Review from Major Agha Humayun Amin. I am sure some of Major Amin’s observations will invite comment 🙂 I was very keen to watch this movie and watching it was a big disappointment. While the movie is low budget , budget by no means could have reduced it from reaching the stature of greatness if … Continue reading Film Review: Berlin Falling
I had earlier posted a short version of this review, to which many people objected that it was not really a review, just a short rant. Major Amin has now sent a longer version. I hope this will satisfy some of the critics… The Anarchy- William Dalrymple Book Review By Major Agha H Amin Dalrymple … Continue reading Review: The Anarchy, by William Dalrymple
A longer version of this review is now up at this link. A short review from Major Amin. I have not yet read the book, but Dalrymple’s recent books have an increasing tendency to play to the gallery. I would not descirbe this as “irrational hatred” (see review below), it is entirely rational. He knows … Continue reading Book Review: The Anarchy (William Dalrymple)
From Major Amin THE PAKISTAN ARMY –WAR 1965 MAJOR GENERAL SHAUKAT RIZA (RETD) –ARMY EDUCATION PRESS 1984-309 PAGES , MAPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS Reviewed by Major Agha H Amin (Retired) This book was the first official effort to record military history of 1965 war. Major General Shaukat Riza an artillery officer dabbled in military writing and … Continue reading Book Review: The 1965 War by Shaukat Riza
From Dr Hamid Hussain. Perhaps not of general interest on this site, but worth preserving in any case. See details of Col Nisar’s critical (and courageous) action in 1965 are added below this obituary. Obituary – Brigadier ® Nisar Ahmad Khan (28 March 1920 – 30 July 2019) Hamid Hussain Brigadier ® Nisar Ahmad Khan … Continue reading Obituary: Brigadier Nisar Ahmed SJ
There is endless controversy in Pakistan about the way Gen Akhtar Malik, who led the opening phase of Pakistan’s invasion of Kashmir in 1965 (operation Grand Slam) was removed from command the day after the attack started. The Pakistan army had decisive superiority in tanks and artillery and on the first day captured Chamb and … Continue reading Letter of General Akhtar Malik (Re Grand Slam)
This is an old post from Major Amin (from 2017) The article is by Dr D Souza (originally in “Eurasian Review”) and Major Amin’s own comments are in bolded black font.. Now that the Afghanistan exit strategy is in full flow, how does this stand up? Trump’s ‘New’ Afghanistan Strategy And India-US Strategic Partnership – Analysis … Continue reading Does Trump Have a Strategy in Afghanistan? What is it?
From Major Amin. These are snippets of conversation that he has sent. The participants include several retired officers who were direct participants or observers of Zia’s coup in 1977. Their memories are worth a look, even if the post is disjointed and some words probably need context not known to an outsider.. Major Amin: my … Continue reading Direct Participants Remember the 1977 Zia Coup
An old review from Major Amin, it remains topical. Descent into Chaos , Ahmed Rashid, Allen Lane,2008.ISBN No .978-1-846-14175-1 Book Review Major A.H Amin (Retired) 11 October 2008 Ahmed Rashid acquired fame and became darling of the west when his book on Taliban was published in 2000 or so.Descent into Chaos is another bestseller as … Continue reading Book Review: Descent into Chaos
The Garrison State: Military, Government and Society in Colonial Punjab, 1849-1947 (SAGE Series in Modern Indian History) The following is a review sent in by Major Agha Humayun Amin (retd). As usual, Major Amin is sometimes, shall we say, harsh, but his knowledge of this subject is encyclopedic and always worth reading.. My first association … Continue reading Review: The Garrison State: Military, Government and Society in Colonial Punjab, 1849-1947