Author: "Crossed Swords" is written by Ayesha Jalal, a renowned historian.

Topic: The book examines Pakistan's political history, particularly the dynamics of military and civilian interactions.

Scope: Covers the history from the creation of Pakistan in 1947 to the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf in the late 1990s.

Focus: The role of the military in Pakistan’s political development, the challenges of governance, and the struggles between democratic forces and military rule.

Key Themes:

• The role of military leadership in shaping Pakistan's state policies.
• Civilian governments' limitations and conflicts.
• The evolving nature of Pakistan's political institutions and their impact on national development.