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India vs Pakistan: Why Can t We Just be Friends?
What stops India and Pakistan from being friends? In this provocative, deeply analysed book, full of riveting revelations and anecdotes, Husain Haqqani, adviser to four Pakistani prime ministers, looks at the key pressure points in the relationship and argues that Pakistan has a pathological obsession with India, which lies at the heart of the problems between the two countries.
200 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2015
20 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Husain Haqqani
21 books104 followersHusain Haqqani (Urdu: حسین حقّانی; born July 1, 1956), alternately spelled Hussain Haqqani, is a Pakistani political author and the former Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, appointed by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in April 2008, marking a return to government service after being exiled in 1999 following criticisms against the government of then-President Pervez Musharraf. Haqqani resigned on November 22, 2011.
Prior to serving as Ambassador to the United States, Haqqani held several high-ranking positions including as adviser to three former Pakistani prime ministers and as envoy to Sri Lanka. In additions, Haqqani had been a prominent journalist, scholar and educator. He is currently a Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. and co-editor of Hudson's signature journal Current Trends in Islamist Ideology. Haqqani is also the Director of the Center of International Relations and a Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University.
Haqqani was born in Karachi where he was raised in a conservative but educated middle-class family in Malir outside Karachi.
He began his interest in journalism while in high school. In 1973 he joined Karachi University. He would frequently visit the library at the U.S. consulate, reading volumes of American history. Later, when students wanted to attack the consulate as part of a protest against the United States, Haqqani refused.
He received a B.A. degree with distinction in 1977 and an M.A. degree with distinction in international relations in 1980 from the University of Karachi.
In March 2000, he married Farahnaz Ispahani, a former producer at CNN and MSNBC, member of the Pakistani National Assembly, and the granddaughter of Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani, Pakistan's first ambassador to Washington. The Pakistan Ambassador's residence in Washington was purchased and donated by her grandfather.
He has lived in the United States since 2002, and is a fan of Thomas Jefferson and the Boston Red Sox.
Prior to serving as Ambassador to the United States, Haqqani held several high-ranking positions including as adviser to three former Pakistani prime ministers and as envoy to Sri Lanka. In additions, Haqqani had been a prominent journalist, scholar and educator. He is currently a Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. and co-editor of Hudson's signature journal Current Trends in Islamist Ideology. Haqqani is also the Director of the Center of International Relations and a Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University.
Haqqani was born in Karachi where he was raised in a conservative but educated middle-class family in Malir outside Karachi.
He began his interest in journalism while in high school. In 1973 he joined Karachi University. He would frequently visit the library at the U.S. consulate, reading volumes of American history. Later, when students wanted to attack the consulate as part of a protest against the United States, Haqqani refused.
He received a B.A. degree with distinction in 1977 and an M.A. degree with distinction in international relations in 1980 from the University of Karachi.
In March 2000, he married Farahnaz Ispahani, a former producer at CNN and MSNBC, member of the Pakistani National Assembly, and the granddaughter of Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani, Pakistan's first ambassador to Washington. The Pakistan Ambassador's residence in Washington was purchased and donated by her grandfather.
He has lived in the United States since 2002, and is a fan of Thomas Jefferson and the Boston Red Sox.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 12, 2026
Succinctly candid
An engagingly written and concise history of the grievances and hostility between India and Pakistan. Even after being authored by a Pakistani writer—who has served as an adviser to four Pakistani Prime Ministers—the narrative remains remarkably neutral, logical, and refreshingly direct in its approach.
The best part about the book lies in its candour. Rather than offering an emotional or ideological account, it presents a realpolitik perspective. The analysis is sharp, balanced, and to the point, particularly in its treatment of Kashmir—not as the root cause of conflict between the two nations, but as a symptom of a deeper and more complex rivalry.
For anyone interested in modern Indian history or South Asian geopolitics, this book is a thoroughly compelling and rewarding read.
5/5
An engagingly written and concise history of the grievances and hostility between India and Pakistan. Even after being authored by a Pakistani writer—who has served as an adviser to four Pakistani Prime Ministers—the narrative remains remarkably neutral, logical, and refreshingly direct in its approach.
The best part about the book lies in its candour. Rather than offering an emotional or ideological account, it presents a realpolitik perspective. The analysis is sharp, balanced, and to the point, particularly in its treatment of Kashmir—not as the root cause of conflict between the two nations, but as a symptom of a deeper and more complex rivalry.
For anyone interested in modern Indian history or South Asian geopolitics, this book is a thoroughly compelling and rewarding read.
5/5
May 26, 2020
Some hard truths for both countries. Ultra nationalists of both countries may not like this, but several times I found the writer sane and balanced.
Detailed review later...
Detailed review later...
July 6, 2020
Like most Indians, my understanding of the Indo-Pak conflict is one fed on a diet of NCERT, Guha, and the multiple readings I had in my IR course at college. India vs Pakistan by Husain Haqqani marks the first time I read about this conflict from a Pakistani perspective. Haqqani, a former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States and advisor to four Pak. Prime Ministers, offers his understanding of the conflict. It often seems incredibly pro-India (and that is the reason I list his credentials above), but nonetheless, makes me see (some part) of the Pakistani side to things.
This rather thin book on such a complicated issue (I finished it in 2 hours top, with time to wander around my house as one does during these times), is broken into five chapters. The first, looks at the birth of the state of Pakistan, and the reasons for the beginning of what is possibly the biggest frenemy relationship in the world. Notable in this chapter is the way he unconsciously explains why the military has collected so much power in Pakistan. In his second, third and fourth chapter, he looks at two of the biggest buzzwords when it comes to the Indo-Pak relationship, Kashmir, Nuclear Weapons, and Terrorism. In his final chapter, he looks at status-quo and the way forward.
While the book was published in 2016, some of the nuances he brings up in the last chapter, especially that of religion based nationalism were incredibly interesting. The book is an incredibly easy and simple read into some very complicated politics, and something I would recommend to anyone irrespective of their knowledge of geopolitics and IR.
This rather thin book on such a complicated issue (I finished it in 2 hours top, with time to wander around my house as one does during these times), is broken into five chapters. The first, looks at the birth of the state of Pakistan, and the reasons for the beginning of what is possibly the biggest frenemy relationship in the world. Notable in this chapter is the way he unconsciously explains why the military has collected so much power in Pakistan. In his second, third and fourth chapter, he looks at two of the biggest buzzwords when it comes to the Indo-Pak relationship, Kashmir, Nuclear Weapons, and Terrorism. In his final chapter, he looks at status-quo and the way forward.
While the book was published in 2016, some of the nuances he brings up in the last chapter, especially that of religion based nationalism were incredibly interesting. The book is an incredibly easy and simple read into some very complicated politics, and something I would recommend to anyone irrespective of their knowledge of geopolitics and IR.
April 8, 2020
A hodgepodge of Hussain Haqqani's views, nothing else. This is a short book, comprising of five chapters, written objectively. It really exposes his lack of basic understanding of many given issues.
2 stars only because I like his writing style, and because the book does point towards some hard truths. Although, it poses India as a saint; while Pakistan always has had anti-India stances and paranoia backed by Pakistan's military.
2 stars only because I like his writing style, and because the book does point towards some hard truths. Although, it poses India as a saint; while Pakistan always has had anti-India stances and paranoia backed by Pakistan's military.
July 7, 2019
As a rational Indian, I've always felt weird participating in conversations discussing politics of the south asian subcontinent. Primarily because the only viewpoint I had was an Indian one, and it did not feel apt to be making any statements without a perspective from the Pakistani side of things.
That's why I picked this book up, I wanted to know what they think about India's and their role in the deteriorating situation in the subcontinent.
Oh my, how this book shocked me. The author is a person of significant repute, and has been in-the-know of Pakistani politics (very much in-the-know), and that's the only reason I am willing to take this book at face value. The views of the author seem to point the finger at Pakistan in most respects, which is an interesting piece of information for me.
He discusses the things that have led Pakistan to this point of being overrun by the military, militancy, and have made pursuit of India's global stature its sole focus. The points he raises are logical, and I'm fairly saddened to hear that the role of military and the anti-India rhetoric in Pakistan is being propagated at such a scale.
This book ends at an interesting note, where he compares India's current rising levels of anti-secularism, with the situation that has led Pakistan to its current sad state.
As a person who has only consumed Indian media on this topic, but who wanted to have a full picture of the geopolitics involved, this book was an eye-opener.
That's why I picked this book up, I wanted to know what they think about India's and their role in the deteriorating situation in the subcontinent.
Oh my, how this book shocked me. The author is a person of significant repute, and has been in-the-know of Pakistani politics (very much in-the-know), and that's the only reason I am willing to take this book at face value. The views of the author seem to point the finger at Pakistan in most respects, which is an interesting piece of information for me.
He discusses the things that have led Pakistan to this point of being overrun by the military, militancy, and have made pursuit of India's global stature its sole focus. The points he raises are logical, and I'm fairly saddened to hear that the role of military and the anti-India rhetoric in Pakistan is being propagated at such a scale.
This book ends at an interesting note, where he compares India's current rising levels of anti-secularism, with the situation that has led Pakistan to its current sad state.
As a person who has only consumed Indian media on this topic, but who wanted to have a full picture of the geopolitics involved, this book was an eye-opener.
December 1, 2016
Easy to read, difficult to chew, Hard to sallow for those, in Pakistan, are being taught on 'state-narrative' and 'rote-learnin' strategy. Timely-book. The writer picked hot issues with a good-researched insight.
July 2, 2018
Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani Diplomat offers his views about why India and Pakistan can't just be friends. It is a critical account of Pakistani foreign policy with regards to India and is surprisingly lenient towards India.
On the Pakistani side he says that the reasons lie in a national identity crisis, insistence of the Pakistani leadership, civil or military, on equality with India despite the difference in the size of the nations, and an oversized military looking to justify its existence amid meagre revenues. While on the Indian side he offers that the trouble lies in India's inability to clearly understand Pakistan's troubles, and in turn exaggerating them at times. (We at times try to emphasize our similarities which amps up the identity crisis a notch)
The national identity crisis is best summed up by the Pakistani academic Waheed uz Zaman when he says, "If the Arabs, the Turks, and the Iranians, God forbid, give up Islam, the Arabs still remain Arabs, the Turks remain Turks, and the Iranians remain Iranians; but what do we remain if we give up Islam?"
Haqqani feels that the Pakistani military leadership has capitalised on this identity crisis in order to maintain the preeminence of the Army in the state, sometimes with and sometimes without civilian government support. He traces this inordinate influence on state affairs to British policy of designating Martial Communities, a lot of which came from the territory of Pakistan. This in turn resulted in Pakistan being allocated almost 33% of British India's armed forces with only 17% of its revenue. The Army has since then tried to maintain its claim on the resources of the nation through the creation of a national fear psychoses against Indian designs and aggression.
He concludes, therefore, that the Kashmir issue is not likely to be resolved soon as Pakistan cannot be seen to soften its stand given its identity issues and of late, India has also begun to harden its stance because of repeated ceasefire violations and state sponsored terrorist attacks from Pakistan. The nuclearisation of the neighbourhood offered a chance of detente, but that has since been squandered with Kargil in '99 and the proposed plans of the Pakistani Army to develop tactical nukes.
This book also gives an idea about how India is viewed in Pakistan. At one point Haqqani said that India has consistently applied its energies in order to achieve its goal of being a global power. Which, having witnessed the Indian polity, seemed a little over the mark. However, it does make one reassess the same views that we often hold with respect to China in India.
Haqqani ends the book with a poem by Fehmida Riaz titled "Tum Bhi Hum Jaise Nikle", pointing to the rise of Hindutva in India and how it might lead us down to a path similar to the one that Pakistan has followed so far.
On the Pakistani side he says that the reasons lie in a national identity crisis, insistence of the Pakistani leadership, civil or military, on equality with India despite the difference in the size of the nations, and an oversized military looking to justify its existence amid meagre revenues. While on the Indian side he offers that the trouble lies in India's inability to clearly understand Pakistan's troubles, and in turn exaggerating them at times. (We at times try to emphasize our similarities which amps up the identity crisis a notch)
The national identity crisis is best summed up by the Pakistani academic Waheed uz Zaman when he says, "If the Arabs, the Turks, and the Iranians, God forbid, give up Islam, the Arabs still remain Arabs, the Turks remain Turks, and the Iranians remain Iranians; but what do we remain if we give up Islam?"
Haqqani feels that the Pakistani military leadership has capitalised on this identity crisis in order to maintain the preeminence of the Army in the state, sometimes with and sometimes without civilian government support. He traces this inordinate influence on state affairs to British policy of designating Martial Communities, a lot of which came from the territory of Pakistan. This in turn resulted in Pakistan being allocated almost 33% of British India's armed forces with only 17% of its revenue. The Army has since then tried to maintain its claim on the resources of the nation through the creation of a national fear psychoses against Indian designs and aggression.
He concludes, therefore, that the Kashmir issue is not likely to be resolved soon as Pakistan cannot be seen to soften its stand given its identity issues and of late, India has also begun to harden its stance because of repeated ceasefire violations and state sponsored terrorist attacks from Pakistan. The nuclearisation of the neighbourhood offered a chance of detente, but that has since been squandered with Kargil in '99 and the proposed plans of the Pakistani Army to develop tactical nukes.
This book also gives an idea about how India is viewed in Pakistan. At one point Haqqani said that India has consistently applied its energies in order to achieve its goal of being a global power. Which, having witnessed the Indian polity, seemed a little over the mark. However, it does make one reassess the same views that we often hold with respect to China in India.
Haqqani ends the book with a poem by Fehmida Riaz titled "Tum Bhi Hum Jaise Nikle", pointing to the rise of Hindutva in India and how it might lead us down to a path similar to the one that Pakistan has followed so far.
October 18, 2016
The only reason I picked this book was it being written by a Pakistani and I wanted to read a perspective from the other side of the border. It turned out that the author is not just a Pakistani, but a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and has held several high-ranking positions including as adviser to three former Pakistani prime ministers. Nevertheless, I was still expecting a biased version with distorted facts and figures (afterall what can you expect from the bureaucrat of a country that has distorted the reporting of its own history!), but I was completely taken by surprise that how profoundly and maturely Mr. Haqqani has pin pointed all reasons as to why "India and Pakistan can't be friends"
In this short but whistleblower account, Haqqani clearly describes how Pakistani Mullah+Military camaraderie is not only terrorizing India but their own country and how the civilian government has been completely paraplegic to contain that. The author has tried to dive deep in the issue and has discussed the sentiments of the governments, military and civilian population of each country towards the other and correlates it with the various historical milestones that have perpetuated the current scenario. The book discusses Pakistan's faulty foreign policy and mistrust towards India, its tacit approval to irregular warfare (read terrorism), the gradual Islamization of the country and frankly compares the current attributes of both the countries that were 'born together'
To cut it short, the book is a completely 'honest and blunt' account (I might not be surprised if it is being banned in Pakistan for obvious reasons) and is a good choice to pick up if you want some hands-on, quick insights about the concerned scenario.
Click here to buy from Amazon- http://amzn.to/2eCnj3k
Follow my blog for more interesting reviews- https://thebooktrack.wordpress.com/
In this short but whistleblower account, Haqqani clearly describes how Pakistani Mullah+Military camaraderie is not only terrorizing India but their own country and how the civilian government has been completely paraplegic to contain that. The author has tried to dive deep in the issue and has discussed the sentiments of the governments, military and civilian population of each country towards the other and correlates it with the various historical milestones that have perpetuated the current scenario. The book discusses Pakistan's faulty foreign policy and mistrust towards India, its tacit approval to irregular warfare (read terrorism), the gradual Islamization of the country and frankly compares the current attributes of both the countries that were 'born together'
To cut it short, the book is a completely 'honest and blunt' account (I might not be surprised if it is being banned in Pakistan for obvious reasons) and is a good choice to pick up if you want some hands-on, quick insights about the concerned scenario.
Click here to buy from Amazon- http://amzn.to/2eCnj3k
Follow my blog for more interesting reviews- https://thebooktrack.wordpress.com/
April 8, 2017
After having chewed over the views proffered by Husain Haqqani on the relationship between India and Pakistan, I believe that the reasons for hostility between the two states are multipronged - and resolution of the so-called Kashmir conflict alone wouldn't subside the tensions b/w the two nuclear-armed states, terrorism, for example. Husain writes that the Pakistan fears that India would undermine, disapprove and ridicule the 'two-nation theory'; weaken Pakistan to an extent that it ceases to pose any threat to Indian hegemonic designs. Further, her desire to seek parity with India only complicates the issue. India and Pakistan may have centuries of shared history but the contending nationalism, passionately taught in schools and also cultivated through jihadism and Hindutva extremism for seven decades, have eroded the commonalities b/w the two people!
February 14, 2018
Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US, explains the divide since partition. He explains about the various factors for that and rues about a lost opportunity. This is a good book to understand the reasons for divide,and is a quick read.
June 2, 2025
Mr. Haqqani (a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and advisor to four Pakistani prime ministers) has very intuitively, without any bias to either of the nations, has shown a picture of why things are today, the way they are.
It is a small read and I cannot recommend it enough.
At the end of the book, all I am left with is not hate, not anger, not frustration but empathy. Empathy for both the nations to heal together.
It is a small read and I cannot recommend it enough.
At the end of the book, all I am left with is not hate, not anger, not frustration but empathy. Empathy for both the nations to heal together.
October 5, 2016
Written by Husain Haqqani, an erstwhile Pakistani ambassador to the US and now an academic and think tank fellow in the same country, this is a relatively short book which nicely summarizes the important elements of relationship between India and Pakistan- how the seeds for the same were sown during Partition, the events, characters and decisions that shaped it over time, the factors that influence it today and how it might evolve in future. The book is written in an extremely easy and readable style and is probably the best primer available out there for anyone looking to educate himself or herself quickly and pointedly about the India-Pakistan relationship. While Haqqani is undoubtedly one of the most neutral and fair observers of the India-Pakistan dynamic- something that has caused his current forced self-exile to the US in view of threat to his life- the solutions he prescribes are yawn-worthy. They are rehashes of old, tired cliches and impractical to boot.
While the author candidly accepts the inherent irrationality manifest within and the terrorism perpetrated by his country, and sincerely advises the Pakistani state and army as well as the population to reform, his advise to India and Indians to be magnanimous and large-hearted is jarring and retort-worthy. Nowhere does the author mention the unilateral granting of MFN status to Pakistan by India or the Indus Water Treaty which allows Pakistan the lion's share of the water despite India being the upper riparian state. There seems to be insufficient appreciation of the patience and fortitude shown by India in face of repeated provocation by a country that tries to punch much above its weight and is still indulged by its powerful neighbour. We have done more than enough. The onus is on Pakistan to take the steps necessary for reform or else suffer the dire consequences.
While the author candidly accepts the inherent irrationality manifest within and the terrorism perpetrated by his country, and sincerely advises the Pakistani state and army as well as the population to reform, his advise to India and Indians to be magnanimous and large-hearted is jarring and retort-worthy. Nowhere does the author mention the unilateral granting of MFN status to Pakistan by India or the Indus Water Treaty which allows Pakistan the lion's share of the water despite India being the upper riparian state. There seems to be insufficient appreciation of the patience and fortitude shown by India in face of repeated provocation by a country that tries to punch much above its weight and is still indulged by its powerful neighbour. We have done more than enough. The onus is on Pakistan to take the steps necessary for reform or else suffer the dire consequences.
June 10, 2016
Not everyday you finish a book in one go!
Having recently read Pakistan between mosque and military by the author, I was intrigued as to what this book seemingly on a similar topic has to offer. Mr Haqqani comes out triumphant as a pragmatic sane man who puts his points honestly.
This book also serve as a guide for those uninitiated in Pakistan and its paradoxes.
Very succintly written; apt for a time when the dialogue between the two arch-rivals is slowly getting back on track. It deserves to be widely read by all thinking Indians.
Ps: the takeaway for me were the last two pages which contain a wonderful poem by Fehmida Riaz: tum bilkul hum jaise nikle
Having recently read Pakistan between mosque and military by the author, I was intrigued as to what this book seemingly on a similar topic has to offer. Mr Haqqani comes out triumphant as a pragmatic sane man who puts his points honestly.
This book also serve as a guide for those uninitiated in Pakistan and its paradoxes.
Very succintly written; apt for a time when the dialogue between the two arch-rivals is slowly getting back on track. It deserves to be widely read by all thinking Indians.
Ps: the takeaway for me were the last two pages which contain a wonderful poem by Fehmida Riaz: tum bilkul hum jaise nikle
Read
July 4, 2024How Haqqani talks about enhanced cooperation and friendship for mutual benefits among closest yet farthest neighbors is appreciable. He talks about peace, love, and joining hands to fight the issues like poverty and climate change. He talks about facts, identifies mistakes, and emotional behavior. It is said that rationality and emotions are rare to go hand in hand. But, if emotions are put to good use, world can change its course.
August 11, 2016
Hussain Haqqani is a brilliant narrator, he succinctly puts forth what ails the India-Pakistan relationship and what could be done to lessen the longstanding animosity between the neighbors.
March 7, 2024
A must read for all the people in the sub continent . A very balanced view and candid writing by some one who has a ringside view . Some very relevant points thrown up for both neighbours .
December 28, 2017
Listen what ambassador Haqqani says
-----------------------------------------------------------
1) This book contains the following five chapters-
* 'We can either be more than friends or become more than enemies'
* 'Kashmir is Pakistan's jugular vein'
* 'We should use the nuclear bomb'
* Terrorism = Irregular warfare
* The space for friendship is shrinking
2) Ambassador Haqqani talks about the dilemma of Jinnah who after the creation of pakistan thought that India and pakistan will form and alliance like USA and Canada and one day he will retire from his post of governor-general of pakistan and live his rest of life in mumbai, and he also described that Gandhiji told the congressmen to treat pakistan as a family member who for some personal reasons separated from the joint family to live in their own separate home.
3) Author also talks about the first military coup of 1958 in Pakistan which brought the rule of field Marshal Ayub Khan and the latter hatred towards india and especially of hindus which According to him is cowards, and how from partition itself pakistan inherited a very large army from British India and due to which most of their financial resources spent on allowances and salaries of military personnel rather than on health and education.
4) Ambassador also presents his views on Kashmir issue and how the Muslim league leaders failed to convince the than maharaja of J&K to join pakistan and the four wars which india and pakistan fought , and the creation of bangladesh in 1971 which proved that two nation theory is a failure in itself, and the use of terrorism by pakistan to bleed india to thousand cuts.
5) Any responsible nation develops nuclear weapons as a detterence or for global stability but pakistan is the only nuclear State which openly says that their nuclear weapons is only to act against India and Infact the author describes his meeting with the nuclear scientist A.Q Khan (father of pakistan nuclear bomb) and the latter dislike towards India and his interactions with the military personnel who also want to use nuclear weapons and destroy India.
6) In short this book covers all the major events from partition to pathankot air base attack Though in very short and minute details.
7) The language of the book is easy and The reader can finish it in a single sitting.
8) Ambassador said rather than thinking each other as enemies it's better to enhance people to people contact, trade, sports and cultural events which will bring the people of two countries together rather than fighting and using foul language towards each other.
I hope you like the review, thanks for reading, Jai Hind.
-----------------------------------------------------------
1) This book contains the following five chapters-
* 'We can either be more than friends or become more than enemies'
* 'Kashmir is Pakistan's jugular vein'
* 'We should use the nuclear bomb'
* Terrorism = Irregular warfare
* The space for friendship is shrinking
2) Ambassador Haqqani talks about the dilemma of Jinnah who after the creation of pakistan thought that India and pakistan will form and alliance like USA and Canada and one day he will retire from his post of governor-general of pakistan and live his rest of life in mumbai, and he also described that Gandhiji told the congressmen to treat pakistan as a family member who for some personal reasons separated from the joint family to live in their own separate home.
3) Author also talks about the first military coup of 1958 in Pakistan which brought the rule of field Marshal Ayub Khan and the latter hatred towards india and especially of hindus which According to him is cowards, and how from partition itself pakistan inherited a very large army from British India and due to which most of their financial resources spent on allowances and salaries of military personnel rather than on health and education.
4) Ambassador also presents his views on Kashmir issue and how the Muslim league leaders failed to convince the than maharaja of J&K to join pakistan and the four wars which india and pakistan fought , and the creation of bangladesh in 1971 which proved that two nation theory is a failure in itself, and the use of terrorism by pakistan to bleed india to thousand cuts.
5) Any responsible nation develops nuclear weapons as a detterence or for global stability but pakistan is the only nuclear State which openly says that their nuclear weapons is only to act against India and Infact the author describes his meeting with the nuclear scientist A.Q Khan (father of pakistan nuclear bomb) and the latter dislike towards India and his interactions with the military personnel who also want to use nuclear weapons and destroy India.
6) In short this book covers all the major events from partition to pathankot air base attack Though in very short and minute details.
7) The language of the book is easy and The reader can finish it in a single sitting.
8) Ambassador said rather than thinking each other as enemies it's better to enhance people to people contact, trade, sports and cultural events which will bring the people of two countries together rather than fighting and using foul language towards each other.
I hope you like the review, thanks for reading, Jai Hind.
December 26, 2018
India vs Pakistan by Husain Haqqani.
I began reading this book on a friend's recommendation. Here in India most of books we read on India and Pakistan issue are written by Indian writers and are subject to unavoidable biases given the unpleasant history both nations share. In this context the book is even more credible as its written by Husain Haqqani a former Pakistani ambassador to US , a journalist, academician and adviser to four Pakistani Prime minsters including Benazir Bhutto.
Thus anyone interested in the story of India vs Pakistan from Pakistan's point of view or more correctly a liberal Pakistani's point of view this book is a must read.
Right from the beginning this book Clearly establishes the fact that yes we(Pakistan) have made some serious mistakes in the past, a completely opposite stand from Government of Pakistan which is always in a state of denial. But What really fascinated me were the reasons the book states for such mistakes to happen. As an Indian, lost in our own notion that how we are correct and how they are wrong we are most of the time unaware of the context and resason that lead to those mistakes to happen. This book is an eye-opener in this context.
From issue of Kashmir to Terrorism from Partition to nuclear bombs from proxy war to diplomatic relations this book touches a variety of issues concerning both nations ever since Independence.
In the end I would say the book is a Direct and honest account of an insider and a must read.
I began reading this book on a friend's recommendation. Here in India most of books we read on India and Pakistan issue are written by Indian writers and are subject to unavoidable biases given the unpleasant history both nations share. In this context the book is even more credible as its written by Husain Haqqani a former Pakistani ambassador to US , a journalist, academician and adviser to four Pakistani Prime minsters including Benazir Bhutto.
Thus anyone interested in the story of India vs Pakistan from Pakistan's point of view or more correctly a liberal Pakistani's point of view this book is a must read.
Right from the beginning this book Clearly establishes the fact that yes we(Pakistan) have made some serious mistakes in the past, a completely opposite stand from Government of Pakistan which is always in a state of denial. But What really fascinated me were the reasons the book states for such mistakes to happen. As an Indian, lost in our own notion that how we are correct and how they are wrong we are most of the time unaware of the context and resason that lead to those mistakes to happen. This book is an eye-opener in this context.
From issue of Kashmir to Terrorism from Partition to nuclear bombs from proxy war to diplomatic relations this book touches a variety of issues concerning both nations ever since Independence.
In the end I would say the book is a Direct and honest account of an insider and a must read.
September 20, 2020
It's a small book comprising of less than 200 pages which makes you feel that it wouldn't be able to decipher the topic appropriately but the author communicates the message using the limited number of pages in a decent way. Although, there's much to the hostility between the two countries most of the significant elements of history has been picked up and narrated well. One shouldn't expect anything in detail as the book tries to give a summary rather than day by day details.
The author makes some excellent but known points about Pakistan as to their shortcomings in the relationship with India and although the book is called India vs Pakistan very early on the reader starts to understand that it's actually just about Pakistan which was a disappointment. In all the chapters, the entire discussion was about Pakistan but hardly a paragraph about India which is why it doesn't look balanced and is certainly not going to be liked by the Pakistani people.
The author does a decent job in making us comprehend Pakistan's side but fails to do so from the Indian side. The terminology was quick and easy to comprehend which was a nice thing. I'll recommend this book to other people to understand Pakistan but not if this is the only book they'll want to refer regarding this topic.
The author makes some excellent but known points about Pakistan as to their shortcomings in the relationship with India and although the book is called India vs Pakistan very early on the reader starts to understand that it's actually just about Pakistan which was a disappointment. In all the chapters, the entire discussion was about Pakistan but hardly a paragraph about India which is why it doesn't look balanced and is certainly not going to be liked by the Pakistani people.
The author does a decent job in making us comprehend Pakistan's side but fails to do so from the Indian side. The terminology was quick and easy to comprehend which was a nice thing. I'll recommend this book to other people to understand Pakistan but not if this is the only book they'll want to refer regarding this topic.
October 31, 2017
When I started this book, I expected a lot of complaints about both side, what however surprised me was so frank admission about extent of role of military on Pakistani side. Book has been conceptualised very nicely however it lacks details.
It reads like a really long but well written essay, it doesn’t have that scholarly feeling which put you off if you are only starting to read about a particular topic, so I would suggest it as a starter for people who are just embarking on a journey of India Pakistan relationship ride.
I would however still advice to read more about many specific events mentioned in the book as devil literally lies in details and in this particular relationship you can not have enough of details, their is always that counter argument of “What if we did this, your people have been doing that.”
After reading the book, question that I am asking myself is next time when I see a Pakistani, can I call him brother without making him question my motives?
It reads like a really long but well written essay, it doesn’t have that scholarly feeling which put you off if you are only starting to read about a particular topic, so I would suggest it as a starter for people who are just embarking on a journey of India Pakistan relationship ride.
I would however still advice to read more about many specific events mentioned in the book as devil literally lies in details and in this particular relationship you can not have enough of details, their is always that counter argument of “What if we did this, your people have been doing that.”
After reading the book, question that I am asking myself is next time when I see a Pakistani, can I call him brother without making him question my motives?
August 14, 2017
I am mildly disappointed with this book. I had hoped to see a Pakistani view point that was different from what we see in Indian/US media and books. After all, there has to be some propaganda by the Indian Govt - in pragmatic statecraft there seldom are any innocents. But, this account is not very different from what appears in Indian/US media. It's more detailed and gives a historical account of how we got here; but that's pretty much it. So maybe, our media does report things well. On the whole, it's a lament by a liberal caught up in illiberal times. It's also a lament of unrealised dreams of many Pakistanis. It also ends up in a note of warning for Indians by quoting a heart touching poem: https://koonjblog.wordpress.com/2014/...
February 15, 2017
Honest introspection of current state of the dubious sweet and sour relations of Pakistan and India. You can expect very little of transparency for someone who have been in political and security apparatus of country to say which needs to be knows to understand why really can't we be just friends. Having said that initial quotes about Jinnah is something which I found contradicting as I have read accounts on him and his will to create Pakistan from other sources. Overall A must read account of long standing rivals in Asia.
July 8, 2017
I have been looking for books on Indo- Pak relations lately and have happened to come across this one ....it's well suited for beginners like me. But if you are looking for in-depth details , surely this is not the one for you. I just wanted to know how these issues are looked upon from the Pakistani perspective. ...whether it's the usual biased stuff or not. I would say this one is 85% unbiased and 15% biased.
June 17, 2020
Former Ambassador of Pakistan (who eventually fell foul of the Pakistani establishment-read defence establishment) writes about his analysis of what comes in the way of friendship between the two countries. He looks at the 3 pressure points in the relationship : Kashmir, terrorism and the N-bomb. He provides his perspective on where each side is to blame. However, he believes that it is Pakistan's pathological obsession with India that lies at the heart of the problem.
January 1, 2022
A good objective narrative of history of India and Pakistan and how that history plays a major role in deciding the fate of the two countries. The author has a very practical style of writing and does not take any side. There are a few historical accounts of the author when he was serving in Islamabad about how decisions are made in Pakistan. An overall decent book. Not the most detailed account of both the countries.
November 27, 2023
Not what I expected
I had heard about Hussain a lot, so I wanted to understand his scholarship. Perhaps I chose an incorrect book. This book was a disappointment for me. This book did not add any new dimension or search any new line of thought. It just summarizes the same with lots of information which is mostly available on the internet.
I had heard about Hussain a lot, so I wanted to understand his scholarship. Perhaps I chose an incorrect book. This book was a disappointment for me. This book did not add any new dimension or search any new line of thought. It just summarizes the same with lots of information which is mostly available on the internet.
February 9, 2018
I got a signed copy of the book from Mr. Haqqani himself and despite the obvious bias, I loved reading the book. It is a short book, composing about 150 pages but it covers all the necessary bases in India-Pakistan relations including some behind-the-scenes information from the author.
July 17, 2021
Such a balance view
This book is more about the mistakes Pakistan has made during the course of history .
History teach us what mistakes should be avoided . It's a guide for Indians to avoid the mistakes Pakistan made .
This book is more about the mistakes Pakistan has made during the course of history .
History teach us what mistakes should be avoided . It's a guide for Indians to avoid the mistakes Pakistan made .
October 17, 2023
A complicated matter that spans across several decades explained from the eyes of a former Pakistani ambassador.
A book that IMO benefited immensely by lacking bias, emotion and nationalistic sentiments.
Great read.
A book that IMO benefited immensely by lacking bias, emotion and nationalistic sentiments.
Great read.
May 23, 2024
The book may be panned by the Pakistanis and may be extolled by the Indians. Nevertheless, the book is quite simple and informative with respect to the title discussed. A must read for anyone who is interested in the India - Pakistan diplomatic relationships.
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