Kasuri's book ‘Neither a Hawk,Nor A Dove’ to be launched in Sept

LAHORE
Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book ‘Neither A Hawk, Nor A Dove’ on Pakistan’s foreign policy will be launched in early September. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the book’s title is based on the first line in the book in which former President Pervez Musharraf has been quoted in his very first meeting with him asking him pointedly “Are you a hawk or a dove on India, Kasuri Sahib?”
The book has been published worldwide by Oxford University Press. It will be published in India by Penguin. It may be pointed out that two internationally established publishing houses has agreed to publish the same book, which is very rare. The book contains the first-ever insider’s account by someone who took part in the developments at the official level on Kashmir with his Indian, European and American counterparts and also gives details regarding the back-channel negotiations on Kashmir and the peace process during 2002 to the end of 2007 regarded by keen observers and analysts of International Affairs as the most productive peace process between Pakistan and India since independence. Kasuri has updated the book to early 2015 including the advent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India and has analysed the situation regarding the latest developments in India, Afghanistan and on Pak-US relations based on his experience of dealing with these countries as Foreign Minister.
Kasuri besides giving an account of the developments in the peace process under former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, he has also given an account of his interactions with the leadership of the BJP since the peace process started under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He has also shared details of his interactions with his three Indian counterparts Pranab Mukherjee – current President of India Yashwant Sinha and Natwar Singh. Besides, he has given details as well as the background of these landmark developments – much beyond the so-called ‘four-point formula’ often referred to in the media.
It took Kasuri four years to write the book because it has been comprehensively researched, fully referenced and has been updated, said the press release.
To make it interesting and easier for the reader to follow the theme, there are many pictures with meaningful captions in an attempt to tell his story. The book also deals with Kasuri’s relationship with President Musharraf and it contains certain interesting details regarding the judicial crisis in March 2007. Kasuri also discusses the important role of the media in the conduct of foreign policy and has devoted an entire section of the book to this subject. Based on his experience he has also dealt with the importance of personal relationships in International Relations and says that it is vitally important to be proactive in the conduct of foreign policy. The former Foreign Minister has also devoted an entire chapter on the attitude of Pakistan Army towards the peace process with India and on the Kashmir framework. The book contains a chapter on the invaluable role of the Foreign Office in the formulation and execution of foreign policy of Pakistan.