authors have panned the book for turning a defeat in Kargil into a victory. Pakistan opposition slammed the book as a "pack of lies" and a "national shame," while PML-NPakistan Muslim League (N)The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
stated that it was the most contradicted book of any dictator. Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif " and foreign minister Sartaj AzizSartaj AzizSartaj Aziz , PhD, is a world recognized Pakistani economist, peace and Pakistan Movement activist currently serving as a Senator from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province to Senate Secretariat...
have both blasted the book as a "plethora of lies. Daily Times of Pakistan notes that Kargil blunder would take many years to rectify.
- The version of the Kargil war was also lambasted by a fellow Pakistani ArmyPakistan ArmyThe Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
General Lt Gen Ali Kuli Khan Khattak. In a hard hitting interview, he said that, "It was a disaster bigger than the East PakistanEast PakistanEast Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
tragedy," and disputed many claims that Musharaff gave in his book. The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
has been scathing in its reviews on the book, especially on the Kargil episode stating that he has failed to mention how thousands of Pakistani fighters were "slaughtered in a humiliating retreat." It adds that contrary to his version that Kargil helped restore peace, Pakistan "was forced to the table by the drubbing it took there."
Errors
Some of the factual/typographical errors in the book surfaced so far are:- Islambad (instead of Islamabad)
- Year of Benazir Bhutto’s second dismissal: 1997 (actually November 1996) – p. 162
- Census in Pakistan: 1997 (actually 1998) – p. 169
- Briton’s withdrawal announcement from India April 1947 (actually June 1947) – p. 16
- Indian PM Manmohan SinghManmohan SinghManmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
as "Manmoham Singh" in the photo captions - Former Pakistan PM Shaukat AzizShaukat AzizShaukat Aziz is a world acclaimed Pakistani economist who was the 15th Prime Minister of Pakistan from May 20, 2004 to 15 November 2007 in a joint military government led by General Pervez Musharraf. A Citibank executive, Aziz returned to Pakistan from the United States to be became Finance...
as "Shuakat" (p179) and twice as "Shaukut" (cover jacket flap and p232)
In the news
- All eyes on Musharraf's book - An article on the book by Royden D'Souza, NDTVNDTVNDTV is an Indian commercial broadcasting television network founded in 1988. It was founded by Prannoy Roy, an eminent journalist and current chairman and director of NDTV Group. NDTV currently has more than 1,000 employees producing news from over twenty locations in India...
- Mush panned for book plug - News item about the book launch in Times of India by Chidanand RajghattaChidanand RajghattaChidanand Rajghatta is an Indian-born journalist based in Washington, D.C. He is the present foreign editor and the United States correspondent for the Times of India...
- Book makes waves in India - DawnDawnDawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
's report on the reactions to the book release in India. - 'Script for a PTV docudrama' - by Wilson John in 'The Pioneer', writes that Musharraf did not tell some important things in this book
- Pen that fires - An analysis on the background of the books by Mahendra Ved
- Musharraf: Throwing dust in his own eyes - by B. Raman of the South Asia Analysis Group.
- Bush, Osama will miserably lose polls in Pakistan- News report on Musharraf in the American comedy show called The Daily ShowThe Daily ShowThe Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
to promote his book. - In the line of embarrassment, an article by Ayaz AmirAyaz AmirAyaz Amir is a renowned Pakistani Journalist, and is a newly elected Member of National Assembly in Pakistan's Parliament.He is most famous for his columns in the newspaper Dawn. He is also known as a politician. His columns are critical of the Pakistan Army's role in politics throughout the...
, a Pakistani journalist on this book. - Military misjudgment - an article on this book in The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
- http://ahmadrezataheri.org/post-41.aspx - Dr. Ahmad Reza Taheri on in the line of the fire.
These allsents are error ed if u did something i don't thinks so there is necessity to explanation.
External links
- http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/ - Official website
- In the Line of Fire: A Memoir