At the start of this book, which tells the story of my part in the Afghan Jehad, I want to
acknowledge the debt I, and indeed Pakistan and the Mujahideen owe to the ‘Silent Soldier’,
General Akhtar Abdur Rahman. I served under him for four years at the height of the war, but he
carried the enormous responsibility for the struggle against what was then the Soviet superpower,
for over eight years. I call him the ‘Silent Soldier’ because of his great humility and modesty. Few
people, apart from his family knew him as well as I did until he was assassinated, along with
President Zia-ul-Haq, in the plane crash in August 1988. At one blow the Jehad lost its two most
powerful leaders.

When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 President Zia sent for General Akhtar, who
had recently taken over as Director of ISI. At that time nobody in authority in Pakistan, and
certainly no overseas government (including the US), thought the Soviet military might could be
confronted. Afghanistan was written-off as lost. The only person within the military to advocate
supporting the Jehad by Pakistan, and the only person to come up with a plausible plan for doing so,
was General Akhtar. He convinced the president that no only was it vital to Pakistan’s interests to
fight the aggressors, but that there was every chance of defeating them. Some years later Zia was to
say to him, you have wrought a miracle, I can give you nothing worthy of your achievements. Only
God can reward you.