Brigadier Naseem Akhtar Khan’s memoir, Caught in the Crossfire: The Inside Story of Pakistan’s Secret Services, offers readers a rare and riveting glimpse into the hidden corridors of power, espionage, and geopolitics that have shaped South Asia over the past five decades. Published by Pen & Sword Military, the book is far more than a soldier’s recollection — it is a front-row account of history, written by a man who lived it from the shadows.
The book opens with a vivid 1982 anecdote involving General Zia-ul-Haq, setting the tone for a narrative teeming with high-stakes drama and political intrigue. From there, Brigadier Khan takes us through his extraordinary 23-year career with the ISI, during which he witnessed — and often participated in — some of Pakistan’s most consequential historical moments: the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the post-9/11 geopolitical fallout, and the enduring rivalry with India.
What sets Caught in the Crossfire apart is not just the breadth of historical detail, but the way it’s filtered through the personal journey of a man who started life in modest circumstances in Kashmir, driven by the simple childhood dream to “touch the sky.” Khan’s ascent — from an ambitious cadet to a central figure in Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus — reads with the pace and energy of a political thriller, but is grounded in real-world gravity.
At its core, the book is a deeply patriotic account. Khan’s unwavering loyalty to Pakistan pulses through every chapter, whether he’s recounting the covert operations of the Cold War era or criticizing the political dysfunction that led to national tragedies like the fall of East Pakistan. His reflections on betrayal by international allies and the dangerous missteps of Pakistan’s own civil-military elite are unflinching and instructive.
In an era where AI, surveillance, and hybrid warfare dominate headlines, Khan’s analysis remains remarkably relevant. He argues that much of the global narrative about Pakistan is shaped by hostile misinformation — a claim that adds urgency to his account. His insider’s view of Pakistan’s evolving role in U.S.-China-India power dynamics provides essential context for understanding the security environment of 2025 and beyond.
What could have been a dry intelligence dossier is, instead, a memoir full of tension, character, and political insight. Khan’s writing is lucid and compelling, and while his love for country is evident, he does not shy away from criticizing the systemic failures of both the military and political leadership. Particularly noteworthy is his critique of the oligarchic power held by Pakistan’s early ruling class — the so-called “22 families” — whose influence still shapes the nation’s economic and political landscape.
Despite the cloak-and-dagger profession he describes, Khan reveals himself as a deeply grounded man: a devoted family figure who risked everything not for glory, but for the preservation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. There’s an irony in how much emphasis he places on loyalty in a field often associated with betrayal — but it is exactly this paradox that makes Caught in the Crossfire so compelling.
In sum, this is not just the story of a spy — it’s the story of Pakistan, told with rare candor and clarity. For readers interested in military history, regional strategy, or the internal tensions of a country forever caught between global powers, Caught in the Crossfire is essential reading.
