Witness to Blunder: Kargil Story Unfolds

by Ashfaq Hussain

Witness to Blunder is Colonel (retd) Ashfaq Hussain’s account of the Kargil war, but it goes farther than merely dissecting the Kargil crisis. Published in September 2008, it coincides with the passing of a decade since the military operation was initiated on snow-tipped mountains in the winter of 1998-1999.

Genres: History, War, Pakistan

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Ashfaq Hussain is a retired Pakistan Army colonel who is known for his Urdu book series titled Gentleman which is a humorous account of his days in army.

Reviews

[W]

Colonel Ashfaq Hussain's account of the Kargil War of 1999,written after General Musharraf was out of power.

The story of the soldiers who were asked to occupy the icy heights of Kargil,and then left to their own devices against overwhelming odds in a hostile terrain.They had to brave not just the elements but a much larger Indian army and Indian air force as well.

Many of them laid down their lives,looks like a very emotionally charged book.

Also published in English as :
Witness to Blunder : Kargil Story Unfolds

[Muhammad Bilal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you on a ride on an emotional roller coaster if you are the patriotic type and before you know it you are browsing through military statistics (tables in the book) and searching through the maps trying to locate where our hitherto uncelebrated soldiers breathed their last, with frozen fingers on triggers and bullets in chest, after surviving/fighting for days on empty stomachs under subzero temperatures. Col. Ashfaq Hussain must be congratulated on writing this masterpiece which gels historical facts, war history, emotions and spirituality so beautifully. Every Pakistani is familiar with the words often written to praise our soldiers (Ye Ghazi, Ye Tere Purisrar Bande Jinhain Tu Ne Bakhsha Hai Zuaq-e-Khudai). This book takes a closer look at the selected few who took part in Kargil war and stood true to these words. Who can hold tears reading about Capt. Imtiaz who embraced martyrdom at Point 4875 on 7th July 1999 with a love letter from his sweetheart wife in his front pocket! Pakistani nation will forever be indebted to Hawaldar Lalik Jan who held his post behind a machine gun for God knows how many hours with a profusely bleeding body without a sip of water. Reading/sobbing through the tales of our soldiers, Col Ashfaq makes a rather long stop to review the life and death of one Capt. Maalik. This is where the book dives into spirituality which is not everybody's cup of tea. For those who do like finding deeper meaning in seemingly random events of life and believe in miracles, this chapter would quench their thirst. Towards the end, survival of a war hero after putting up a chivalrous fight is also given space. At this point, the reader is emotionally drained and eagerly wanting to know precisely the fate of the "lambs", our "lions" fought for and died for? The author gives the answers in the last chapter.

[Bilal Hashmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ایک فوجی کتنا حق گو ہو سکتا ہے مجھے اس کتاب سے اندازہ ہوا۔ فوج کے ایک کلیدی محکمے میں رہتے ہوئے انہوں نے کارگل کے معاملے میں فوج کے کچھ زعما کی بد دیانتی صاف صاف ذکر کی ہے (اگرچہ جب ان زعما کے ساتھ تھے تو ہاں میں ہاں ملائی تھی)۔ کچھ "بہادروں" نے اپنا نام "فاتحین" کی فہرست میں لکھوانے کے شوق میں کیسے پورے ملک کو داؤ پر لگا دیا، سب اس میں صاف صاف موجود ہے۔ گویا انتہائی محتاط انداز میں کارگل کے اسباب اور اس میں
اپنوں کی حماقتوں کی بہترین دستاویز لکھی ہے۔ پھر اس ایک حماقت کے بعد اس پر پردہ ڈالنے کے لیے اور اپنا "امیج" اچھا دکھانے کے لیے کیا کیا کھلواڑ کیے گئے جس سے پاکستان کے مسائل بڑھتے چلے گئے سب کا تفصیلی ذکر کیا گیا ہے۔
تاریخ، سیاست، عسکریت اور ادب کے ہر شائق کو اس کا بغور مطالعہ کرنا چاہیے۔

[Farwah Nawazi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Ashfaque Hussain's exploration of the Kargil conflict, he delves into the blunders made by four senior army officials. Though I may have skipped pages during my reading, I cannot overlook the significance of the chapter titled "Taweel tareen din," which encapsulates a wealth of insights.

[Krishnan Rgp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anguish, pain, smile, watery eyes - all packed in - this recap of the blunder. page turner for sure. If u r one of men in uniform u would relish reading this.

[Munawar]

i want to read

[Paramjit Bishan Dass]

Pakistan made for Muslim relegation but now on time Pakistan is terrorist country. Only few people are good in Pakistan as Ashfaq Hussain.

[Vineeth Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of Kargil War as Pak sees it. A good perspective

[Hasaan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contains a large number of events that had taken place in the Kargil conflict. And describes the wishful thinking of a clique who desired to occupy the Kargil heights. Unfortunately, it is visible that Pakistan did not get benefit from the Kargil, even Pakistan incurred unfathomable losses wherein reconciliation between the two countries grievously hit hard. Eventually, Pakistan had to withdraw from the occupying heights under severe pressure, and all plannings fell apart altogether.

[Ameen · Rating 4 out of 5]

کارگل کے موضوع پر ایک مزاح نگار فوجی افسر کی لکھی ہوئی سنجیدہ کتاب۔ اشفاق حسین کی پچھلی جنٹلمین سیریز کے برعکس یہ مزاح سے بالکل عاری ہے اور نہ ہی اس میں کوئی "فکشن" ہے۔ یہ کارگل جنگ اور اس کے بعد پیش آنے والے واقعات کی سچی تاریخ ہے کہ جب پاکستان نئے راستوں پر گامزن ہوا۔ 1999 میں جمہوریت سے فوجی حکومت تک کا سفر کیسے طے ہوا، یہ اس کتاب میں آپ بخوبی جان سکیں گے۔

[Muzamil]

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[Muhammad Umer]

azaz

[Usman Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is full ogf our great pak army bravery , there is complete story of kargil war

[Khaja Shamshuddin]

want to read