Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
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Ambassador (R) Arif Kamal
"Reminiscences of My wanderings"(2021)
Author : Ambassador Arif Kamal
Publisher:
Dost Publisher Islamabad.
WhatsApp # +923095159997
Tel: +92514102775
Email; dostpub@nayatel.pk
Price : Rs 1,200
Book review by Highly respected Former Diplomat of Pakistan Khizar Niazi (Canberra)
His Excellency Ambassador (Rtd.) Arif Kamal's historic book launching ceremony was held recently in Pakistan on higher level by Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). This book is available in all leading book sellers of Pakistan and also can be ordered online worldwide.
Ambassador (Rtd.) Arif
Kamal, in his “Reminiscences …” walks the
reader through his memory lane to share his varied experiences, spanning over
seven decades. “The Chronicle of (his) wanderings”, which he describes as “one
more addition to oral history”, marries his personal and official perspectives
beautifully.
A scion of a noble Kashmiri family, who had to leave his
birth-place at the age of nine months, was never able to forget the pangs of
displacement and ‘homelessness’. This is evident from the jubilant narration of
his visits to the Indian Occupied Kashmir after retirement, which he describes
as “a renewal of links to my roots”. This also explains his views on questions
of identity and liberation; and his passionate support for the freedom-fighters
in Kashmir and Palestine.
His invaluable contributions as Chair, Global
Studies at the National Defense University’s Institute of Strategic Studies,
Research, and Analysis (ISSRA) from 2007-2017 and as a participant in Track II
diplomacy on Kashmir thereafter provide an eloquent testimony to his quest for
peace with justice.
His ‘story’, inter alia, provides an insight into the
state of affairs in West Asia. His posting to four Arab states and experience
as Desk Officer (Iran) enabled him closely monitor both sides of the Persian
Gulf. He developed a deep understanding of not only the undercurrents in the
GCC/ME politics but also the most burning issues of our times, namely,
Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law and Terrorism. Hence his insightful
treatment of developments in the region.
Ambassador Kamal highlights the Iranian reality which gives it
an edge over its adversaries across the Gulf: a complete entity,
geographically, having diverse topography - mountains, plains, deserts, sea and
natural resources; five thousand years old civilization; continuity from the
Shah to the Ayatollah; and, of course, the lesser imprint of the colonial rule,
and correspondingly lesser dependence on hired defenders.
Based on his
interaction with our sizable community in the Gulf, he acquired first-hand
knowledge about the lot of expatriates in the oil-rich monarchies, and has
shared it with his readers.
He dilates on the deadlock on Palestine,
despite notions of ‘land for peace’ and wonders as to how could ‘liberation
struggle’ and ‘statehood’ go hand in hand!
Recalling his stint in Moscow,
he re-visits the former Soviet Union’s 1979 intervention in Afghanistan. He
very convincingly explores whether the Soviet move was to reach warm waters or
to save their constituency in Afghanistan. He is fascinated “with the imbalance
between ‘perestroika’ and ‘glasnost’ that, he believes, precipitated the
collapse of the Soviet Union.”
Ambassador Kamal boldly acknowledges the
challenges in diplomatic profession. He doesn’t hesitate in admitting that it
was not easy to defend and project successive governments of Pakistan; nor to
please the Pakistani community. He feels, and rightly so, that Diplomatic
Missions Abroad are, essentially, like show rooms, which market the products
manufactured back home. And there is always a limit to salesmanship to market
sub-standard products.
Ambassador Kamal’s “Reminiscences …” is an
enjoyable read for professionals and non-professionals alike. It is recommended
for students and practitioners of diplomacy, academia focusing on IR and
history, even casual readers. His lucid narration of diplomatic intricacies in
anecdotal manner makes it easy even for a casual reader to grasp the message
effortlessly. The book is expected to have a long shelf life.
