Directorate S wonderful book written by steve coll. It explores how the US entered afghan quagmire with raw emotions from the 9/11 attacks. Book's first chapter starts with Ahmed shah Massoud's assassination, just 3 days before 9/11 in 2001(saying its Osama's gift/loyalty to Mullah Omar, for protecting him inside Afghanistan). The end chapter explains how the entire world in 2016 has no defined solution in the Afghanistan war, even after nearly 0.15 million deaths and so many destructions. Incidents between 2001–2016 explained in a more nuanced way
Book has so many interesting topics/incidents like
- In response to the US secretary of state threat, Pak ISI chief went to Washington just a few days before the US war in Afghanistan. He warned US authorities, advised to not go by raw emotions of 9/11, further saying the war will be stalemate and will end in huge destruction. ISI chief gave assurance that it will abide by US decision, irrespective of its opinion.
- By September 2001, when ISI chief went to Kabul for asking mullah Omar to hand over Osama, there was another message ISI cryptically informed to Mullah Omar. “Attack US hardly, if they start a war”
- US generals approximately know locations of mullar Omar and other commanders. Instead of bombing those locations in swift mode, US started the war in a traditional way i.e bombing airfields and air defense systems. It gave buying time for Taliban commanders to escape
- Taliban, not a simple network, its strength & sentiments lie deep inside rural Pushtun lands of Afghanistan. This same strength and sentiments later resurrected the Taliban more powerfully.
- US distraction with the 2003 Iraq war, underestimating Taliban and ISI
- Pakistan’s FATA, an alien world inside Pakistan until 2011. It was the heartland of all terror groups(including Uzbeks, Tajiks, Uighurs, Chechens.. so many). Teenagers and kids were easily brainwashed in the name of religion and sent for suicide bombing to various places.
- The sudden big rise of poppy cultivation inside southern Afghanistan and uncontrollable drug trade to the outside world. Poppy cultivation before September 2011 was one of the lowest in afgahnistan
- Mumbai attacks & ISI planning, ISI association with Kashmir militancy
- Osama bin Laden killing operation and after-effects of US relation with Pakistan.Movements of Osama inside Pakistan and some invisible hands protecting him. When 3-star generals met on the morning of May 2, 2011, for a conference, their anger and frustration was worst since 1971 Indo-Pak war
- Accidental burning of Quran texts ( Parwan province) in 2012 & subsequent riots associated with it. After the burning incidents, there was a significant rise of “green on blue attacks”. The killing of John Darin Loftis by a loyal truck driver. Darin one of key player used for WHAM operations
- Obama’s drone campaign and the dragon’s fire from the sky. Victims of drone campaigns and associated politics by ISI/Pak army
- Hamid Karzai often complained to US officials to take action inside the FATA of Pakistan. Karzai shouted one time saying, “if you want to end the war in Afghanistan, bombing should happen inside Pakistan and not inside Afghanistan”
- The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, mushraff links &alqueda celebrations inside Pakistan saying Benazir loyal asset of CIA
- Hijack attempt of PNS Zulfiquar by Al-Queda sub-continent network. The story behind this hijack attempt - a poor estranged Pak navy soldier treated badly by foreign forces. If this hijack attempt was successful, chances were there for a first-ever nuclear terror attack, as the ship was boarded with nuclear missiles as per some sources
- Corrupted warlords & their heinous crimes inside Afghanistan, forcing locals to believe in Taliban
- Insights into Pakistan army/ISI double games, from the start of chapter
- Pakistan army/ISI obsession with India in everything, whenever there is a discussion between US officials and pak/isi generals. Pak generals viewed every event with insecurity from India's prism
- Spike of violent incidents/suicide bombings inside Pakistan after Musharraf sided with the US(War on terror). later it again spiked after killing of osama bin laden
- Tactics/Strategies adopted by various US army generals/diplomats like Flynn, Petraeus, McChrystal, Peter Lavoy, Marc sageman, Robert Grenier, David smith, Kappes, and so many
- Tactics/Strategies adopted by various Afghan army/intelligence generals & ruling president includes Amirulleh Saleh, Asadullah Khalid, Nabil & Karzai
- Centuries-old bondage between Afghanistan and Pakistan in association with the Pashtun clan. Durand line politics and sentiments explored by ISI
- Finally, lessons learned from the unending war
This book will be treat for anyone who follows Afghanistan/Pakistan happenings for a long time
#Taliban #Terrorism #Afghanistan
