Faith, Unity, Discipline

Established in the wake of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 by British officer Major General Robert Cawthorne, the then deputy chief of staff in the Pakistan Army, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for years remained an under-developed and obscure agency. In 1979, the organization’s growing importance was felt during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, as it worked hand in glove with the CIA to support the mujahideen resistance, but its activities received little coverage in the media. Offering fresh insights into the ISI based on intimate knowledge of its inner workings and key individuals, this startlingly original and provocative book uncovers the hitherto shady world of Pakistan’s secret service.