Book Reviews
“This book graphically does justice to the oft spoken phrase blood is thicker than water.
‘On the one hand we see the sheer inhumanity of man towards his fellow man - let alone of his own faith - and on the other the extent one brother’s sacrifice to save his other brother.
Both extremes of the human spectrum wrapped up in 165 days
Wow! ”
AURANGZEB IQBAL BSc (Hons)
“Kidnap is a shocking business; a heinous crime.
‘165 days’ offers a real insight into the murky world of hostage-taking. It’s a compelling read from cover to cover. The psychological trauma endured by Asad Qureshi and his loved ones resonates throughout. The experience is raw, terrifying, and the end game is not a given.
When someone is taken hostage, there is an uneasy triangular relationship between time, cost, and risk to the victims. There will usually be two or three key stakeholders: the hostage, their immediate family, and the hostage’s employer. Their interest is the same at the strategic level – safe release – but can diverge in other areas. The question of trust is a constant thread in all the cases I have worked on and is woven through this exceptional book with skill.
Asad Qureshi is to be applauded for this candid and brave disclosure, never easy after such a life-changing ordeal. This very personal and truly human story outlines the horror of kidnapping, particularly the enduring and lingering uncertainties. The unforeseen is always present. A commendable account of life and death.”
BILL LAURENCE
"The content of this vivid and horrific story was made more intense for me in the knowledge that Asad is a good friend. I was ignorant of his dilemma until after his release. His written account is formidable, full of devastating detail, well written, starkly evocative and cinematic in style. The suffering he and his fellow captives endured, unimaginable. My admiration for his bravery and faith during his terrible ordeal is immense. As it is for the relentless efforts of his loyal brother Farrukh."
Maurice Stevens
"Harrowing, gripping, frightening, fair-minded, constantly surprising and ultimately redemptive. 165 Days is a true story. Asad Qureshi, a British film-maker, is abducted by a group calling themselves the Asian Tigers, a disorganised and angry proxy group of the Taliban determined to extract a huge ransom. 165 days later Qureshi is freed, but every day of his captivity tests his faith and sanity to the maximum level of human endurance.
This is a hero’s journey. And there is more than one hero – apart from the film-maker himself there is his spectacular brother, Farrukh, and his incredible family. I can’t begin to imagine the agony they endured. Qureshi takes us into the minds of his abductors and whilst it is a messy, misinformed and muddy interior world it is also at times startlingly poignant: Qureshi overhears one abductor confess he has a crush on a Bollywood actress, another has a game of Ludo with the prisoners and finally the most vicious abductor of all begs his prisoners for forgiveness.
This schizophrenic behaviour caught me completely unawares – having decided I hated these men I realised I also felt sorry for them and the hopeless situation they had placed themselves in. The only future for them is an early death and, in almost all cases, that fate has come to pass.
It is a complex and difficult situation and Qureshi takes us right into the heart of terrorism in the most dangerous place on earth. 165 Days is not a comfortable read but it is a triumph of spirit over prejudice and hatred. The fact the Qureshi offers to shake his abductor’s hand before he is released sums up the character of this extraordinary man. A must-read for anyone seeking a deeper and fairer understanding of a very complex situation."
Wendy Waters
"Asad Qureshi takes us on an incredibly emotional journey into the heart of evil. A mission to make a documentary on the peace process turns into a nightmare for him and his whole family. In 165 Days, he has the courage to lay bare his fears and weaknesses, describing in great detail the physical humiliations and the psychological torture he’s subjected and doing so with tremendous dignity, the very dignity the Taliban monsters tried and failed to strip away. He draws the strength to survive this excruciating ordeal from his deep religious faith and from the love and admiration he feels for his family, whose efforts to free Asad from captivity are spearheaded by the hugely impressive character of his brother, Farrukh, a man who hides the vulnerability of his situation beneath the armour of a great warrior. A gripping page-turner, 165 Days puts the reader right at the heart of action – you live every situation as if you were experiencing it yourself."
Eshaal Mendolia
"They say truth is stranger than fiction. Asad Qureshi's account of his escape from the jaws of death certainly fits the bill. His journey into the heart of darkness, which resulted in the deaths of two of his colleagues, has all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster – betrayal, suspense, gripping action – made all the more impressive by his honest, down-to-earth prose."
Safeer Awan
"The powerful, absorbing memoir of a brave journalist lured into a terrorist trap. Accounts of captivity are not unfamiliar, yet Asad Qureshi has an iron grip on the reader's attention with a style that is so impressively raw it places this biography head and shoulders above similar titles. His first book, this exceptionally realistic narrative is packed with emotion, giving the reader a crystal clear picture of what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a human being with the constant threat of death hanging over him. A five-star read."
Äja Mosleh
" 165 Days-Prisoner of the Taliban by Asad Qureshi is a captivating and emotionally charged read that takes readers on a profound journey through resilience and hope. The story unfolds over a period of 165 days, and talks about the miserable experience of the author during his captivity at the hands of The Asian Tigers a splinter group of the Taliban. Asad had asked me to accompany him on this job. I pulled out at the very last moment as my father was not keen on my going.
The book's narrative is both poignant and powerful, capturing the essence of human struggle and triumph with striking clarity. The way Asad grapples with the challenges and his emotions over the course of his captivity is both inspiring and gut-wrenching.
The real hero of the story is Asad’s brother Farrukh Qureshi whose resilience and steadfastness was key to his kid brother’s release.
God only knows what good deed I did to have been spared the torture of being a hostage.
No doubt, had I gone and survived it would have been one hell of an adventure.
Knowing Asad from such a long time I never thought he would be a such good story teller.
"
Fawad Naeem
"165 Days-Prisoner of the Taliban is a marvellous read, captivating adventure and an emotional thriller. I wept many times because I know the author. His perseverance through the inhumane ordeal is a testament to his commitment as a fearless man. Asad is a much taller personality for me now."
Lt. Col. (R) Farooq Ahmed
I found Asad Qureshi’s book a very engrossing read. His documentary-making skills find expression in his detailed observation of the humiliating and cruel treatment which he and his companions were forced to endure over the many months of captivity. The book cleverly travels between the frantic efforts being made by Asad's brother both in Pakistan and London to secure his release and then the daily and grinding hopelessness of the position of the four captives. I found myself gripped to discover what is the final outcome. At the same time, it is a story of endurance in face of pain, discomfort and barbarism. If anyone wants to learn about the morally bankrupt world of terrorism, they could do a lot worse than read Asad Qureshi’s excellent book.
Neville Spencer Lewis Barrister and author
Asad Qureshi’s debut book, 165 Days Prisoner of the Taliban, is a truly unforgettable read. For most of us, it is hard to imagine a more relentless and harrowing nightmare.
To have survived this experience and have remained humane and dignified in the face of such hell is truly heroic. It is a humbling testament to the human spirit and power of endurance.
There is no trace of bitterness in Asad’s voice throughout his ordeal, and for that one can only stand back in wonder. It was a real privilege to be able to read such an account.
Marion Wilmann
The book takes you on the journey with Asad Qureshi from the day he set off to carry out the interviews, to being captured, held in captivity and the impact of all this on his family, the influence of media (or not).
I picked the book up and literally read it in two days! I could not put it down, it is so well written, really captures the emotions, the struggles. Complexities of relationships and politics.
Maqs Khan
I remember the picture. It depicted two masked men aiming Kalashnikovs at two hostages. The story is hazy, yet the image remains vivid. My two-year-old son was watching TV with me. I glanced upward, and then I saw it. THAT image.
During a difficult personal time, I saw Asad Qureshi’s film, The Battle of Swat Valley. The scene of the synchronized helicopters taking off, with its bird’s-eye view reminiscent of “Apocalypse Now,” is unforgettable. My fascination with the filmmaker and his experiences intensified upon recognizing Asad among the men pictured.
How do you do it? How can you endure immense pain, humiliation, and unimaginable trauma, yet emerge calm and composed? Healing requires a special kind of strength, faith, and person.
Being a mental health advocate, I’ve discussed the significance of CBT with Cambridge graduates and at UNESCO conferences.
After reading this book I was incredibly intrigued at the tone at which it was penned. I sensed no animosity or hatred. Calm pervaded despite the unfiltered facts. Facts that are highly unpleasant to even comprehend, depending on how you interpret them.
Reading “165 Days-Prisoner of the Taliban” revealed Pakistan’s stunning scenery; the book is incredibly cinematic. Without giving too much away, the beginning of the book throws the reader into the middle of a terrifying day. The scene is set, and the story builds into a high-intensity human experience.
The book reads as though it is composed of two distinct stories. On the one hand, we see Asad the filmmaker and on the other, this is suddenly juxtaposed with his violent kidnapping and a very dark second act of the book. The story is intense and compelling throughout, although for very different reasons.
Inspiration comes in various forms. Asad Qureshi who was a captive of the Taliban for 165 days only to return to his work and complete the film, Defusing Human Bombs, about the rehabilitation of radicalised children. Now that is commitment at its highest.
If you are someone who needs a jolt of inspiration, well, here it is!
This powerful and harrowing firsthand account depicts man’s brutality and the resilience of the human spirit.
Tani Gill
Film producer and UN mental health advocate
