THE book Caught in the Crossfire: Inside Story of Pakistan’s Secret Services, authored by Brig (Retd) Naseem Akhtar Khan of the Pakistan Army, was recently published by Pen and Sword Publishers in the UK and is now available globally. The author is currently based in Dubai, and his book has been selected for the Emirates Festival of the Literature-2025. It is also gaining prominence in the UK and the US. The book not only transforms the intensity of the battlefield into a compelling work of strategic and defence literature but also recounts thrilling war stories. It serves as a model for understanding current power struggles, hegemonies and the pursuit of a new world order.
Through this book, Brigadier Khan offers readers firsthand insights into geopolitics and strategy. His observations guide readers and nations alike in navigating today’s complex global power dynamics. In this era of groundbreaking technological advancements and shifts in energy resources, understanding these concepts is vital. I encourage readers to dive into “Caught in the Crossfire” to help unravel the complex puzzles that shape both personal and national prosperity and security. This book is an invaluable resource that can broaden readers’ awareness and understanding in these areas. Key institutions for promoting this work should include Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as educational institutions, particularly the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. The author, an alumnus of this university, is well aware of the strategic and geopolitical influence this institute holds in Pakistan and beyond.
The DSS Department has produced diplomats and strategists who have served the nation in various fields, from defense and security to management. It also shares its research and policy developments with other institutions, including Pakistan’s defense, foreign affairs services, and naval and coast guard headquarters.
Organizations like these would greatly benefit from the insights of a senior army official like Brigadier Khan. Other universities, such as Gomal University, Bahauddin Zakariya University, National Defence University, and Government College Faisalabad, also have active DSS departments where this book could serve as an excellent resource for faculty, students, and researchers.
This book can also support careers in the global public speaking and creative writing industries, with Brigadier Khan positioned as a potential voice on geopolitics and strategy. As the book gains popularity online and in global markets, it could open many speaking opportunities, allowing him to share his expertise with the public, experts, and researchers in defense and security. I encourage professional researchers and scholars to get a copy of Caught in the Crossfire and consider inviting Brigadier Khan for talks and discussions at relevant institutions. The demand for such experts is high in Pakistan, the Middle East and Europe. I recommend keeping this remarkable work in your personal library, or on your digital device, to return to whenever you need clarity on complex geopolitical and strategic challenges. Caught in the Crossfire promises to be a real thriller for its readers.
—The writer is ambassador writer and science journalist, Pakistan Observer.
