A Lone Long Walk – Paperback

In military one learns the essence of people, leadership andandprofessional excellence. One sees so many examples of moral courage, commitment, and self-sacrifice. During my thirty-year-long militaryandcareer, I have seen the various facets of war, as well as the succeedingandpeace. During the days of war spent in Kashmir, Tribal Areas ofandPakistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan where I was deployedandas part of foreign missions, I witnessed the finest display of devotionandto duty, power of character, and charms of martyrdom for theMotherland. At the same time, the wars exposed to me the plight ofandpeople and their sufferings as a consequence. Where life remains aandyearning for eternal peace and love, war also remains a reality toandprotect life and freedom.andAs a soldier-officer, serving in different ranks and files, Iandexperienced that the battlefield gives an altogether new meaning toandlife, camaraderie and courage, patriotism and goals for peace. As aandyoung officer I also carried along the dreams and aspirations whichandbestowed me with the love of books, power of pen, and a passion toandseek truth. From school to college days, I got deeply attracted to greatandauthors, who quietly infused in me a world of ideals and hopes and anandinsatiable desire for reading.andFortunately, both my passion of soldiering and love of readingandcombined; the journey that started from Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul – from Gentleman Cadet to Brigadier – culminated at ISPRand(Inter Services Public Relations) where, as Director Publications, Iandhave been credited for publishing a number of books on national andandinternational issues, and as Chief Editor Hilal, I have proudly led theandinitiative of expanding this monthly into four separate, widely- circulated magazines – Hilal English, Hilal Urdu, Hilal for Her andandHilal for Kids. At Pakistan Military Academy, and in the battlefield,andgun and thunder were the prevalent notions, and at ISPR pen andandwritten words were the dominant gears towards one’s passion ofandserving the Motherland. The book’ A Lone Long Walk’ is a compilation of tales of soldiersandwhom I have come across during my military service and, life as Iandhave seen it. It is in fact a reflection of the thought process of youngandmen from their childhood dreams to the glory of martyrdom, stretchedandover personal life to the call of duty. The bullets that pierce the bodiesanddo not end up in deaths only, but also give birth to tales of pride.