Between Dreams and Realities: Some Milestones in Pakistan's History Book

The political history of Pakistan is an illuminating record of the milestones and turning points that this nation has faced since its inception. In this comprehensive book, Sartaz Aziz explores the basic causes of the failure of democracy in Pakistan and proposes that only a genuine democratic dispensation -- not military rule with a civilian facade -- can ensure the country's survival as a viable federation. As Finance Minister under Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Minister during the Kargil crisis of 1999, Aziz bore witness to numerous key episodes in Pakistan's history. He was the main architect of many far-reaching reforms introduced in the early 1990s, and his retelling of the Kargil crisis is one of the most authentic and fascinating accounts of that conflict to date. In this book, he details how public policy is formulated in Pakistan and borrows from his insider's view of the Pakistan economy to argue that the vitality of a nation comes not only from economic progress and military might but also from shared values, cultural heritage and social energy.