Nasim Ashraf, a distinguished Pakistani-American physician and former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman's autobiography titled "Ring Side" was recently unveiled at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
The book provides a first-hand account of a pivotal era in Pakistan's history, detailing Ashraf's close involvement in state affairs during President Pervez Musharraf's tenure. Offering unique insights into governance and Pakistan-U.S. relations, Ring Side captures the author's experiences at the heart of power and diplomacy.
Covering a vast span of events from Pakistan's role as America's indispensable partner in the War on Terror to the grassroots of human development in Pakistan, the author presents a primary source account of the country's external and internal policies. He remains more concerned about human development and takes no qualms in saying that Pakistan has not done enough in this realm.
The book also entails an evocative and fascinating account of military coups, intrigues and vested interests that have accented Pakistan's history. Amidst all those obstacles, the book pins that the author was able to implement a basic health and literacy scheme at the grassroots.
The book nail-bitingly accounts for the events that unfolded in diplomacy after the September 11, 2001, attacks, and the outcome it had on the diplomatic mosaic with Pakistan.
Ashraf made it a point to say that having worked closely with American authorities, he learnt the reality that citizens' rights are placed well above even those of the president of the United States. This is where we have to learn as we go on to buoy human confidence in the state, he observed.
In a one-liner on US-Pakistan ties, he said it has been infected with a "trust deficit", and there is a need to overcome this dilemma.
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