Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, the United States, and an Epic History of Misunderstanding

433 Pages·2013·48.17 MB·English

by  Husain Haqqani

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hUSAIN hAqqANI was Pakistan’s American eyes—has gone from being a quirky
ambassador to the United States from 2008 to blame, but to explain how two countries that have for sixty years described them- E G irrelevance, to a stabilizing friend, to an essential
2011. A trusted adviser to the late Pakistani prime selves as allies can nevertheless misunderstand each other thoroughly and repeatedly. L military ally, to a seedbed of terror. America—to
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minister benazir bhutto, Ambassador haqqani is a Pakistani eyes—has been a guarantee of security,
Richly-detailed, this skillfully written narrative will enlighten scholars, entrance U
professor at boston University and director for a coldly distant scold, an enthusiastic military
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South and Central Asia at the hudson Institute as average readers, and give future diplomats much to contemplate. It is a timely, valuable, S F Pakistan, enabler, and is now a threat to national security
well as coeditor of the journal Current Trends in and objective book.” —MAdeleIne AlbRIgHt and a source of humiliation.
I I the United states, and an
Islamist Ideology. he has written for the Wall Street O C The countries are not merely at odds. Each
Journal, New York Times, Boston Globe, Financial epic History of Misunderstanding believes it can play the other—with sometimes
“ this is a must-read book for anyone who seeks to understand geopolitics in the .....
Times, International Herald Tribune, and more. N E absurd, sometimes tragic, results. The conventional
Follow him on Twitter: @husainhaqqani twenty-first century. Husain Haqqani provides a riveting insider’s account of the N narrative about the war in Afghanistan, for instance,
S M A G N I F I C E N T
complex, and critically important, relationship between America and Pakistan. He has revolved around the Soviet invasion in 1979.

T but President Jimmy Carter signed the first autho-
knows both countries well, and his personal insights and objective analysis can help
rization to help the Pakistani-backed mujahedeen
..... D E L U S I O N S
dispel the misunderstandings that are so dangerous.” —WAlteR IsAAcson,
covertly on July 3—almost six months before the
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ceo of the Aspen Institute and author of Steve Jobs and Kissinger: A Biography Soviets invaded. Americans were told, and like to
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husain haqqani has a unique insight into
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Pakistan, his homeland, and America, where he
JACkET DESIGN bY PETE GARCEAU
was ambassador and is now a professor at boston
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bOTTOM PhOTOGRAPh OF AYUb khAN, EISENhOwER, University. his life has mapped the relationship of
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the two countries and he has found himself often
close to the heart of it, sometimes in very con-
AVAILAbLE AS AN E-bOOk frontational circumstances, and this has allowed
VISIT www.PUbLICAFFAIRSbOOkS.COM him to write the story of a misbegotten diplomatic
FOLLOw @PUbLIC_AFFAIRS ON TwITTER love affair, here memorably laid bare.
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MAGNIFICENT
DELUSIONS
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M AG N I F I C E N T
D E L U S I O N S
Pakistan, the
United States, and an Epic History
of Misunderstanding
.....
Husain Haqqani
PublicAffairs
New York
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Copyright © 2013by Husain Haqqani
Published in the United States by PublicAffairs™,
a Member of the Perseus Books Group
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without
written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
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15th Floor, New York, NY 10107.
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Editorial production by Marrathon Production Services.
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book design by jane raese
Set in 12.5-point Bembo
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013948306
isbn 978-1-61039-317-1(hardcover)
isbn 978-1-61039-409-3 (INTL. HC)
isbn 978-1-61039-410-9 (INTL. PB)
isbn 978-1-61039-318-8(e-book)
first edition
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
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To my late parents
Saeeda and Saleem Haqqani,
and my wife,
Farahnaz Ispahani,
for their lifelong love, support,
and encouragement
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Contents
1
Introduction
8
Chapter One: False Start
56
Chapter Two: Aid, Arms, and Bases
123
Chapter Three: A Split and a Tilt
171
Chapter Four: Picking Up the Pieces
225
Chapter Five: A Most Superb and Patriotic Liar
271
Chapter Six: Denial and Double Game
317
Chapter Seven: Parallel Universes
351
Notes
387
Acknowledgments
389
Index
415
About the Author