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Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, The United States, And An Epic History Of Misunderstanding (2013)

by Husain Haqqani(Favorite Author)

3.81 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1610393171 (ISBN13: 9781610393171)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

PublicAffairs

review 1: The nuanced tale of Pakistani - American relations as told from an exiled Pakistani diplomat. With the exception of the final chapter, I found Haqqani's history to be comprehensive, and his conclusions relevant and fair. I found the chapter on Zia and the ISI during the Soviet - Afghan war to be quite pertinent, as I feel many times as Americans we myopically view this through the Hollywood veil of Charlie Wilson's War. Additionally, it was fascinating to see to what extent Benazir Bhutto was completely powerless during her two separate terms as Prime Minister. I was pleased with how he consistently underscored the fact that any semblance of modernity and reform has been consistently squashed by the ISI thugs, who sadly are Pakistan's true leaders in the 21st Century. My o... morenly qualm with the final chapter is that I feel he was not completely honest about the events leading to his ouster or about his complicated relationship with Islamabad in the post-9/11 years. I certainly wouldn't go as far as to say he was disengenuous in any manner, however, being that his current situation is quite tenuous, I feel as though at this very moment he couldn't relay everything he was privy to during the final years of his diplomatic service. As a result, perhaps he should have waited five or ten more years before publishing a book on such a controversial topic such as this. However, putting my speculation aside, Haqqani has truly delivered a gem with this narrative.
review 2: This is a book written by someone in the Pakistan establishment and should therefore be credible. Unless, of course, the author wishes to dissemble or that his point of view is coloured by his own perceptions.Having said that, Haqqani's book makes for a riveting read. He paints a picture of mismatched expectations between Pakistan's military and the USA. He also portrays a society built on illusions of all kinds (for example the feeling that one Muslim warrior was equal to 100 Hindus or that Pakistan actually won all the wars that they fought with India)and one that has got an idee fixe about the malevolence of India and everything that they do. Pakistan's unabashed wooing of the USA given the backdrop of wanting to establish equality with India makes for amusing reading and sometimes one cringes at the upfront manner in which it is conducted.Haqqani has written an honest and readable book. Well worth reading for anyone interested in the conundrum that Pakistan has become. less

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