A Lone Long Walk - Paperback
By Tahir Mehmood

In military one learns the essence of people, leadership andand professional excellence. One sees so many examples of moral courage, commitment, and self-sacrifice. During my thirty-year-long militaryand career, I have seen the various facets of war, as well as the succeedingand peace. During the days of war spent in Kashmir, Tribal Areas ofand Pakistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan where I was deployedand as part of foreign missions, I witnessed the finest display of devotionand to duty, power of character, and charms of martyrdom for theMotherland. At the same time, the wars exposed to me the plight ofand people and their sufferings as a consequence. Where life remains aand yearning for eternal peace and love, war also remains a reality toand protect life and freedom.and As a soldier-officer, serving in different ranks and files, Iand experienced that the battlefield gives an altogether new meaning toand life, camaraderie and courage, patriotism and goals for peace. As aand young officer I also carried along the dreams and aspirations whichand bestowed me with the love of books, power of pen, and a passion toand seek truth. From school to college days, I got deeply attracted to greatand authors, who quietly infused in me a world of ideals and hopes and anand insatiable desire for reading.and Fortunately, both my passion of soldiering and love of readingand combined; the journey that started from Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul - from Gentleman Cadet to Brigadier - culminated at ISPRand (Inter Services Public Relations) where, as Director Publications, Iand have been credited for publishing a number of books on national andand international issues, and as Chief Editor Hilal, I have proudly led theand initiative of expanding this monthly into four separate, widely- circulated magazines - Hilal English, Hilal Urdu, Hilal for Her andand Hilal for Kids. At Pakistan Military Academy, and in the battlefield,and gun and thunder were the prevalent notions, and at ISPR pen andand written words were the dominant gears towards one's passion ofand serving the Motherland. The book' A Lone Long Walk' is a compilation of tales of soldiersand whom I have come across during my military service and, life as Iand have seen it. It is in fact a reflection of the thought process of youngand men from their childhood dreams to the glory of martyrdom, stretchedand over personal life to the call of duty. The bullets that pierce the bodiesand do not end up in deaths only, but also give birth to tales of pride.