Husain Haqqani, the author, is a former Ambassador of Pakistan to
US. He was charged with conspiring against the Pak government and had to leave
his country and take shelter in the USA. Haqqani a member of Benazir Bhutto's
party PPP is an erudite in foreign affairs and Pakistani history. Having access
to the corridors of power in the both US and Pak he was privy to secrets and
top level Pakistani government and Army functionaries.
Haqqani elucidates the diplomatic and foreign relations between
Pak and US starting from the conceptualization of Pakistan, which would serve
as a home to Muslims of South East Asia and to the discovery and assassination
of infamous mass murderer Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad, Pakistan in 2011.
Haqqani describes how the US has played a pivotal role in harboring, nurturing
and supporting the Pakistani establishment in the form of billions of dollars
in aid and arms.
The most enlightening facet of the book is how each Pakistani
leader starting from the civilian rulers like Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto to Military dictators like General Ayub to Zia and to Musharaff have
begged for aid and money from the American Presidents. This is a recurrent
theme in the book, as Haqqani is taking us through a tour of Pak history and
its relationship with the most powerful nation in the world each new leader
keeps on repeating the same things to the Americans ad nauseam, Pakistan's
strategic location, its powerful military, anti-communism and the viscous
machinations of India.
At one point of time it actually becomes a bit boring reading
about the same things repeated by each new leader more persistently and with
more zeal each time. I'm so surprised at how our neighbors who claim to be the
Jewel of the Muslim world have been literally begging their way into
sustenance. The whole country is just surviving on large aid provided either by
America, Britain, China or Saudi Arabia and other rich Muslim states. Instead
of investing in their economy and education, Pak has been redirecting a large
sum of their money towards sustaining their over sized army and Jihad against
India.
Pakistan diplomats are perhaps the best in the world who for
decades have coaxed the American establishment into believing that they did not
do enough for Pak, who is their ally. This was the case even when US had no
strategic interest in that region. Of course the Pakistanis have always felt
that they have been misused by America and have got peanuts in return. The army
and other civilian establishments have portrayed themselves as friends and
allies of America but behind their back have never admitted to the Pakistani
people about this. America is seen as an enemy of Islam and Pakistan, the army
portrays that this is not the case to Americans but with their tacit approval
and support they prop up these anti american actors.
This review would not be complete without talking about Pakistan's
nuclear program and AQ Khan. Pak's nuclear program was started by the so called
Quaid e Aam, Bhutto(who was later hanged by his trusted aide General Zia), Zia
continued the nuclear weapons programs for Pakistan. Zia was questioned
multiple time by various US officials over Pak's nuclear program, Zia kept
lying through his teeth! AQ Khan, father of the 'Muslim bomb' later went to
sell Pak's nuclear technology to North Korea, Libya and other rogue states.
In conclusion the only reason Pak has not failed as a state, is
because of US. US is both a victim and partner in crime of Pakistan. One
personal observation after reading this detailed account has been that
republican presidents have been more Pak pro and democrats have been more pro
Indian.
Haqqani's book is a very good analysis of the delusions of Pak-US
relationship. He is critical of his own people and military and is brave enough
to stand up against them, Pakistan needs more people like him. An honest
account but a tad bit tiresome at times.
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