Witness to Blunder is written by Col Ashfaq Hussain of the Pakistan Army. It gives an account of Kargil misadventure by the Pakistan Army. Col Ashfaq Hussain served as Deputy Director of ISPR in 5 Corps in Karachi.
The book is more of a personal account and opens with usual Pak propaganda about partition and Kashmir issue. He claims to have interviewed many serving and retired officers. He has given stories of Pakistan Officers and Jawans who died in Kargil and were honoured with gallantry awards. He has also given account of the coup that took place thereafter in which Nawaz Shrief was dethroned by General Parvez Musharraf.
The book gives out details of planning by just four Generals and execution of the plan. There were no clear-cut objectives. The civilian Government was totally kept in dark about the whole plan. When discovered and heavily outnumbered and outgunned by Indian Army the troops were left to fend for themselves. Most of them died fighting it out.
The book does not bring out the backlash that was suffered by General Parvez Musharraf from the Pak Army. In fact, the book From Kargil to The Coup by Nasim Zehra is better and gives vivid details of that. The author was present at Karachi airport and organised the address to nation by General Pervez Musharraf. As per him, General was a bit nervous when recording the address.
Overall an average book. Good to read by soldiers who want to have a view from the other side of the hill.
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