With the death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011 and challenges to current United States policy in the region, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has come under intense scrutiny.
The bond between the two long has been complicated by differing worldviews.
Distrust, betrayal and enmity have flared on both sides, balanced by periods of mutual reliance and occasional affability.
This intricate and bewildering situation is thoroughly examined in the latest book by Bruce Riedel, one of America’s foremost authorities on U.S. security and Middle East policy.
“Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America, and the Future of the Global Jihad” outlines what our nation can do now to repair our damaged relationship with Pakistan and how we can avoid continued mistakes in dealing with extremist foes in that region of the world and beyond.
Riedel opens his book with a succinct overview of Pakistan’s history — from its break with India and British imperialism to its intricate dance with neighboring allies and major world powers, its relationship with the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, and the United States’ concerns about the development of nuclear warheads within a country dominated by unstable military might.
Since Pakistan’s creation in 1947, U.S. presidents from both sides of the political spectrum have repeatedly reached out to the country, albeit often in an attempt to further our own nationalistic interests.
The country is strategically situated between Afghanistan and India and relies on its powerful military to protect its fragile borders, particularly against incursion from India.
The fact that it considers India a greater threat than the jihadist groups within its own borders has engendered fears that a possible fundamentalist Islamic majority could forever change the politics of the region and perhaps the world.
Pakistan repeatedly has accepted military and financial aid from the United States in pursuit of its own agenda, even while its citizens have rioted against perceived American oppression.
The United States, in response, has continued to offer assistance in exchange for an alliance in fighting the terrorist cells that inhabit the rugged region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The political angling necessary to strike an even seemingly peaceable balance, Riedel claims, has helped lay the groundwork for the global jihad threat facing the world today.
In a new preface to the paperback edition that reflects on the killing of Bin Laden by Navy Seals and its imprint on Pakistani-American relations, Riedel takes a tough stance in favor of the containment of Pakistan. He calls for a U.S. policy that holds the Pakistan army and intelligence branches accountable for their actions.