KOGON PLAN --- STRIVE, STRIVE AND NOT TO YIELD

Sultan Mahmood NIAZI

The intrigue goes on building up at whirl-wind speed; the intensity of the plot is rapidly
escalated; the background to the events is artistically painted in miniature detail and the
story is narrated in lucid yet artistic language it all happens in Naeem Baigs second novel,
KOGON PLAN. The author acknowledges the influence of Ibne Safi as the source of his
inspiration, but Kogon Plan transcends the scope of Ibne Safis novels in almost all aspects of
artistry. The canvas of Naeem Baigs novel is more broadly spread beyond the regional
boundaries and his narration far surpasses the skill of the acknowledged mentor as a
raconteur. While Ibne Safi mostly depended on the humorous component in the build-up
his stories, Baig maintains an air of profound serenity throughout. Countering of the
subversive plots against the national integrity is no joking affair. It needs intense
concentration, deep mental probing and physical and mental agility to break the crypt
intricacy of the schemes of the enemies. Mohammad Hanif is another Pakistani writer
exposing intrigue and betrayal in his The case of the Exploding Mangoes, but he restricts
the action in his novels to within the territorial boundaries of the country. Naeem Baigs
Kogon Plan is neither constricted in space nor characters to any such limits.

Even a casual exploratory voyage through the very first chapter convinces the readers that
they are in for a hefty and multifaceted entertainment full of action and thrill. It
immediately ignites the readers curiosity to explore further. The events narrated in the
novel can easily be contextualized, resulting in the suspension of disbelief, in the light of the
existing situation on the Western borders of the country. That is one of the major
attractions in a work of fiction. Action may be taking place on the streets of Kabul in
Afghanistan or at the fishing harbor in Sri Lanka or in the remote recesses of the African
continent, the readers feel that it could be happening so in reality. Such events take place
every day in the region, hence there is ready acceptance of what is presented by the
novelist.
Scene description is one of the main features of Naeem Baig art as a novelist. He has had
the advantage of being personally to most of the foreign places where the action in the
novel occurs. His intimate description of places in Kabul, Dubai, Colombo and Zanzibar is the
outcome of his visits to those places. The rest of the places were extensively researched by
him on the net before they were described and discussed in the novel. The outcome is that
there is not the slightest vestige of being unrealistic in respect of the geographic details
painted by him so intimately with the precision of a miniature artist. Besides that he has the
artistic facility of creating images at will. The cumulative effect of personal experiences and
research outcomes is that whatever places and scenes are described by the writer bear the
stamp of authenticity. He looks at the environment with the eyes of a poet and eloquently
transcribes the landscapes on his canvas. His description of Islamabad at the start of the
second chapter is a photographic representation of the capital.
A city master- planned by a Greek architect and designer in the late fifties with its
face towards the Margalla Hills on the north-eastern fringe of the Potohar plateau, with
plenty of rains and lush green landscapes covered by rows of flame trees, jacarandas and
hibiscus. Roses, jasmines and beaugainvillas fill the parks and scenic view-points which
symbolize the aspirations of this young and dynamic nation. It is an ideal city to culminate
careers in the government.

All the protagonists of action in the novel are everyday human beings, commonly found
moving around us. They are not super human beings in any way, though all of them are
recognized by their peculiar traits but they dont behave or perform like aliens. Their only
distinctive feature is their determination to produce results and their indomitable
perseverance in their individual pursuits. No one seems to be willing to relent. Their
idiosyncrasies keep on goading them to pursue their goals to the final end. Sahel Farhaj aka
Sher Alis character is delineated through the analysis of his traits of stubborn struggle in
spite of the opposition on the part of his immediate boss, who, in turn follows the advice of
his impulses. Razmak Bilal, Sahils antagonist, displays similar characteristics of unflinching
rigidity of purpose in his subversive designs. He goes on killing innocent people without

remorse because he thinks he is justified in doing so on account of the abuses hurled on him
because of his fathers betrayal of the national honor at the hands of the Russian
communist forces. At the same time he pledges his services to the same party which is
alleged to have purchased the loyalty of his father.
A detective thriller would be drab if it does not contain enormous amount of the element of
suspense it. The novel opens with various members of NSBs Special Operations group
vigilantly poised to perform whatever functions were assigned to them on the streets of
Kabul. Everyone is on toes in order to ensure that the mission is successfully accomplished
and Razmak Bilal, the target, is captured. The target is equally good in watching his
surroundings and takes extreme pre-cautionary steps to foil any possible attempt at
shadowing him. When the final moment of nabbing him arrives and the readers start feeling
relaxed, the twist in the story occurs.
They mounted the side-walk and closed in on Razmaks back. They coked the slides. It
was then that Razmak turned and Ali was expected to see the snout of the Makarov pistol
that he knew Razmak carried. But instead, what faced him was an expression of initial
greeting that quickly turned to surprised horror and would haunt Sher Ali for the rest of
his unnatural life. As he reached closer to the target to grab his both wrists at one stretch,
a burst of .45 magnum automatics sudde3nly sprayed on the chest and belly of the target
blowing him off in the air backwards. Ali knelt down and shouted over to Baba to get back
in the car. A semi-automatic medium range fire.
A shot sounded, the shell dropped in front of him after hitting the wall. Another rubbed
his left shoulder. Ali squeezed in for a moment, turned his face left and then three rounds
from the Colt came. Taking shelter behind the corolla over to the window on his left, he
glanced at the window on the left side building where he could see the mild smoke of
gunfire. He quickly got up and emptied his pistol at the invisible shooters and jumped into
the car. No sign of shooters in the window. They might, by now, have left the window.
Sahels mission in Kabul ended in a fiasco. The Russians had used a party of Uzbeks to deny
him the moment of triumph. He was also grievously wounded in the leg. Symbolically
speaking they had not only managed to take the feet from under him, they had achieved
another sinister purpose. Later on it is revealed that the slain person was not Razmak, but
his look-alike brother, Gulo, used as a bait to draw out the special operations group of the
NSB. Gulos death served the purpose of turning Razmak into a sworn enemy of the group.
As a result of highly sophisticated plastic surgery, his visage was completely altered into the
face of a young, highly civilized Pakistani bureaucrat posted in the presidents secretariat.
The Russians had succeeded in turning a young man squirming under the eyes of the
patriotic Afghans into a blood-thirsty monster.
The way Sahel is whisked away out of Kabul in the garb of a cancer patient on the
point of death is a treat to read. Naeem Baig deserves a pat on the back for

inventing the marvelous stratagem for Sahels evacuation to safety. A lengthy

process of surgery, recoupment and recovery follows. Ordinarily such a phase of
rehabilitation should have been a sedate affair, but it goes to the writers credit that
he continuously maintains the thrill through Col. A.K. Zawris hostile handling of the
post-operational process. In spite of having a handicapped knee, Sahel is put
through a grueling course in martial arts. His resilience and determination keep on
motivating him to not to yield.

The members of the Special Operations Group of NSB started being fatally targeted at
intervals. The tactics applied by the murderers smacked of Razmaks modus operandi, but
Sahels superior boss was not willing to accept that the monster could be re-incarnated after
his death. One of Razmaks operatives finally spills out the beans. Sahel follows Razmak to
Zanzibar but finds another member of the group eliminated. In Sri Lanka, Sahel is nabbed by
the security personnel, while Razmak mischievously gloats over the spectacle as an amused
by-stander. The novelist realizes the comparatively weaker position of his hero as compared
to that of the villain. Razmak is physically much stronger and mentally far sharper and more
cunning than Sahel. As the two of them come face to face in the end, Razmak savors his
advantages and puts him in the awkward position of one who has to obey the mightier. Only
Sahels determination keeps him from total submission. Charged with the spirit of
desperation he takes the self-effacing step.
Sahel was frozen in his half bow, his mouth suddenly dry as sand, his breath like waves of
sea, and the pulse pounding in his throat. He stared at the shadowed face, immobile, his
eyes blazing like a furnace. Sahel moved slowly up. His eyes on Razmaks face, he lowered
his pistol towards the roof, wanting to try it anyway, knowing that he would be blown off
the lower roof into Dilshads lap if hand even trembled.
He straightened up now without the weapon turning a bit, facing full to the front, his
limbs shivering cursing with blood. From somewhere far below, he heard the band playing
its favorite tune. He visualized the arrival of the president on the stage. They would never
make it. He heard another sound, the drone of a distant voice. Slightly metallic, the
speech echoing in the great show.
Unbelievingly, he felt his body moving forward, rebelling against a mind that tried to
compel him to stop. Yet Razmak watched him quietly.
Do not worry, Capt. Sahel Farhaj, the voice said in perfectly controlled Urdu. You will
only have to witness the assassination of your president. And I will end it for you, as you
ended it for my brother. Now drop your gun on the floor.
Sahel had no way except to comply with the orders. He lowered his hand and set his pistol
slowly on the floor.

The automatic gun began to move slowly, its line changing just slightly. He was going to
shoot Sahel, not kill him yet, just enough to immobilize him. While then he would step to
the stand and use the RPG, blowing them all back into a terrible pledge of tribal revenge.
He was going to shoot Sahel in the legs.
You killed Gulo! Sahel was amazed that he could find his own voice, harsh and horse as
it was with terror. You killed your own brother. He moved his foot forward almost
dragging it. You used him like a tethered goat and I was merely an instrument to bring
you to the law and you knew it very well, Mr. Hayat Gul.
He hit the mark. Razmak lifted his head, his eyes narrowing and rage crawling over his
face. For that crucial millisecond, he raised the gun to fire at Sahels chest, and Sahel made
the only move he could, the only technique he had ever managed to do half-well in KravMagza.
He lunged his left foot, snapped his right hand forward up over catching the gun and sidestepping as it exploded next to his face, He yelled as he struck out with his right fist, but
Razmak snapped his head away and the punch went wild. He felt a sharp blow to his knee,
but still he held on to the gun, yet in a split second he knew that he would never complete
the move, could never turn the weapon on Razmak and use it. An open hand copped
down into his face as he twisted to the left with all his might, swinging his right hand over
towards the automatic, slamming into it, wrenching it from Razmaks grip as he followed
through and hurled it high and away into the air.
For the friction of a second pause, they stood empty-handed, eyes into eyes. But it was no
match. Sahel did the unthinkable.
As Razmaks eyes blinked in disbelief, Sahel yelled out Ambers name, launched himself
forward in the air and gripped his arch-enemy in a bear-hug of hatred that took them both
over the edge of the parapet to the full length of a long hollow scream seventeen storeys
down on to the Scion Hotel fore-court far below.
Naeem Baig has a peculiar ease of words, both for cogently describing the scenes and for
eloquently narrating the actions and incidents. Such natural linguistic flow is only the result
of extensive reading and long scribbling practice. Baig doesnt have to choose his words;
rather the words stream down his mind in a natural flow and arrange themselves properly
into masterly patterns. It is a very rare quality among the Pakistani writers in the English
language that they can refrain from employing the verbose or over- indulgence in florid
rendering of the matter in hand. Naeem Baig is one such artist.
It would make an interesting study to compare The Kogon Plan with The Case of the
Exploding Mangoes by Mohammad Hani. We are likely to realize that both the writers
display equal facility of recounting the stories, but there is greater variety in painting the
scenes and greater scope of presenting the happenings in case Naeem Baig. He has an ever

vigilant eye on the interest of the nation. He does not express sarcasm or revulsion for those
who wield political powers. Even Col. Zawri is ultimately shown to have regard and affection
for the team members and his apparent rudeness is merely a camouflage to hide his real
feelings.
Both of them seem to have so close association with the defense organizations of Pakistan
that they do not find any hesitance in talking as inside men, but surprisingly the writer of
The Kogon Plan happens to a senior banker having nothing to do with the armed forces. In
the selection of words too, Naeem Baig is quite sophisticated. He avoids lapsing into
vulgarity and sensuality for the sake adding spice to the matter. He continues to present the
subject matter in simple terms and ends up creating a master-piece. Despite frequent
editing lapses, the end-result is simply marvelous. Well done, Naeem Baig! Hope the second
edition of the book is entirely freed of all typographical mistakes and editing omissions. The
readers would be eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the next edition.
..
Dated 8th August, 2016.
(The writer, Prof. Sultan Mahmood Niazi, has been a college and university teacher of long
standing experience, an eminent textbook writer, founder M.D of Balochistan Education
Foundation, former Chairman, Balochistan Textbook Board, former Head of English
Department and Director (communications), BUITEMS, Quetta)