Daily Times

In the modern interconnected globe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a pivotal link in inter-state relations. Even it has been a historically accepted practice to send envoys with messages of friendship to distant powerful empires and continents. The position of Ambassador Plenipotentiaries working as eyes and ears of their kings and presidents retained its significance through the various epochal phases of the evolutionary history of the state. Pakistan, after emerging as a new state on the world map, tried to organize this vital ministry as much as possible given the scarce resources of the country.

For the new country of Pakistan, the importance of external relations lied at the heart of the country’s endeavour to carve out an image, identity and a niche in the comity of nations. It was here that the external relations department assumed importance in helping the country to establish strong ties with neighboring states, strengthen political, economic, cultural, trade and educational ties with international community making a valuable contribution to global peace and security. The Pakistani ambassadors achieved remarkable successes in international diplomacy despite resource constraints.

For the new country of Pakistan, the importance of external relations lied at the heart of the country’s endeavour to carve out an image, identity and a niche in the comity of nations

Muhammad Alam Brohi remained associated with the Foreign Service of Pakistan for almost 30 years since qualifying the CSS Examination in 1979, and served in many countries developing a good grasp on the Foreign Policy matters of the country as compared with an analyst watching the things from the fence. At the same time, he observed closely the idiosyncratic eccentricities, whimsical likes and dislikes of the various rulers, political changes within the country and great games on the global scene and particularly the country’s evolving friendship and rivalries with sister states.

Mr Brohi’s first book “A Voice in the Wilderness – Memoirs and Reflections” has the essence of his 30 years’ experiences, observations, and keen study of the political, economic and socio-cultural conditions of the countries where he served representing his real, truthful and honest opinion. The book was launched last year at Mehran Engineering University Jamshoro in which many eminent persons of various persuasions, including economist Kaiser Bengali, the vice-chancellor of the host university, Muhammad Aslam Uqaili, former ambassador Zafarullah Shaikh, author M Alam Brohi, Prof Mushtaq Meerani and a host of senior and junior teachers, students participated.

This book is a blend of history, diplomacy and narration of interesting episodes, experiences and observations spawning over Mr Brohi’s stay of three decades in the Foreign Service of Pakistan and his postings in Europe, Africa and Central Asia. His first-hand narration of political events and diplomatic developments working closely with opinion makers in his host countries, in my point of view, is weightier than a writer of any intellectual stature. Mr Brohi seems to have optimally benefited from his stay in various countries exploring various cultures and reflecting on the causes of their development or underdevelopment and keeping an eye on the political developments in his own country as the various chapters of the book reveal. This is not the cup of tea of all diplomats.

The book contains a treasure trove of knowledge about the political and diplomatic history of the country based on merit and realistic approach for future generations and is a guideline for the leaders of the country. The book is single volume of 500 pages and 16 chapters with a detailed account of the good opportunities and the challenges that came in the way of our country from its creation in 1947 to the first decade of the 21st century. The author takes the readers on a long winding journey passing through ups and downs in national as well as in international politics; the decline in the status of various government departments during the civil and martial law regimes; remarkable resilience of Pakistan and its phoenix rise after the collapse of East Pakistan in 1971; the factors and conditions leading to this tragic debacle; the misplaced arrogance and idiosyncrasies of our some leaders; the importance of our strategic location overseeing roads and routes to Central Asia.

The author deserves to be appreciated for his efforts to secure the rights of the students from Pakistan studying in the medical universities of the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan during his long stay as ambassador in that country. He made special efforts to regularize the admission of the Pakistan students in those universities through an agreement. This was one of the remarkable achievements of Mr Brohi as the envoy of Pakistan apart from many other objectives he realized to the advantage of his country. The book reveals that Mr Brohi enjoyed his job even at difficult stations like Niger and Sudan whereas these stations are notorious for want of facilities for good living and no officer of his caliber would like to go there.

Besides these topics, the book dilates extensively on Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s rise on the political horizon, and his tragic fall, operation in Balochistan, Baloch deprivation of their rights, the judicial murder of ZAB, tyrannical rule of Gen Ziaul Haq, his blind Islamization of the polity, the rise of sectarianism and extremism, promotion of weapon and drug cultures, the formation of the MQM and the devastation they wreaked on Karachi, the emergence of the Taliban in the wake of Afghan war against the Soviets Union, the rise and fall of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom, emergence of Asif Ali Zardari as an accidental leaver and catapult of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the political stage.

In the beginning, the author remembers his childhood, primary education in dilapidated school close to his native town in Balochistan, high school in Shahdadkot of Larkana district and then college in Sukkur. He finally lands in the fertile land of Larkana and graduates from the Sindh University as an external student and starts a job in the local governments there. Hard work has been Ambassador Brohi’s life-long companion keeping him busy.

The book is a smooth and interesting read and keeps reader riveted to one chapter after the other.

Latif Gaad is freelance anchor and columnist working with Sindhi television channels