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Husain Haqqani

Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, the United States, and an Epic History of Misunderstanding Hardcover – January 1, 2013

by Husain Haqqani (Author)

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The relationship between America and Pakistan is based on mutual incomprehension and always has been. Pakistan—to American eyes—has gone from being a quirky irrelevance, to a stabilizing friend, to an essential military ally, to a seedbed of terror. America—to Pakistani eyes—has been a guarantee of security, a coldly distant scold, an enthusiastic military enabler, and is now a threat to national security and a source of humiliation.

The countries are not merely at odds. Each believes it can play the other—with sometimes absurd, sometimes tragic, results. The conventional narrative about the war in Afghanistan, for instance, has revolved around the Soviet invasion in 1979. But President Jimmy Carter signed the first authorization to help the Pakistani-backed mujahedeen covertly on July 3—almost six months before the Soviets invaded. Americans were told, and like to believe, that what followed was Charlie Wilson's war of Afghani liberation, with which they remain embroiled to this day. It was not. It was General Zia-ul-Haq's vicious regional power play.

Husain Haqqani has a unique insight into Pakistan, his homeland, and America, where he was ambassador and is now a professor at Boston University. His life has mapped the relationship of the two countries and he has found himself often close to the heart of it, sometimes in very confrontational circumstances, and this has allowed him to write the story of a misbegotten diplomatic love affair, here memorably laid bare.

Print length

432 pages
Language

English
Publisher

PublicAffairs
Publication date

January 1, 2013
Dimensions

6.75 x 1.5 x 9.75 inches
ISBN-10

1610393171
ISBN-13

978-1610393171
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mistrust and cross-purposes characterize relations between Pakistan and the U.S., writes Haqqani, Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S from 2008 to 2011 and now a Boston University professor, in this insightful if disturbing history. During the bloodshed of 1947, India's forces drove Pakistan from Kashmir, a Muslim majority region that, theoretically, belonged to Muslim Pakistan. Obsession over Kashmir's loss persists, creating a virtual permanent war with India; civil government remains subservient to the military, which absorbs most of Pakistan's revenue, leaving little for economic development. Pakistani leaders quickly requested U.S aid, trumpeting their anticommunism. America responded modestly but generously after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and massively after 9/11. Pakistan spends the bulk of its resources facing India—American leaders accept this as the price of cooperation but gnash their teeth over Pakistan's tepid enthusiasm for our war on terror. Pakistan's generals have no love for al-Qaeda but have long supported the Afghan Taliban and would prefer them to the present government. Making it clear why he is persona non grata in his homeland, Haqqani concludes that military aid has undermined Pakistan's democracy, converting it into a rentier state living off American money rather than its people's productivity. Agent: the Wylie Agency. (Nov.)

Review

Jeffrey Goldberg, Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
"The questions Haqqani answers in this book—among them, Why do Pakistan and the United States perpetually careen from one crisis to another?—should make it indispensable reading for U.S. Presidents and secretaries of state.”

Kirkus Reviews, *starred* review
“[An] insightful, painful history of Pakistani-American relations… Demonstrating no mercy to either party, Haqqani admits that Pakistan verges on failed-state status but shows little patience with America's persistently shortsighted, fruitless policies.”

Library Journal
“Haqqani uses his wealth of personal experience to present a detailed account of the genesis and evolution of U.S.-Pakistani relations over the last 60 years… The book is a useful resource for academics, journalists, and policymakers at all levels.”

Publishers Weekly
“Insightful if disturbing... Making it clear why he is persona non grata in his homeland, Haqqani concludes that military aid has undermined Pakistan's democracy, converting it into a rentier state living off American money rather than its people's productivity.”

Declan Walsh, New York Times
“Patriotism, lies and wrenching disappointment are the interweaving coils of “Magnificent Delusions,” a sweeping survey of the tumultuous relations between Washington and Islamabad since Pakistan's founding in 1947. Since the American commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011, the alliance between the two countries has been sickly, with a racing pulse but little heart. Mr. Haqqani's scholarly history suggests that the condition is genetic, rooted in the very DNA of their relationship.”

Mark Moyer, Wall Street Journal
“[Haqqani's] purpose isn't to narrate his service as ambassador or score political points but to outline the contours of American relations with Pakistan over time, with a final chapter depicting the 2011 collapse as a new instance of historical trends. While one might desire a fuller accounting of his ambassadorship, the book covers its chosen ground superbly.”

Richard Leiby, Washington Post
“A solid synthesis of history, political analysis and social critique."

Kapil Komireddi, Daily Beast
"The most clear-eyed history of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship yet published...Not only should Haqqani's book be read by everyone with an interest in Pakistan; it ought be compulsory reading for members of Congress and officials at the State Department."

Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy
"Impeccably researched, with an overwhelming reliance on primary sources -- thereby making its often controversial findings impossible to dispute. The book's tone is strikingly restrained, subjective yet never polemical. This is admirable, given that its author's public service career has been damaged, if not destroyed, by the toxic nature of his subject."

Financial Times
“Explains from the inside how successive Islamabad governments have demanded money and weapons from Washington while simultaneously promoting Islamic extremism to the detriment of both the US and Pakistan.”

Lisa Curtis, National Interest
“If you want a better understanding of why U.S. policy has failed so miserably in Pakistan, you should read Husain Haqqani's latest book… Fast-paced and highly readable… Haqqani has provided a well-documented and interesting account of the policy disconnects between the United States and Pakistan. His book should make a tremendous contribution toward grounding U.S. policy toward Pakistan in more realistic assumptions that will help avoid future crises between the two countries.”

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs; 1st edition (January 1, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1610393171
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1610393171
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 1.5 x 9.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,103,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #170 in Pakistan History
- #291 in Central Asia History
- #1,225 in International Diplomacy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
175 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Arjun

A excellent book to understand our neighbor.

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

"Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, the United States, and an Epic History of Misunderstanding" by Husain Haqqani

This book by Husain Haqqani, ex Pakistan's Ambassador to the USA writes a well-researched and an insider account of complex and often troubled Pakistan-US relationships since its inception in 1947 through the late 2000s.

Haqqani presents you a genuine critique of Pakistan, its society, Ideology, Civil-Military relationship, and their flawed geopolitical strategy, especially with respect to its relationship with the USA which he terms as the "Magnificent Delusions". This is not just a critique of Pakistan, but also about the USA and their lack of understanding of Pakistan thus leading to unrealistic expectations.

Highly recommended read for those who are interested in South Asian geopolitics, especially Pakistan, and also for Indians to have a deeper understanding of their neighbor's psyche amidst conflict.

3 people found this helpful

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Sohrabrostam

True and Sad

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

Haqqani adds to the dolefully true list of literature that use a combination of accurate data/information and critically thought through analysis to say why pakistan will remain a 'nuisance'.

The essence of the analysis being, despite the costs of 'trying and punching above its weight', pakistan suffers from the incurable problem of dubious foundation and false narratives to sustain the unsustainable status quo.

The break up of 1971, the jihadi menace from the late 1970s and now the fruits of the same USD:PKR at 160, crashed GDP growth, bad relations with all immediate neighbors and a largely illiterate population have done or will do little to curb pakistan's enthusiasm to indulge in 'adventurous activities' on Indian, Afghan and Iranian soil.

very gloomy to read and depressingly true.

3 people found this helpful

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ewaffle

A sorry tale but true

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2014

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Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States and currently persona non grata (extremely non grata) from his homeland, denounced as a traitor and accused of betraying the Pakistani military in favor of the United States, has no illusions about who runs his native land and who benefits from it. While "Magnificent Delusions" may seem over the top in places the more one reads about and studies South Asia the more one realizes that his book is very much on the money.

Haqqani writes that Pakistan has had an inflated view of its importance on the world stage since 1947 and expects the United States to fund and arm it. At the same time U.S. intelligence and political leaders refused to see that the Pakistani military was created, trained and deployed for war with India particularly to force the return of Kashmir to Pakistan. They continued to tell themselves that Pakistan was part of a bulwark against the USSR. In reality the Pakistani enemies list started and stopped with India although there were always belligerent noises toward Israel. The pro forma pronouncements against the Soviets in Afghanistan were mainly to keep the flow of funds moving from Washington. In recent years, their erstwhile proxies (Pakistan Taliban, al Qaeda, etc.) have turned their guns on the Pakistani state itself.

While the sorry tale of the huge increase in U.S. military aid to Pakistan after soviet invasion of Afghanistan doesn't need retelling, one unintended consequence was increasing funds for the development of an "Islamic bomb" in Pakistan. The Saudis contributed billions to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda operations while the United States matched much of it. There was so much money sloshing around with essentially no oversight or control from the donors it was easy to surreptitiously transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to the nuclear program.

Well written and told by a real insider.

14 people found this helpful

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Oldguy

American's should read this book

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

I'm trying to gain insight into events in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. I first read Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 by Steve Cole which is a well researched, critical historical review of the history of the CIA. After reading the chapters on Afghanistan I realized I couldn't fully appreciate Afgani history until I understood Pakistani history which led me to read FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins. FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT seems to be a great historical review of the breakup of the British empire of India into India and Pakistan.
I wanted more insight into Pakistan and happened to come across Magnificent Delusions. I haven't finished it yet, but can say so far that if you're trying to gain insight to the US relationship with Pakistan this is a great place to start.
These books are not for conspiracy theorists. They are well written historical accounts.
I took off one star because I'm not really a fan of Mr. Haqqani's writing style. I guess you could argue that he isn't an author, he's a ambassador and therefore I should be tolerant of his style.

7 people found this helpful

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Peter J. Yianilos

Essential reading, directly from the source. A long, but revealing read. I am now so much more informed.

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

A detailed and fascinating study of the brief and tumultuous history of Pakistan, and it's almost unbelievably crazy relationship with the United States. This is a very well told story, and related right from the source by a high level Pakistani with decades of direct dealings between the leaders of both nations. I feel it is related honestly, in great detail, and without a particular agenda. Nevertheless, I felt so often when reading that I had to put it down to take a breath from the dishonesty and stupidity of both nations leaderships. The Pakistani people, particularly, have been toyed with, lied to, and manipulated by their leaders from day one to the present. It is no wonder it is such a dangerous and unstable place.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

duncan

Fascinating, and beautifully written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

Fascinating, objective but beautifully written, a warts and all exploration of fractious relationships, deception and intrigue.

sp1951

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

Insider view of the wheeling dealings. Good

Amazon Customer

absolutely new book... nothing wrong with purchase ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2016

Verified Purchase

absolutely new book...nothing wrong with purchase..thank you:)

Divakar Kaza

MAGNIFICENT DELUSIONS – Pakistan, The United States, and an Epic History of Misunderstanding – Hussain Haqqani

Reviewed in India on June 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

Pakistan features heavily on my reading list. Possibly at least one book per quarter. Our messed up neighbor is like a proverbial onion…you get different perspectives as you peel layer after layer.

How often do you see a book where on the back cover, you have endorsements from the likes of Madeleine Albright ( the grande dame of foreign policy during Clinton era) and Walter Isaacson of the ASPEN institute and the author of the eminently readable biography of Steve Jobs ? The endorsements and also the fact that it was written by Hussain Haqqani…a close aide of the Bhuttos and also a scholar to boot…I knew that I was stumbling onto something interesting….and glad that I read this book.

The book traces the history of Pakistan from its independence and covers history all the way upto yesterday literally. It is a story of a country which has manipulated one of the most powerful countries of the world for arms and aid for over 60 years, has been continuously betraying the trust and goodies that the benevolent benefactor dished out ( for its own compulsions and reasons) and still continues to.

I think that the DELUSIONS that the author refers to is the delusions of Pakistan and its leaders. Of their importance in the world order….and in the Islamic world…..whereas the reality is that today it is a failed state, a bad neighbor for us and hallucinating about their criticality to maintain the balance of power in West and South Asia.

From Jinnah to Iskandar Mirza to Yahya Khan to Bhutto to Zia to Jr Bhutto to Shariff( they pop up a couple of times as the PM) to Musharaff to Shariff again…the book takes us sequentially thru the history of Pakistan and how they manipulated an un-willing super power for arms and aid. First as a bulwark against communism during the cold war era and later as a front –running supporter against terror (and have Bin Laden in the backyard which the Americans had to snuff out !).

The short sightedness of American foreign policy is apparent all thru the book. Their obsession with the here and now without a long term perspective comes across. From Eisenhower to Kennedy to Johnson to Nixon to the Bushes / Clintons and Obama…it seems like a series of miscalculations and inability to understand the real issues of West and South Asia and take ham-handed decisions which are messing up the region and also messing up the benefactor – the US.

It is an engaging story of a renegade and ungrateful nation and a thankless benefactor….and Haqqani….who was also Benazir Bhutto’s US Ambassador gives you an inside scoop on the asymmetric relationship between America and Pakistan – a land where the 3 ‘A’s defined their destiny – the Army, Allah and America. ( this is not my original…this is MJ Akbar’s description of Pakistan).

Very Very well written, it has a scholarly feel without getting boring and tedious, the language is good, moves at a brisk pace and gives you an inside story of how the world’s most powerful nation can go wrong in understanding one of the world’s most messed up nations – messed up by their politicians and the Army and normal people in Pakistan are paying the price with bombs in their backyard.

14 people found this helpful

aaron

(Clarence Darrow) It is amazing how the same mistakes made with every dictatorship from ...

Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

History repeats itself, and that's one of the things that's wrong with history. (Clarence Darrow) It is amazing how the same mistakes made with every dictatorship from Asia to central and south America continue to happen. Thinking that they can be molded, but not realizing that self interest and greed can not be changed. It is not just a rogue CIA element but the entire Government thinking the best of people and not seeing the betrayal. Now it has been 70 years and no change.

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