Sartaj Aziz. Between Dreams and Realities: Some Milestones in Pakistan’s History. Karachi: Oxford University Press. 2009. Pak. Rs 595.00.

The geo-strategic location of a country gives it advantage ordisadvantage in its relation with the comity of nations and addressingits domestic challenges. The vision, acumen and capacity of politicalleadership, however, determine the maximisation of advantages fromgeo-strategic location in attaining the national interests. Interplay ofdomestic political power, geo-strategic location and global powerdynamics are aptly reflected in the political history of Pakistan asnarrated in “Between Dreams and Realities”. “Between Dreams andRealities” is both an autobiography and dispassionate account ofPakistan’s chequered history as the author puts it “watched thepolitical drama as ring side observer.” The author was actively engagedin roles, confronting formidable challenges to improve policycoordination and implementation. A sequenced political, economic, andforeign relations history of Pakistan is described illustrating turningpoints, milestones, and debacles in her existence as a country. Thepolitical scenario of Pakistan, marred by intermittent militarytakeovers, with disregard, and mutilation of the constitution, mainlyserved personal interests. The rulers, irrespective of whether electedor otherwise, conjoined survival of their rule with that of the country.Thereupon, usurpation of power is legitimised by engineered elections orputting in place pliable judiciary. The indiscipline in politicalparties, absence of vision, political inexperience, self-centered, andheadlong political leaders, increased the vulnerability of parliament tocomplete its tenure. Weak organisation of political parties is, thuseasily maneuverable to the wheeling, dealings, and gaming of‘establishment’. This is amply visible in all military takeovers ofelected governments, right from throwing of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’sgovernment to dissolution of Nawaz Sharif’s government in1999.