The book is a seminal political and military account written by General Khalid Mahmud Arif (K.M. Arif), who served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff under General Zia-ul-Haq. Published by Oxford University Press in 2001, the book provides a critical insider's perspective on the powerful role of the military in Pakistani politics, tracking the historical compromises that shifted Pakistan from its democratic foundation into an era of recurring martial law.