Espionage of the Century: Memoirs by Ambassador Zahid Said
Fascinating memoirs of a life that took this Pashtun from the NWFP to Cambridge and Lincoln Inn, on to a distinguished diplomatic career with the Pakistan Foreign Service first on the legal side and eventually as an Ambassador. Along the way there are marvelous (and often very funny) accounts and interactions - good bad and uncomfortable - with the likes of Army Chief General Gul Hassan (with whom there was a notorious push 'n shove scuffle), Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, General Zia Ul Haq (a bloodshot-eyed first meeting on the day after Bhutto's hanging and his later wailing out of guilt at the mosque in Medina), Benazir Bhutto, Asif Zardari (who was told to uncross his legs) and Nawaz Sharif (who sulked and was cross when the author advised him not to undertake a visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Israel for ziarat). His foreign postings at the Netherlands (which proved to be a cloak and dagger account of smuggling documents and parts for Pakistan's nuclear program), Turkey, Senegal & three other West African countries (topless ladies on the beaches and at resorts), Kuwait (took on the mantle of a life saver for the Pakistani community when the Iraq invasion took place and emergency evacuations had to be made), Spain & Jordan. Written with great humour and also rightfully scathing about a number of sycophant Babu types at the FO ("the snake pit") who were hell bent on causing mischief. He mentions his family and the great friendships he maintained throughout his life. It was a life full of grace and generosity which was extremely well lived. Champagne Cheers!!
