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WHERE BORDERS BLEED: AN INSIDER'S ACCOUNT OF INDO-PAK RELATIONS
Where Borders Bleed is a keenly observed and anecdotal account of a factious landscape that has long engaged global the Indo-Pak region. Covering almost seventy years of conflict, it chronicles the events leading up to Partition, reflects on the consequent strife, and provides a fresh, discursive perspective on the figures who have shaped the story of this land—from Lord Louis Mountbatten and Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.
Covering historical, diplomatic and military perspectives, Where Borders Bleed is intrepid, engaging with a range of contentious issues that have shaped Indo-Pak relations—water sharing, Kashmir and Article 370. Equally, it is speculative. It would terror have affected the world the way it has, if ‘PakIndia� had been a benign single entity? What if India and Pakistan were to reunite, much like East and West Germany? As the now-largest nation in the world, would the mammoth PakIndia radically change the globe’s geo-political framework?
These questions—combined with the author’s own diplomatic access to rare archival material and key leaders across borders—make this a one-of-a-kind book on the story of India and Pakistan.
Covering historical, diplomatic and military perspectives, Where Borders Bleed is intrepid, engaging with a range of contentious issues that have shaped Indo-Pak relations—water sharing, Kashmir and Article 370. Equally, it is speculative. It would terror have affected the world the way it has, if ‘PakIndia� had been a benign single entity? What if India and Pakistan were to reunite, much like East and West Germany? As the now-largest nation in the world, would the mammoth PakIndia radically change the globe’s geo-political framework?
These questions—combined with the author’s own diplomatic access to rare archival material and key leaders across borders—make this a one-of-a-kind book on the story of India and Pakistan.
- GenresIndia
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
23 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Rajiv Dogra
7Ìýbooks8ÌýfollowersAn electrical engineer by training, a diplomat by profession and a writer by choice, Rajiv Dogra became a member of the Indian foreign service in 1974.
He has served as the consul general of India in Karachi; the ambassador of India to Italy, Romania, Moldova, Albania and San Marino; and India’s permanent representative to the United Nations agencies based in Rome. Other diplomatic assignments have included those in London, Doha and Stockholm, and various tenures in the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi. Uniquely, Dogra has advised a foreign government on restructuring its foreign ministry and has sat on the advisory boards of multinational corporations.
Rajiv Dogra is also a well-known media commentator on foreign and strategic affairs. He lives in New Delhi, and paints when he’s not writing.
He has served as the consul general of India in Karachi; the ambassador of India to Italy, Romania, Moldova, Albania and San Marino; and India’s permanent representative to the United Nations agencies based in Rome. Other diplomatic assignments have included those in London, Doha and Stockholm, and various tenures in the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi. Uniquely, Dogra has advised a foreign government on restructuring its foreign ministry and has sat on the advisory boards of multinational corporations.
Rajiv Dogra is also a well-known media commentator on foreign and strategic affairs. He lives in New Delhi, and paints when he’s not writing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 6, 2019
A definitive book on the Indo-Pak relations. Rajiv brings out in episode after episode the treachery and deep hatred of the Pakistani ruling class for India. The book also shows how UK and later US have been instrumental in feeding the terrorist machinery in Pakistan. At the same time the book tackles the apparent lack of Indian political class to take tough call in their dealings with Pakistan. A must read for everyone who needs to get in depth understanding of the acrimonious Indian Pakistani relationship.
April 9, 2016
The book provides an incisive analyses of Indo-Pak relations but no road map on how to go forward. In this sense the book, coming from an ex-Diplomat, disappoints. The author himself is extremely disappointed with the manner in which India and Indians have handled issues revolving around Pakistan. He is critical of everyone, including the US, the Soviets, the Chinese. All this makes for an interesting reading. What he has written will pander to the aggressive posture of all the hawks. His conclusion that "Pakistan will continue to preoccupy and paralyze strategic thinking" is correct. But what next?
The book is extremely well researched. Some of the quotes are revealing. One from Jinnah, "Pakistan was the biggest blunder of my life", is the most startling one. Comparing Gandhi with Jinnah, the author says, "Gandhi had solution for every problem, Jinnah had a solution to every problem". His criticism of Jinnah is unqualified. Here was a man who "did not spend a single day in the jail"
The author does not spare Mountbatten and mentions the depiction by Andrew Robert to prove his point. Robert depicts 'Dickie' as "psychopathically ambitious, vain disingenuous, manipulative.......and a man who was utterly careless of other people's lives"
The book provides Nixon's estimation of Indians and Pakistanis : "The Pakistanis are straight forward- and sometimes stupid. The Indians are devious, sometimes so smart that we fall for there line." However, one by Hillary Clinton about the Pakistanis appears more realistic : "if you keep snakes in your backyard they are bound to bite you". The quote from Bruce Riedel sums it all : "Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world today, where every nightmare of the 21st century converges-terrorism, government instability, corruption and nuclear weapons". How true and scary.
The book is extremely well researched. Some of the quotes are revealing. One from Jinnah, "Pakistan was the biggest blunder of my life", is the most startling one. Comparing Gandhi with Jinnah, the author says, "Gandhi had solution for every problem, Jinnah had a solution to every problem". His criticism of Jinnah is unqualified. Here was a man who "did not spend a single day in the jail"
The author does not spare Mountbatten and mentions the depiction by Andrew Robert to prove his point. Robert depicts 'Dickie' as "psychopathically ambitious, vain disingenuous, manipulative.......and a man who was utterly careless of other people's lives"
The book provides Nixon's estimation of Indians and Pakistanis : "The Pakistanis are straight forward- and sometimes stupid. The Indians are devious, sometimes so smart that we fall for there line." However, one by Hillary Clinton about the Pakistanis appears more realistic : "if you keep snakes in your backyard they are bound to bite you". The quote from Bruce Riedel sums it all : "Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world today, where every nightmare of the 21st century converges-terrorism, government instability, corruption and nuclear weapons". How true and scary.
April 28, 2016
What if India and Pakistan were one country? This book starts off with that promising counter factual and then gives various reasons (terror, water, USA axis, premise of state) as to why it has not happened. A good read-and an eye opener on the unfairness of the Indus Water Treaty-the only case in history where an upper riparian state INDIA has voluntarily given rights to the downstream state Pakistan, to get more water than its due. Just to put in context, China has not ratified the UN treaty and is building dams on the Tibetan plateau etc.
September 5, 2018
First of its kind that I've read. The book talks about India and Pakistan relations since the partition. I always had a broad knowledge about the indo-pak relations (or so I thought) but this book throws a lot of light on various treaties and situations. Fully loaded with quotes and referances, this book seems more like a factual description of events and is not partial towards any side. It says it like it is and that is what I like the most about it. Definitely recommend it. And a good place to start and educate yourself about your country's past.
July 25, 2021
Please don't assume it a neutral Commentary. This book provide you a general perspective of India about Pakistan and obsessively prejudiced. In this book Pakistan is a subjective Villain beyond hope, and India is an objective innocent god. This book is excessively more about Pakistan as writter discuss Pakistan relations with other countries while skipping some important issues like "India Pakistan Conflict over Siachin". Overall book is factually correct but writer also used baseless common assumptions and sayings to prove his negative point against Pakistan.
October 14, 2022
A well researched and thorough book on India Pakistan relations. The quotes and references are really interesting to read. Must read for all politicians, diplomats and every one who wants to know about the subject.
May 25, 2017
Nothing much. Written in a boring style.
October 28, 2018
This one is highly recommended for anyone who wants to have a glimpse of the bilateral relations with our western neighbour and what an evil it is.
August 6, 2021
Wonderful book...
March 10, 2015
Doesn't make for very comforting or hopeful reading but I wonder how far the undercurrent of malignity on one side and the culpable squandering of any advantage on the other is justified. And the great powers, save the Soviet Union, do not come off well particularly well in the account but their responsibility in keeping the cauldron stirring cannot be denied... A comprehensive overview though not to free from some moorings but should have also included possible ways out...
September 29, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed the book.
A very enlightening view on the Indo - Pakistan relationship
A very enlightening view on the Indo - Pakistan relationship
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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