What do you think?
Rate this book
The Duel
An accessible and revelatory account of the deepening political crisis engulfing the West's closest ally in the war on terror, by a writer unrivalled in his knowledge of the key players and issues involved.
315 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
34 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Tariq Ali
137 books805 followersTariq Ali (Punjabi, Urdu: طارق علی) is a British-Pakistani historian, novelist, filmmaker, political campaigner, and commentator. He is a member of the editorial committee of the New Left Review and Sin Permiso, and regularly contributes to The Guardian, CounterPunch, and the London Review of Books.
He is the author of several books, including Can Pakistan Survive? The Death of a State (1991) , Pirates Of The Caribbean: Axis Of Hope (2006), Conversations with Edward Said (2005), Bush in Babylon (2003), and Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity (2002), A Banker for All Seasons (2007) and the recently published The Duel (2008).
He is the author of several books, including Can Pakistan Survive? The Death of a State (1991) , Pirates Of The Caribbean: Axis Of Hope (2006), Conversations with Edward Said (2005), Bush in Babylon (2003), and Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity (2002), A Banker for All Seasons (2007) and the recently published The Duel (2008).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Read
January 16, 2020An inevitable addition to my "abandoned" shelf. I had picked this up,out of sheer curiosity. Tariq Ali had previously written a book "Death of a State,Can Pakistan Survive ?" At the very beginning he writes,"there is no shortage of people in Pakistan,who believe the country should never have been founded". An individual,with extremely slanted views like that,can hardly be expected to write an objective book.
As I skimmed through it,I did find some interesting bits. But it's a very lengthy book,and I couldn't stomach the blatantly biased nature of the narrative,to go through it all. The history of Pakistan,and its relations with the US is
very familiar to me,anyway. I can do without reading Tariq Ali's views in such detail. Abandoned.
As I skimmed through it,I did find some interesting bits. But it's a very lengthy book,and I couldn't stomach the blatantly biased nature of the narrative,to go through it all. The history of Pakistan,and its relations with the US is
very familiar to me,anyway. I can do without reading Tariq Ali's views in such detail. Abandoned.
June 1, 2012
An excellent overview of the history of political power in Pakistan - from pre-Partition through to Musharraf. (That's the one caveat: the book was published before Musharraf stepped down, so it isn't quite up to date with current events.) Ali obviously has a history and vested interest in Pakistan - that's what makes The Duel incredibly engaging, with its anecdotes and awareness of political culture & society, and indeed Ali's personal relationships with many of the people in power. It does also mean that it isn't quite an objective analysis - though Ali never hides his political and ideological biases. In many ways, it's a book that would be impossible to write without this level of entanglement. A very readable and engaging insight into not only the ways in which American politics, resources and money have influenced Pakistan - but also the intellectual response of some in the subcontinent to this influence. The Duel is cynical and opinionated, but never hectoring - well worth a read. (Obviously, personally fascinating to read about the partition and various Indo-Pak wars from a Pakistani perspective as well!)
February 18, 2019
Good as a primer on Pakistani political history 1947-2008, but I ultimately grew tired of Tariq Ali’s habit of inserting himself into every other scene: ‘the last time I saw her I told her she should do x’; ‘I was the first one ever to say y’; ‘just as I had predicted it as far back as z’.
December 14, 2008
Tariq Ali, reputed to be an inspiration for the Stones song "Street Fighting Man," has a commendable history of committed activism and is also a wonderful writer of both fiction and non-fiction (the only novle of his I've read is "Fear of Mirrors," which was tremendous). As a friend pointed out after listening to a recent speech of Ali's, the man is an artist.
He knows of what he writes in this volume partly due to his lineage in a well-placed Pakistani political family. He thus has had contact with many of the players he discusses, and his first hand accounts of his questioning of various political figures adds another level of depth to an already impressive book.
Below a number of passages that stand out for their political significance or their literary flair (or both). No collection of random quotes can do true justice to this book, so order your library to purchase it if they haven't already.
p. 217 "In 2004, as the chaos in Iraq deepened, the war in Afghanistan became the 'good war' by comparison. It had been legitimized by the UN -- even if the resolution was not passed until after the bombs had finished falling -- and backed by NATO. If tactical differences had sharpened over Iraq, they could be resolved in Afghanistan. FIrst Zapatero in Spain, then Prodi in Italy, and most recently Rudd in Australia compensated for pulling troops out from Iraq by dispatching them to Kabul. France and Germany could extol their peacekeeping or civilizing roles there. For the Scandinavians it became a feel-good war."
p.233 "There are few signs that the $19 billion in "aid and reconstruction" money devoted to Afghanistan has served to ease the suffering of the majority of its people. The electricity supply is worse now than five years ago [...] hundreds of homeless Afghans are literally freezing to death each winter."
p.241 "What was initially viewed by some locals as a necessary police action against Al Qaeda following the 9/11 attacks is now perceived by a growing majority in the region as a full-fledged imperial occupation. The neo-Taliban is growing and creating new alliances not because its sectarian religious practices have become popular, but because it is the only available umbrella for national liberation. As the British and Russians discovered at a high cost in the two preceding centuries, Afghans never like being occupied."
p.243-244 Ali quotes Elizabeth Rubin of the NY Times: "Rubin, like David Halberstam in Vietnam, is alarmed at the high rate of civilian deaths caused by NATO: 'The sheer tonnage of metal raining down on Afghanistan was mind-boggling: a million pounds between January and September of 2007, compared with half-a-million in all of 2006.'"
p.254 after quoting Brookings Institute specialist Stephen Cohen on how Musharraf has become a liability to the U.S.(circa early 2008), Ali writes, "While there is truth to this, Cohen, like most U.S. analysts, underestimates the way that continuous Washington-backed military interventions have wrecked the organic evolution of politics in Pakistan, leaving it in the hands of mediocre and mottled politicians who have, till now, shown few signs of learning from past mistakes and whose only skill is in the relentless pursuit of personal wealth."
p.265 "An argument often used by Bernard Lewis is that the United States has become a scapegoat for the Muslim world to explain its own decline and problems. To put forward this argument at a time when the Western military or economic occupation of the Arab world, barring Syria and partially Lebanon, is virtually complete is somewhat disingenuous. The founders of Al Qaeda were incubated in Saudi Arabia and Egypt before being dispatched to wage jihad in Afghanistan by Zbigniew Brzenski, now an adviser to Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential campaign. Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia have always been close, with cash nexus, rather than religion, playing the bigger part. But the Saudi kingdom is also close to Washington. Surely Bernard Lewis is aware that King Faisal sincerely believed that the only way to defeat Nasser and the godless Communists was by making religion the central pillar of the Saudi social order and using it ruthlessly against the enemy. Islam was under threat and had to be defended on all fronts. This pleased his allies in Washington, who were tolerant een of his decision to impose an oil embargo against the West after the 1973 war, something that has never been attempted since."
p.2777 "Official history is mainly composed of half-truths and outright lies, in which everything is attributed to well-meaning rulers and noble, pious sentiments. Those who write this are worshippers of accomplished facts, rallying to the side of victors. Sometimes a general, sometimes a politician. Success justifies everything. There is another history that refuses to be repressed." O.K., pick up the book for the final passage that follows, it's a beaut.
He knows of what he writes in this volume partly due to his lineage in a well-placed Pakistani political family. He thus has had contact with many of the players he discusses, and his first hand accounts of his questioning of various political figures adds another level of depth to an already impressive book.
Below a number of passages that stand out for their political significance or their literary flair (or both). No collection of random quotes can do true justice to this book, so order your library to purchase it if they haven't already.
p. 217 "In 2004, as the chaos in Iraq deepened, the war in Afghanistan became the 'good war' by comparison. It had been legitimized by the UN -- even if the resolution was not passed until after the bombs had finished falling -- and backed by NATO. If tactical differences had sharpened over Iraq, they could be resolved in Afghanistan. FIrst Zapatero in Spain, then Prodi in Italy, and most recently Rudd in Australia compensated for pulling troops out from Iraq by dispatching them to Kabul. France and Germany could extol their peacekeeping or civilizing roles there. For the Scandinavians it became a feel-good war."
p.233 "There are few signs that the $19 billion in "aid and reconstruction" money devoted to Afghanistan has served to ease the suffering of the majority of its people. The electricity supply is worse now than five years ago [...] hundreds of homeless Afghans are literally freezing to death each winter."
p.241 "What was initially viewed by some locals as a necessary police action against Al Qaeda following the 9/11 attacks is now perceived by a growing majority in the region as a full-fledged imperial occupation. The neo-Taliban is growing and creating new alliances not because its sectarian religious practices have become popular, but because it is the only available umbrella for national liberation. As the British and Russians discovered at a high cost in the two preceding centuries, Afghans never like being occupied."
p.243-244 Ali quotes Elizabeth Rubin of the NY Times: "Rubin, like David Halberstam in Vietnam, is alarmed at the high rate of civilian deaths caused by NATO: 'The sheer tonnage of metal raining down on Afghanistan was mind-boggling: a million pounds between January and September of 2007, compared with half-a-million in all of 2006.'"
p.254 after quoting Brookings Institute specialist Stephen Cohen on how Musharraf has become a liability to the U.S.(circa early 2008), Ali writes, "While there is truth to this, Cohen, like most U.S. analysts, underestimates the way that continuous Washington-backed military interventions have wrecked the organic evolution of politics in Pakistan, leaving it in the hands of mediocre and mottled politicians who have, till now, shown few signs of learning from past mistakes and whose only skill is in the relentless pursuit of personal wealth."
p.265 "An argument often used by Bernard Lewis is that the United States has become a scapegoat for the Muslim world to explain its own decline and problems. To put forward this argument at a time when the Western military or economic occupation of the Arab world, barring Syria and partially Lebanon, is virtually complete is somewhat disingenuous. The founders of Al Qaeda were incubated in Saudi Arabia and Egypt before being dispatched to wage jihad in Afghanistan by Zbigniew Brzenski, now an adviser to Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential campaign. Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia have always been close, with cash nexus, rather than religion, playing the bigger part. But the Saudi kingdom is also close to Washington. Surely Bernard Lewis is aware that King Faisal sincerely believed that the only way to defeat Nasser and the godless Communists was by making religion the central pillar of the Saudi social order and using it ruthlessly against the enemy. Islam was under threat and had to be defended on all fronts. This pleased his allies in Washington, who were tolerant een of his decision to impose an oil embargo against the West after the 1973 war, something that has never been attempted since."
p.2777 "Official history is mainly composed of half-truths and outright lies, in which everything is attributed to well-meaning rulers and noble, pious sentiments. Those who write this are worshippers of accomplished facts, rallying to the side of victors. Sometimes a general, sometimes a politician. Success justifies everything. There is another history that refuses to be repressed." O.K., pick up the book for the final passage that follows, it's a beaut.
April 13, 2009
I'm consistently underwhelmed by Tariq Ali, whether it's his writings for the London Review of Books, or longer work such as 'Clash of Fundamentalisms' or this new book. Ali is poor at explaining complex subjects of which the reader might know little about. As this book is about Pakistan, a subject of which I am largely ignorant, I was expecting to learn a lot. However, it's written at the level of someone who already knows a whole lot about Pakistani history and politics. And then it is layered with a off-putting dose of cynicism and anti-western vitriol. Not anti western-imperialism vitriol, or anti western capitalism vitriol, just plain anti-westernism, whenever the opportunity arises, no matter how petty the jibe or remark. What genre is this expected to fall into - not history, presumably. Not 'foreign affairs' either. More like 'political screed'.
I have also read Ali's 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Axis of Hope', about modern South American politics, which did a much better job of educating. 'The Duel' was presumably written for people who know all about the history of the subcontinent, and already feel the same way about it as Ali does. I didn't even finish it, as this was written for Ali's friends & colleagues, and not for any type of wide readership - which is does not deserve.
I have also read Ali's 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Axis of Hope', about modern South American politics, which did a much better job of educating. 'The Duel' was presumably written for people who know all about the history of the subcontinent, and already feel the same way about it as Ali does. I didn't even finish it, as this was written for Ali's friends & colleagues, and not for any type of wide readership - which is does not deserve.
February 7, 2019
3.5 Stars!
The contemporary version of Pakistan presented to the western world by mainstream media, is one of religious bigotry, intolerance, violence and extremism. This isn’t entirely untrue, as there is plenty of evidence to substantiate such claims, but of course depending on your agenda you could also say the exact same thing about many other countries, not least the US. But as Ali shows, there is a lot more to the picture.
Ali reveals an enduring legacy of rampant corruption, cronyism and oppression hidden beneath the guise of religious piety, which has taken its toll, and as ever it’s the millions at the bottom who pay the real price. Thanks to a tiny minority, a select powerful and elite group who have made a concerted and consistent effort to keep the masses ignorant, as he says,
“This state had been created, after all, to make it easier for them to get all the jobs without competition from Hindus and Sikhs. It now became their unflinching duty to keep permanent vigil and ensure that the lower classes of the Muslim population never received an education that might lead them to challenge their monopoly of power. This continuity has been carefully maintained.”
As other writers have illustrated elsewhere, (Seymour Hersh, Noam Chomsky et al) in spite of the empty threats and hollow rhetoric, America enjoys intimate relations with Pakistan and has done for many decades. After all from 9/11 up to this book was published in 2008, the US had given $10 billion to them in support of “the war on terror” and of course there was the incredible amount of arms, money and other support they pumped in during the drawn out Afghan conflict with the USSR throughout most of the 80s.
It is interesting to see that so many regions today in that part of the world are split into other countries and how this was clearly done by white, western governments abiding by the divide and conquer rule, areas like Balochistan (divided by Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan), Bengal (India and Bangladesh), Punjab (India and Pakistan), which is clearly only going to create unrest. Can you imagine if Asian leaders drew an arbitrary line which split Texas and California in half with Mexico and then put half of Washington in Canada?...
We see that it was the arrival of General Zia (in power from 1978-1988) which dragged the nation back into the dark ages, as well as ordering the execution of Bhutto in 1979. He went onto create the perfect circumstances in which to breed religious extremism and later terrorism, by curbing civil liberties, increasing press censorship, he also escalated their atomic bomb project and greatly enhanced the Islamization of Pakistan which helped to radicalise many, and paved the way for Wahhabism and Sharia law.
Ali’s friendship with Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi obviously adds a significant element of authenticity to his arguments and his long term activism also proves insightful. There are some sluggish moments here and there, but overall Ali is a clear and eloquent guide who paints a vivid and refreshingly honest history of his birth nation and this was another fine piece of work from an important writer.
May 17, 2012
Alternate history of Pakistan. Must read for all bred by Pakistani governmental historical propaganda.
Starts of well with good insight into the reasons why Pakistan was created. I liked the bits about Muslim League own history, as a feudal based conservative party created to garner relations with their British masters. I also enjoyed the piece on the way how the colonialists used to brand certain nationalities like the Pathans for their own nefarious purposes. How an image of a warrior and a always vengeful Pathan was pushed almost becoming the sine qua non of his profile; thereby justifying all punitive actions against them. I was able to link the two together; the Muslim League's reliance on the British/Americans and the sticking to the colonialist definitions of the locals [like Pathans] even after the partition because of their own weakness in community based politics in Pakistan, both East and the West.
The other strong odour from the book was nationalism; Pakistani nationalism was born after its creation while the Indian started way back in 1885. The Pakistani version before 1947 was based on partition from the Hindus instead. I think we have never successfully been able to separate the two successfully; nationalism and our hatred for the Hindu majority.
Starts of well with good insight into the reasons why Pakistan was created. I liked the bits about Muslim League own history, as a feudal based conservative party created to garner relations with their British masters. I also enjoyed the piece on the way how the colonialists used to brand certain nationalities like the Pathans for their own nefarious purposes. How an image of a warrior and a always vengeful Pathan was pushed almost becoming the sine qua non of his profile; thereby justifying all punitive actions against them. I was able to link the two together; the Muslim League's reliance on the British/Americans and the sticking to the colonialist definitions of the locals [like Pathans] even after the partition because of their own weakness in community based politics in Pakistan, both East and the West.
The other strong odour from the book was nationalism; Pakistani nationalism was born after its creation while the Indian started way back in 1885. The Pakistani version before 1947 was based on partition from the Hindus instead. I think we have never successfully been able to separate the two successfully; nationalism and our hatred for the Hindu majority.
August 6, 2014
Tariq Ali writes in meticulous details on Pakistani politics, military and deplorable role of US in the evolutionary process of the country. Despite facing great challenges on multiple fronts, Tariq is hopeful that Pakistan is capable of putting things in order if genuine democratic leadership with sincerity controls reigns of the state instead of being run by an incompetent politicians or military brass seeking all-times mercy of their master, Uncle Sam. He gives practicable solutions to the manifold social, political, health, educational and other problems being faced by Pakistan, and also its neighboring Afghanistan. A must read book for all those who are interested in Pakistani politics...
March 24, 2016
The short history of the country of Pakistan including it's culture, corruptness, foreign relationships, military coups, role of Islam, role in the war in Afghanistan, etc is complex. This book helps a bit to understand these issues but is not well structured. Bits of information appear repeatedly, other parts seem out of order and there is not a lot of coherency to what is the basis to the book's argument - how the US pulls the strings.
There are some interesting parts and Tariq Ali's personnel experiences are worth reading.
There are some interesting parts and Tariq Ali's personnel experiences are worth reading.
June 21, 2020
A dense and incredibly detailed book tying together the history of Pakistan with its outside influences. Ali sums up the book well: “Politics in a land of perpetual dictatorships and corrupt politicians is undoubtedly depressing”, but still he lured me in.
The US role in Pakistan is portrayed as sometimes paternal, often manipulative and abusive while having an ever changing direction in strategy. The US seems to have treated Pakistan as a boiling stew, forever throwing new things into the mix and hoping it all comes out well, without a recipe. The chapter on the US’s “arranged marriage” between Bhutto and Musharraf is a brilliant example. This is the first time I have read and understood that the melange of political factions, ethnic identities, and characters vying for power in Pakistan and the disruptive history of the country’s beginnings caused it to continually boil over in ways the US could not predict or control.
Ali convinces that the trials of Pakistan are as much to do with internal politics and complex historical narratives as they are to the haphazard but constant interference of the US. I wondered and wonder how Pakistan would ever climb out of the mire. As complex as the book is, Ali is a genius at capturing the mood of the people. He does this so poignantly through poetry and prose from the time giving a real humanity and heart to the beleaguered nation.
The problem with the book, and not one Ali could possibly have overcome, is that Pakistan’s politics, the US role in the continue on. Though it is painted as a “sixty year marriage” nothing has brought about its end. This is the beginning of the story. Ending at Musharraf’s departure and knowing so much has happened since made me feel that I had only read the first chapter of what will be a long and ever more complex story.
That being said, the epilogues were some of my favourite writing of the book and certainly the most scathing (to the political negligence that upholds the social structure of Pakistan and to US military presence in Afghanistan). I would definitely read more of Ali’s work to follow the story.
The US role in Pakistan is portrayed as sometimes paternal, often manipulative and abusive while having an ever changing direction in strategy. The US seems to have treated Pakistan as a boiling stew, forever throwing new things into the mix and hoping it all comes out well, without a recipe. The chapter on the US’s “arranged marriage” between Bhutto and Musharraf is a brilliant example. This is the first time I have read and understood that the melange of political factions, ethnic identities, and characters vying for power in Pakistan and the disruptive history of the country’s beginnings caused it to continually boil over in ways the US could not predict or control.
Ali convinces that the trials of Pakistan are as much to do with internal politics and complex historical narratives as they are to the haphazard but constant interference of the US. I wondered and wonder how Pakistan would ever climb out of the mire. As complex as the book is, Ali is a genius at capturing the mood of the people. He does this so poignantly through poetry and prose from the time giving a real humanity and heart to the beleaguered nation.
The problem with the book, and not one Ali could possibly have overcome, is that Pakistan’s politics, the US role in the continue on. Though it is painted as a “sixty year marriage” nothing has brought about its end. This is the beginning of the story. Ending at Musharraf’s departure and knowing so much has happened since made me feel that I had only read the first chapter of what will be a long and ever more complex story.
That being said, the epilogues were some of my favourite writing of the book and certainly the most scathing (to the political negligence that upholds the social structure of Pakistan and to US military presence in Afghanistan). I would definitely read more of Ali’s work to follow the story.
January 24, 2022
3.5. Ali remains impressive with his dizzying breadth of knowledge and ability to draw on personal experiences with the actors he writes about but a lot of his analysis(read in 2022) lacks the novelty it once may have had or has just been proven downright incorrect. His self-orientalist style of writing remains a double edged sword: sometimes it leads to some really great writing whereas at other times(and dare I say it, most of the time) it distracts and even weakens his more important political arguments. However I would probably recommend this to anyone looking for a leftist perspective on Pakistani political history.
April 9, 2018
Please do not find my rating of this book off-putting. Although a huge admirer of Tariq Ali's brilliant commentary on Pakistan's politics; I find this book slightly enervating. Pakistan, despite its many flaws is a country that bears tremendous economic and intellectual potential and this book never attempts to highlight that.
March 20, 2020
What a privilege read Tariq works.
July 9, 2020
Politics in Pakistan are maddening.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
April 30, 2021
A rambling book that is not easy to read. Feels incredibly biased.
December 29, 2021
We can learn from other's mistakes, and made them be a reference to know the value that all nations and peoples are free for their living for their ownland without disturb by other nations.
October 7, 2025
This guy lost me when he noted universal literacy in China then immediately followed that up by describing Mao’s Little Red Book as “wretched”
September 13, 2025
Good background.
March 16, 2017
3.5 stars to be precise.
Brings to light the various problems of our South Asian neighbor without really giving any concrete solutions to them!
Brings to light the various problems of our South Asian neighbor without really giving any concrete solutions to them!
just-have-it
June 27, 2015SUMMARY:
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world. It is the only Islamic state to have nuclear weapons. Its border with Afghanistan extends over one thousand miles and is the likely hideout of Osama bin Laden. It has been under military dictatorship for thirty-three of its fiftyyear existence. Yet it is the linchpin in the United States' war on terror, receiving over $10 billion of American aid since 2001 and purchasing more than $5 billion of U.S. weaponry in 2006 alone.These days, relations between the two countries are never less than tense. Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf reported that U.S. deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage threatened to "bomb Pakistan back to the Stone Age" if it did not commit fully to the alliance in the wake of 9/11. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama said he would have no hesitation in bombing Al Qaeda inside the country, "with or without" approval of the Pakistani government. Recent surveys show that more than 70 percent of Pakistanis fear the United States as a military threat to their country.The Bush administration spent much of 2007 promoting a "dream ticket" of Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto to run Pakistan together. That strategy, with Bhutto assassinated and the general's party winning less than 15 percent of the contested seats in the 2008 election, is now in tatters.With increasingly bold attacks by Taliban supporters in the border regions threatening to split the Pakistan army, with the only political alternatives -- Nawaz Sharif and Benazir's widower Asif Ali Zardari -- being as corrupt as the regime they seek to replace, and with a newly radicalized movement of lawyers testing its strength as championsof the rule of law, the chances of sustained stability in Pakistan look slim. The scion of a famous Punjabi political family, with extraordinary contacts inside the country and internationally, Tariq Ali has long been acknowledged as a leading commentator on Pakistan. In these pages he combines deep understanding of the country's history with extensive firsthand research and unsparing political judgment to weigh the prospects of those contending for power today. The labyrinthine path between a secure world and global conflagration runs right through Pakistan. No one is better placed to trace its contours.
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world. It is the only Islamic state to have nuclear weapons. Its border with Afghanistan extends over one thousand miles and is the likely hideout of Osama bin Laden. It has been under military dictatorship for thirty-three of its fiftyyear existence. Yet it is the linchpin in the United States' war on terror, receiving over $10 billion of American aid since 2001 and purchasing more than $5 billion of U.S. weaponry in 2006 alone.These days, relations between the two countries are never less than tense. Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf reported that U.S. deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage threatened to "bomb Pakistan back to the Stone Age" if it did not commit fully to the alliance in the wake of 9/11. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama said he would have no hesitation in bombing Al Qaeda inside the country, "with or without" approval of the Pakistani government. Recent surveys show that more than 70 percent of Pakistanis fear the United States as a military threat to their country.The Bush administration spent much of 2007 promoting a "dream ticket" of Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto to run Pakistan together. That strategy, with Bhutto assassinated and the general's party winning less than 15 percent of the contested seats in the 2008 election, is now in tatters.With increasingly bold attacks by Taliban supporters in the border regions threatening to split the Pakistan army, with the only political alternatives -- Nawaz Sharif and Benazir's widower Asif Ali Zardari -- being as corrupt as the regime they seek to replace, and with a newly radicalized movement of lawyers testing its strength as championsof the rule of law, the chances of sustained stability in Pakistan look slim. The scion of a famous Punjabi political family, with extraordinary contacts inside the country and internationally, Tariq Ali has long been acknowledged as a leading commentator on Pakistan. In these pages he combines deep understanding of the country's history with extensive firsthand research and unsparing political judgment to weigh the prospects of those contending for power today. The labyrinthine path between a secure world and global conflagration runs right through Pakistan. No one is better placed to trace its contours.
August 17, 2014
Tariq Ali has written a series of books on the state of Pakistan in the past and this is his latest offering sub-titled “on the flightpath of American power”. As always it pulls no punches and provides a good account of the politics in Pakistan up to and including the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2008. The intrigue, backstabbing, assassinations and plotting within the various Pakistan governments down the years have always been played out on a canvas of American design. Where Pakistani dictators have trodden, the CIA and American military has never been far behind.
This current book gives us the background to the new front in the war on terror, Waziristan separated from Afghanistan by the spurious Durand Line. It is here that the US is focusing on a new battleground while killing and maiming innocent civilians. This is not just a tale of American imperialist dominance though, it gives us the reasons why this front has been opened in the war on terror. From Islamist parties being used by the army in a similar way to Lenin’s useful idiots in the areas in question to an ever increasingly bastardised government in the hands of ever more pliant civilian leaders and brutal, authoritarian military heads of state. Of the 60 years Pakistan has been a state, 34 of those years have seen a military dictator as head of state, and in the years that they weren’t? These were the years of personal fiefdoms of the ruling elites in Pakistan such as the Bhutto family and the Sharif brothers.
While the bureaucracy has been swung back and forth like a pendulum the people have continued to suffer with appalling health care, lack of basic education and infrastructure and a central budget that gives more credence to nuclear weapons than it does to feeding its own people. Ali despairs over the state of his homeland and the blame goes far and wide, but his solution would work and it is simple: land reforms, corruption legislation, social-infrastructure investment, the rule of law, the US to mind it’s business, empowering women and freeing minds. Though many before have paid with their lives for trying to bring progress and an economically and politically destitute nation, Tariq Ali believe it’s worth another shot and he’s probably right but will anyone listen?
This current book gives us the background to the new front in the war on terror, Waziristan separated from Afghanistan by the spurious Durand Line. It is here that the US is focusing on a new battleground while killing and maiming innocent civilians. This is not just a tale of American imperialist dominance though, it gives us the reasons why this front has been opened in the war on terror. From Islamist parties being used by the army in a similar way to Lenin’s useful idiots in the areas in question to an ever increasingly bastardised government in the hands of ever more pliant civilian leaders and brutal, authoritarian military heads of state. Of the 60 years Pakistan has been a state, 34 of those years have seen a military dictator as head of state, and in the years that they weren’t? These were the years of personal fiefdoms of the ruling elites in Pakistan such as the Bhutto family and the Sharif brothers.
While the bureaucracy has been swung back and forth like a pendulum the people have continued to suffer with appalling health care, lack of basic education and infrastructure and a central budget that gives more credence to nuclear weapons than it does to feeding its own people. Ali despairs over the state of his homeland and the blame goes far and wide, but his solution would work and it is simple: land reforms, corruption legislation, social-infrastructure investment, the rule of law, the US to mind it’s business, empowering women and freeing minds. Though many before have paid with their lives for trying to bring progress and an economically and politically destitute nation, Tariq Ali believe it’s worth another shot and he’s probably right but will anyone listen?
April 13, 2010
An excellent analysis of Pakistan's history and political affairs. The author veers off into Afghanistan for part of the book but I suppose the two are closely linked and the events and history of one country is directly linked to the other. The formation and more crucially, the break-up of Pakistan (East & West) is discussed in detail and I found that very helpful to understand the history of this country.
The book does paint a rather bleak picture of Pakistan but I wonder if there is hope that civil society will rise up once again and be the voice of change. The involvement of the United States in propping up the military, its dictators as well as corrupt "democratically"-elected leaders is discussed at length and it gives insight into the negative sentiments of Pakistanis and even Afghanis against the Western world.
The author seems rather critical of the NGOs that are present in the two countries. Whilst I agree that many NGOs serve as front for their governments and their staff live very lavish lifestyles smack in the faces of the poor around them, thus creating more resentment, I do believe that there is a role for the NGOs in helping alleviate the sufferings of the people. The important thing is for NGO staff to be culturally-sensitive and to pay greater head to sustainability and avoid the taking on the "white man's burden". Sadly, many fail on this front but that doesn't mean that NGOs should pack up and leave.
I for one enjoyed reading this book and it has certainly increased my understanding of this region.
The book does paint a rather bleak picture of Pakistan but I wonder if there is hope that civil society will rise up once again and be the voice of change. The involvement of the United States in propping up the military, its dictators as well as corrupt "democratically"-elected leaders is discussed at length and it gives insight into the negative sentiments of Pakistanis and even Afghanis against the Western world.
The author seems rather critical of the NGOs that are present in the two countries. Whilst I agree that many NGOs serve as front for their governments and their staff live very lavish lifestyles smack in the faces of the poor around them, thus creating more resentment, I do believe that there is a role for the NGOs in helping alleviate the sufferings of the people. The important thing is for NGO staff to be culturally-sensitive and to pay greater head to sustainability and avoid the taking on the "white man's burden". Sadly, many fail on this front but that doesn't mean that NGOs should pack up and leave.
I for one enjoyed reading this book and it has certainly increased my understanding of this region.
April 10, 2010
A little bit of a mess, structurally. Overlaps information, shifts through time (especially before the 4 Generals section (but even during)), and is pretty digressive. Sort of seems like there was minimal editing.
BUT: there is a ton of information in here. A good primer (I assume, being completely ignorant) from a well-defined point of view (i.e. you know what the biases are).
Also:
And:
A fair amount of heresay, some conjecture.
But he seems trustworthy enough?
BUT: there is a ton of information in here. A good primer (I assume, being completely ignorant) from a well-defined point of view (i.e. you know what the biases are).
In Pakistan itself the long night continues as the cycle restarts: military leadership promising reforms degenerates into tyranny, politicians promising social support to the people degenerate into oligarchs. Given that a better functioning neighbor is unlikely to intervene, Pakistan will oscillate between these two forms of rule for the forseeable future. The people, who feel they have tried everything and failed, will return to a state of semisleep, unless something unpredictable rouses them again. This is always possible.
Also:
As a dictatorship, Pakistan became an even stauncher member of the free world. General Ayub told the first meeting of his cabinet, "As far as you are concerned, there is only one embassy that matters in this country: the American embassy." The United States reciprocated with a statement endorsed unanimously by the National Security Council (NSC) that noted "the presence of important U.S. security facilities in Pakistan" and gave full backing to the military takeover of the country
And:
A fair amount of heresay, some conjecture.
But he seems trustworthy enough?
February 9, 2014
PAKISTAN vs UNITED STATES
This is a brilliantly written account of Pakistans history with particular emphasis on their relationship with the United States. History truly repeats itselfs with a never ending roll of Military Dictators and Civilian Politicians who are too busy with their hands in the till to do anything constructive for the people of Pakistan. The only person in power who comes out with any dignity is the head of the Pakistani judiciary who was dismissed for his efforts. All the hype and tripe around the assasination of Benazir Bhutto is put into context and one feels rather more sympathy for those bystanders killed than Bhutto herself who appears to have made a rather squalid deal with the US and UK to work with Musharif.
Ali makes a convincing case for the catastrophic effect of the Pakistanis Elites relationship with the US and there is no shortage of material, especially with regard to the events since the US invasion of Afghanistan.
Along side the history are personal anecdotes some of which are extrememly funny, poetry and reflections on the culture of Pakistan. All sounds fairly depressing but its an enlightening book on the current state of Pakistan and its relationship with the US.
This is a brilliantly written account of Pakistans history with particular emphasis on their relationship with the United States. History truly repeats itselfs with a never ending roll of Military Dictators and Civilian Politicians who are too busy with their hands in the till to do anything constructive for the people of Pakistan. The only person in power who comes out with any dignity is the head of the Pakistani judiciary who was dismissed for his efforts. All the hype and tripe around the assasination of Benazir Bhutto is put into context and one feels rather more sympathy for those bystanders killed than Bhutto herself who appears to have made a rather squalid deal with the US and UK to work with Musharif.
Ali makes a convincing case for the catastrophic effect of the Pakistanis Elites relationship with the US and there is no shortage of material, especially with regard to the events since the US invasion of Afghanistan.
Along side the history are personal anecdotes some of which are extrememly funny, poetry and reflections on the culture of Pakistan. All sounds fairly depressing but its an enlightening book on the current state of Pakistan and its relationship with the US.
August 12, 2009
This is the best book I've read to date on Pakistan. I attended a lecture by Tariq Ali in Chicago and was so impressed with him, I bought his book (which he signed)as a sign of appreciation. Two other guests were supposed to show up and share the stage with him, but Chicago winter weather didn't allow this....so Tariq Ali spoke extemporaneously for 50 minutes on life, Pakistan, Chicago etc. This amazed myself and my friend more than anything he said specifically. He provides a somewhat cooler perspective on Pakistan today then the typical American coverage--he's somewhat iconoclastic and points his lance in many directions when lamenting the state of Pakistan affairs. He views the US as meddlesome and ignorant in its engagement with Pakistan. He notes the corruption and the damaging role of the military dictatorships and leading families in sending the country down the wrong path. He seems to dismiss Islamic extremism as a tactical device to carve out political legitimacy...his view, it's all about money and power. Ali contends the soul of Pakistan and the people are basely good. This is where his hope lies.
June 20, 2014
Details India during the later portion of British Imperial rule, through the partition, and to present day Pakistan/India/Afghanistan. Tariq Ali has a way of including his own anecdotes with his unquestionably historical knowledge of the region and people's movements around the world. Tariq provides historical foundational backgrounds for every prime minister/president/military ruler of Pakistan's history. Reframing the partition, radical jihad, and international relations within in the region in terms of neoliberalism Tariq highlights what opportunistic politicians and military leaders in both the U.S. and Pakistan purposely leave out. The uprisings of 1969, the judicial exercises of independence in the 2000s, and the long history of regional poets/satirists/novelists provide a hopeful model for the future. Additional Tariq provides a framework for regional development moving forward. Although the book is about 5 years ago, the fact that 100% of his predictions are correct only adds to the framework suggested in the book. A must read for those looking to understand South East Asian politics.
September 17, 2012
A little hard to follow at times for someone new to the topic but an interesting presentation of the conflicts and history of this relatively young nation.
Whilst the author does have a distinct bias and some may criticise the book for this, I found if anything this added a personal insight into the the characters and parties involved that went beyond a dry objective depiction and as long as your aware of the bias you should be able to draw your own conclusions and opinions.
Focusing mainly on Pakistan but drifting towards events with Afghanistan, this book covers the struggle and poverty of the general populous swinging between being subjected to authoritarian dictatorship and the corruption of a plutocracy. Highlights include good coverage of Bhutto's assassination and some discussion of America's drone war. It also frequently reflects on the often questionable effects American foreign policy has had on its domestic politics. . I would probably recommend reading a primer on Pakistan's before diving straight into this book but otherwise informative and insightful.
Whilst the author does have a distinct bias and some may criticise the book for this, I found if anything this added a personal insight into the the characters and parties involved that went beyond a dry objective depiction and as long as your aware of the bias you should be able to draw your own conclusions and opinions.
Focusing mainly on Pakistan but drifting towards events with Afghanistan, this book covers the struggle and poverty of the general populous swinging between being subjected to authoritarian dictatorship and the corruption of a plutocracy. Highlights include good coverage of Bhutto's assassination and some discussion of America's drone war. It also frequently reflects on the often questionable effects American foreign policy has had on its domestic politics. . I would probably recommend reading a primer on Pakistan's before diving straight into this book but otherwise informative and insightful.
January 20, 2013
Tariq Ali is an outspoken critic of all things political in Pakistan. I agree with his viewpoints on the future of the region. In this book, he's a bit jumpy but focused enough to provide a realistic point of view in the history and politics of Pakistan.
This book was published in 2007. Pakistan is a country where things drastically change every week, so it would not be much help in understanding post Musharaf era. I recommend this to anyone who wants to get an unbiased view into Pakistan. The ideas presented here are easy to follow and thoughtful.
It seems at times Ali presents himself as an outside observer looking in, but he is himself from a privileged family with deep connections to the upper class of Pakistan. I say this not to discredit his ideas in this book, but to highlight the fact that he has the courage and audacity to evaluate the upper class.
The book is more of a testament to the realities of Pakistan, and unveiling of media bias in the West and the illusions of Pakistani media. An excellent read for anyone interested in Pakistan.
This book was published in 2007. Pakistan is a country where things drastically change every week, so it would not be much help in understanding post Musharaf era. I recommend this to anyone who wants to get an unbiased view into Pakistan. The ideas presented here are easy to follow and thoughtful.
It seems at times Ali presents himself as an outside observer looking in, but he is himself from a privileged family with deep connections to the upper class of Pakistan. I say this not to discredit his ideas in this book, but to highlight the fact that he has the courage and audacity to evaluate the upper class.
The book is more of a testament to the realities of Pakistan, and unveiling of media bias in the West and the illusions of Pakistani media. An excellent read for anyone interested in Pakistan.
December 2, 2012
The initial half of the book was very interesting and very comfortably written. I did think that throughout the writing one could sense the left leaning aspect if writer's life. So the book is not completely free of all bias. It is an account of history and not the account of history. However I do think that for a foreign reader this is a very good account of the history.
There were a few places where the author relied on his 'insider information' bit too much. I thought the book was divided into recalling history as what was very obvious yet not seen in the right light by other writers and the not so very obvious parts which were writer's personal knowledge.
I do think that the epilogue was waste of my time for the most part as it kept on repeating the same thing again and again like someone trying to really influence how the reader leaves this book. However I do think the same repetition in history is the irony of Pakistan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews