Orakzai: Lessons from the Past
By Khalid Salam
Lahore, Pakistan

 

Enthralled, as usual, by this beautiful, moving, gripping piece by Dr Akbar Ahmed. The adventure of serving in the erstwhile Frontier, not to forget the romance, captured in such fine, loving detail. Would need a man of tremendous courage and commitment to serve in that challenging environment. Goes without saying that those presently entrusted with the governance in that part of Pakistan, especially after the takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan, would do well to heed Dr Ahmed’s advice based on first-hand experience and, above all the great civil servants of the British Raj, we owe it to their memory, who lie buried in this land ,so far away from their countries.

As always, it was a treat reading through this article _ prolific writer that Dr Ahmed is, prodigious memory, precise language and, above all profound in every way. May he continue to enthrall us with his writings and benefit of wise counsel long into the future.