Pakistan on The Brink: The Future of Pakistan, Afghanistan and The West

In his latest book Ahmed Rashid deliberates on the problems of Pakistan in detail with thoughtful insight into its political, social and economic complexities, its strained relations with the United States and its neighbours, overarching roles that its intelligence agency and military play in its domestic politics and diplomatic relations with other countries, and how its political elites remain incorrigible in its manner, intransigent in its policy and incapable to provide its citizenry with basic services. He goes on at length to discuss the ills of this trouble-torn nation which is on the verge of a total collapse. All the issues have been discussed in the context of latest developments that took place in the region including the drone attack in November 26 that killed at least 24 Pakistani soldiers at the Salala check post in the Af-Pak border. In the concluding chapter, Rashid puts forth some basic steps that the international community, regional countries and most importantly Pakistan could take to stabilize the region post 2014. The book, though, at times repetitive makes an interesting and enlightening read. The author's presentation is very simple and lucid throughout. I recommend this book for its exceptional analysis.

This is a book that offers a lot of insight into the state of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the other countries in the region which are embroiled in the complex situation that prevails in South Asia. The mistakes in the foreign policy on the United States have also been very vividly described in this very serious work on foreign policy in the region.
Ahmed Rashid is a veteran Pakistani journalist, who has lot of insight into the situation that prevails in the Af Pak region. His, Descent into Chaos, a narrative of the situation in Afghanistan following the US invasion of the country in the aftermath of the 9/11 is considered to be one of the most seminal works about the deeply troubled country. In, Pakistan on the Brink, the author provides a ring side view into the problems facing the region, in view of the impending US and NATO forces withdrawal from the country which is now tentatively scheduled for 2014. This has led to the intense brinkmanship by all the countries that have stakes in Afghanistan. The author not only focuses on the machinations of Pakistan, but also throws light on the confusion that is being created by India, Iran, China and the Central Asian Republics who all have a stake in Afghanistan. The main concern of most of the countries in the region seems to be the uncertainty that is likely to prevail in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the vacuum that is created by the withdrawal western forces in 2014.
The author explains in detail the part played by Pakistan in propping up the Taliban in Afghanistan, especially the Haqqani group, in order to further its own interests. This has led to a situation where the country is now at loggerheads with its main ally in the war on terrorism, the United States. The Americans have an intense suspicion of the Pakistanis, especially after the discovery and subsequent elimination of Osama Bin Laden in a safe house in Abbotobad in Pakistan. This was when the Pakistanis where all along denying the sheltering of the dreaded terrorist on their soil. The Americans perceived this as a double game by the Pakistanis, wherein they were accepting all kinds of financial and material help from the Americans for the purported war on terror and at the same time had sheltered the main perpetrator of the horrific events of September 2001. The short-sightedness of the Pakistani establishment in indulging in this kind of brinkmanship has been vividly brought out by the author. The country has reached a situation where in it is being looked upon as an epicenter of terror and as kind of a pariah state, which it can ill afford considering the precarious state of its economy and the turmoil in which the civil society is in the country on account of the divisive policies of the Army and political establishment.
Even though the author analyses the situation in South Asia in a very clinical manner, he is at loss to suggest definitive solutions to overcome the quagmire that the world finds itself in the region, thus posing a real threat to world peace and stability. However, considering the emphasis that he places on the double game that Pakistan is playing in the region, it is obvious that it is implied that the country has to come to terms with the situation and has to mend its act and avoid the double game that it indulges itself in. A solution to the problem seems to be quite difficult to be provided by the Pakistanis considering the various divisive forces at work in the country in the form of the powerful Army establishment, the corrupt politicians and the dangerous Islamists, who fail to see reason beyond the narrow confines of militant Islam. The situation at times looks really beyond redemption and Pakistan seems to be forever teetering at the edge of a deep abyss, from which one sincerely hopes that it is able to save itself. The situation in Pakistan is of particular importance to us due to dire security consequences that the country has on the Indian subcontinent.
The book is really educative and the narrative has an engaging style. The mention of facts and the history of the region are not in the least boring at any point in time. I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the Taliban and Descent into Chaos by the same author, which again deals with the situation prevailing in the region.