Since 9/11, the international narrative on Pakistan has painted a picture of a country that is a “safe haven” for terrorists and a “state sponsor of terrorism” that plays a “double game” as it pretends to fight militant Islamist extremists while nurturing them in its “backyard.” This discourse came to prominence in January 2018 when US President Donald Trump famously tweeted that his country had “foolishly” provided military aid to Pakistan since 2001, in return for which Pakistan had given “safe haven to the terrorists [they] hunt in Afghanistan.” This book questions this dominant narrative by showing how the great powers—the United States, the United Kingdom, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran—have directly caused the emergence of a militant ecosystem in Pakistan.
Drawing on interviews with journalists, diplomats, academics, military officers, and government officials, it argues that it is Pakistanis who have borne the brunt of terrorist violence, especially since 9/11. The book uses the English School of International Relations’ concept of great power responsibility to explore how powerful states could help fight militancy in Pakistan holistically. It highlights the Pakistani military’s effort to rehabilitate young militants, and posits that international society must support not only “hard” counterterrorism through military aid, but also “soft” counterterrorism such as rehabilitation to address the root causes of radicalisation. With the Trump administration’s suspension of military aid to Pakistan, this timely book offers guidance for policymakers in both the West and Asia on how best to approach Pakistan’s security quagmire.
