The Wrong Enemy

The title of this piece comes from a book I just finished reading, “The Wrong Enemy: (America in Afghanistan 2001-2014)”, authored by Ms.Carlotta Gall. My appreciation for Ms.Gall for operating in extremely dangerous places in both the countries with disregard to her personal safety, interacting with unpredictably hostile people for gathering intricate tactical details and for maintaining useful contacts with US Military & Intelligence  services, diplomats, anti Taliban and & anti Pakistan elements in Afghanistan and finally for keeping effective sources of information and facilitation in Pakistan. 

Nevertheless, had it not been for a minor mishandling by someone to her photographer at Quetta hotel just before her departure, perhaps her anti-Pakistan twist to most of the details she had gathered strenuously, could have been less poisonous and more logical to serve American interests rather than scapegoating Pakistan’s ISI and military leadership. Again, instead of intellectual dishonesty, I give her allowance for missing the bigger picture due to her over indulgence in collecting clever details as expected of an investigative journalist. However, that makes her look like a sniffer instead of someone determined to write a book, unfortunately with some controversial assertions and flawed conclusions. Not to forget that she gave the title to her book based on a statement attributed to late Mr. Richard Holbrooke, SRAP(2010-11); who would have regretted his remarks had he lived long enough to see Pakistan finally unhooking USA from an endless war, which the US had lost from the beginning due to fallacious intentions for invading Afghanistan, turning Taliban into enemy/ terrorists for harbouring AQ leadership. Besides, US’ unattainable war aims, objective and shifting unsound strategies and simultaneous invasion of other Middle East countries and last but not the least to checkmate emerging China and resurgent Russia with free hand given to India and constant evil-eyes on Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities and Iran’s potential nuclear capability remain unchanged till to date. 

For Ms.Gall, it ended in 2014 with her departure; however, finally it was Pakistan that once again played the lead role in helping US and allies to safely exit from Afghan conundrum in 2021. Nevertheless, Pakistan is once again suffering from its backlash as Afghan Taliban after coming back to power attributed to Pakistan’s help, conveniently changed sides and alongwith Indian proxies are relentlessly targeting Pakistan on multiple fronts from Afghan soil. The scourge of terrorism, smuggling, drugs, economic and political fragility in Pakistan are all due the controversial and much debated decisions to singularly win the War against former USSR(1979-1989) that made USA the sole Superpower; and again under duress agreeing to help US invasion of Afghanistan(2001-2021). Even at present i.e. 2026, walking on a tight rope, Pakistan is making headlong efforts to untangle US and Iran from an ill conceived misadventure, which suits Israel’s ambitions more than USA. The US/ Israel invasion of Iran had been on the cards for a long time, which the house of Trump and his administration unleashed. However, Iranian retaliatory capabilities and above all ability to choke global water ways like Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb with serious ramification for international trade, flow of oil and consequent inflation seem to have been underestimated by war planners in the USA. The Gulf states are being targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes on US military installations giving them economic and security shivers. If the efforts to de-escalate fail, how would China and other members of SCO respond remains to be seen. Are the bells for 3rd WW tolling?

Incidentally, most of the incidents, people and places mentioned in Ms. Gall’s book covering the period from 2001-2014, are familiar to me, as my professional responsibilities kept me closely associated with the US and Afghan quagmire till 2017. It is well documented that since the end of WW-II, it has always been the USA fighting the wrong enemies in the wrong countries as a global bully. U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once said, “It is dangerous to be an enemy of the USA, but fatal to be its friend”? It highlights the brutal logic of global power, where opposing the U.S. invites heavy retaliation, while relying on its shifting alliances can leave allies dangerously exposed when strategic priorities change. Therefore, the right title for Ms. Gall’s book from a Pakistani perspective should have been “Ditching the tested Friends”. 

Historically, the rise to a Super Power stature involves  occupation of foreign land and precious resources like hydrocarbons and rare earth metals, with domination of global lines of communications and now even cyber and outer space. Hence, any efforts by biased journalists and writers can never prove sinners as saints; who with arrogance of power frequently change sides and rename ‘Best Non-NATO Ally’ as ‘Frenemy’ and then best friend again. People of Pakistan have been experiencing this since 1965 till to date. Since ‘Divided we stand’,  it won’t come as a surprise if after subduing Iran; Israel and India may prevail upon the USA to go after Pakistan, as the sole Nuclear capable country remains unacceptable to them. Fingers crossed! 

Pakistan Zindabad.