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Review
'Not since Ayesha Siddiqa's groundbreaking work "Military Inc" has there been such a well-informed and articulate account of the country's history' --Mohammed Hanif, The Guardian
Review
'"The Duel" should be read for an understanding of the role America has played in creating this dangerous mix and why many Pakistanis see us as responsible for their problems'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
We are heading towards the U.S. presidency of Barack Obama. Obama has promised to put the war in Afghanistan high on his list of priorities. Not to reach a negotiated settlement, but to achieve the mirage of a military victory. This will involve U.S. military action in Pakistan and risk destabilising that country. If anyone doubted that Pakistan was being sucked into the centre of the maelstrom of the War Against Terror, they can stop doubting.
It's with this near future in mind that I read Tariq Ali's `The Duel', hoping to find a clear understanding of Pakistani political history and, expecially, how the relationship with U.S. imperialism works. This book gave me what I was looking for.
Tariq knows Pakistani politics and history, knows many of the individuals he writes about personally and, coupled with his own astute political analysis, is able to present a clear and readable account of that politics and history.
It has to be said, that the history of Pakistan is not a pretty one. This unattractive history is marked by the duel (hence the title of the book) between the mass of the Pakistani people and those corrupt, venal and vicious people who make up the elite of Pakistani society - both the civilians and the military - and who run that society in their own interests and in the interests of their key foreign backers in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
Tariq presents this history well and weaves analysis into the narrative. You can tell that he also writes novels as his style is very readable.
Key events in Pakistani history are clearly explained and spice added as Tariq delves into such things as competing theories as to who assassinated the vile General Zia and why the journalist Daniel Pearl was murdered.
There are comic moments when, describing U.S. demands on General Musharraf, Tariq quips that, had such demands been met, Pakistan and it's sovereignty would have been reduced to the level of Britain.
More seriously, Tariq proposes reforms which he believes would go a long way to help stabilise Pakistan and improve the lives of it's people. He knows, however, that these reforms will not be implemented as the elite in Pakistan is tied to Washington and, ultimately, serves the needs of Washington.
Tariq fears for the future of Pakistan if the U.S. continues to undermine the state and the army, which he fears may split if put under too much pressure, by launching military operations across the frontier from Afghanistan. The undermining of a nuclear state is a very foolish thing to do.
In the coming months and years Pakistan will move even further on to the centre stage of world events. If you want to understand what is happening and why, then you will need this book.
Excellent.
It's with this near future in mind that I read Tariq Ali's `The Duel', hoping to find a clear understanding of Pakistani political history and, expecially, how the relationship with U.S. imperialism works. This book gave me what I was looking for.
Tariq knows Pakistani politics and history, knows many of the individuals he writes about personally and, coupled with his own astute political analysis, is able to present a clear and readable account of that politics and history.
It has to be said, that the history of Pakistan is not a pretty one. This unattractive history is marked by the duel (hence the title of the book) between the mass of the Pakistani people and those corrupt, venal and vicious people who make up the elite of Pakistani society - both the civilians and the military - and who run that society in their own interests and in the interests of their key foreign backers in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
Tariq presents this history well and weaves analysis into the narrative. You can tell that he also writes novels as his style is very readable.
Key events in Pakistani history are clearly explained and spice added as Tariq delves into such things as competing theories as to who assassinated the vile General Zia and why the journalist Daniel Pearl was murdered.
There are comic moments when, describing U.S. demands on General Musharraf, Tariq quips that, had such demands been met, Pakistan and it's sovereignty would have been reduced to the level of Britain.
More seriously, Tariq proposes reforms which he believes would go a long way to help stabilise Pakistan and improve the lives of it's people. He knows, however, that these reforms will not be implemented as the elite in Pakistan is tied to Washington and, ultimately, serves the needs of Washington.
Tariq fears for the future of Pakistan if the U.S. continues to undermine the state and the army, which he fears may split if put under too much pressure, by launching military operations across the frontier from Afghanistan. The undermining of a nuclear state is a very foolish thing to do.
In the coming months and years Pakistan will move even further on to the centre stage of world events. If you want to understand what is happening and why, then you will need this book.
Excellent.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a good primer for the conflicts in the sub-continent. Tariq Ali is an insightful observer.
However the latter half of the book is a bit repetitive. Some points are made over and over. As another reviewer mentioned, this book is more personal than scholarly. However it is often difficult to maintain complete objectivity when one is as intimately connected to the subject as Ali is.
Even with those minor faults, this book is well worth reading and indeed should be required reading for those interested in the region. I do wish Ali would bring an updated vesion about the effects of the Obama surge in Afganistan. With the killing of Karzai's brother and of Rabbani and the continuing upsurge in taliban activity, the endgame in Afganistan seems murkier than ever before.
Does anybody have a workable solution or is going to be status quo ante?
However the latter half of the book is a bit repetitive. Some points are made over and over. As another reviewer mentioned, this book is more personal than scholarly. However it is often difficult to maintain complete objectivity when one is as intimately connected to the subject as Ali is.
Even with those minor faults, this book is well worth reading and indeed should be required reading for those interested in the region. I do wish Ali would bring an updated vesion about the effects of the Obama surge in Afganistan. With the killing of Karzai's brother and of Rabbani and the continuing upsurge in taliban activity, the endgame in Afganistan seems murkier than ever before.
Does anybody have a workable solution or is going to be status quo ante?
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A real honest, brutal at times, account of the failures of present and past politicians of Pakistan in implementing the will of the voters in national and international matters. Charting how the Pak-American relationship was formed over the early part of the country's existence. Gives a well written account of regional politics today, providing an excellent account of the current Afghan situation, in light of Pakistani and American influences and interests. Tariq Ali's own personality drips through this book, with his political activism evident through anecdotes, and accounts of his own life and experiences. These touches humanise the book, however this would not be to everyone's taste. Ali seems to be a "like it or lump it" kind of guy, and it is this unforgiving attitude that makes this book stand out, and be demanded to be read. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brave
Tariq Ali as always speak of the politics in Pakistan and the American influence in the affairs throughout. Read more
Published 2 days ago by ABC Selection
a bulldozer to past priorities
This is a bulldozer of a book, which convincingly trashes the priorities of Pakistan's past. Ali writes blisteringly well, though sometimes the wit and detail comes too thick and... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Brian Griffith
A lesson in Pakistani Politico-Miltiary History
The author himself is extremely knowledgable about the region and I have read some of his other books which paint a similar necessary picture of Pakistan. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Siphr
Not good....
I rarely take the time and effort to review books publicly, however I simply had to make an exception for this ghastly diatribe churned out by Mr Ali. Read more
Published 22 months ago by AK
Tariq Ali
A good analysis but a bit short and seemed to have written with wsteren audiances , which to some extent is understandable. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Hassan
An exercise in self-publicity
I am a pakistani and I feel that Tariq Ali has only one axe to grind in his life and that is take the liberties that he enjoys in the West for granted but at the same time harping... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Imran Alam
A brilliant political insight on the subject
A must read book for any one interested in the future of Pakistan or for that matter the south asian/SAARC countries.Do not go on the writer's sometimes negative reputation. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2009 by S. Hasan
Typical Tariq Ali 'like it or lump it' painfully honest approach
A historical account of the former Sub Continent focusing on post independence. Good point of reference for facts and dates with many facts contradicting what some folklore will... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by T. Mohammed
fine book describing the nature and origins of the current crisis in...
I heartily recommend this book to everyone for the light it sheds on the relationship between the West and Pakistan. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2009 by Mr. Timothy P. Buckley
Every country should have their own Tariq Ali
This is a brilliantly written account of Pakistans history with particular emphasis on their relationship with the United States. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2008 by S Wood
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