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Asian Affairs
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Daniel S. Markey. No Exit

from Pakistan: America's
Tortured Relationship with
Islamabad
Muhammad Ali Qureshi
Published online: 14 Oct 2014.

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To cite this article: Muhammad Ali Qureshi (2014) Daniel S. Markey. No Exit from
Pakistan: America's Tortured Relationship with Islamabad, Asian Affairs, 45:3,
529-531, DOI: 10.1080/03068374.2014.954227

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2014.954227

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 BOOK REVIEWS: SOUTH ASIA 529

become East Pakistan and more about the tribal areas of the North West
Frontier (now the Federally Administered Tribal Areas), which of course
were fiercely Muslim before Pakistan was created yet continue to be
treated as outside the ‘settled’ areas of Pakistan.

JOHN ALEXANDER © 2014

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2014.954226
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 19:48 13 February 2015

Daniel S. Markey. No Exit from Pakistan: America’s Tortured

Relationship with Islamabad. Cambridge University Press, Delhi,
2013. pp. 264. Maps. Illust. Notes. Bibliog. Index. Pb. $24.70. ISBN
9 7811 0762 3590

Daniel S. Markey provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship

between Pakistan and the USA. He engages the reader intellectually by
providing an understanding of the circumstances and reasons for the cre-
ation of Pakistan related to US standing in the world following World
War II. His book provides a basis to understand the distinct political inter-
ests of the two countries and the prevailing environment that has necessi-
tated cooperation between them. As a Senior Fellow at the US Council of
Foreign Relations, Daniel S. Markey is considered as an authority on
South Asia. His research skills, vast experience in foreign policy building
and in-depth knowledge of the region are evident in this book. It is a well
researched and unbiased account.

Markey argues that since the independence of Pakistan in 1947, US

policy makers have experienced more frustration than success in
dealing with Pakistan. He blames both countries for not pursuing a
dependable partnership. He provides a detailed picture of the turbulent
past of Pakistan with a natural emphasis on issues related to India. By pro-
viding a two-sided view of the relationship between Pakistan and the
USA, he places existing knowledge in a more logical framework and
establishes a link between Pakistan’s internal situations and the external
influences emanating from India and the USA. He argues that it is
Pakistan’s anti-Indian rationale that often drives its foreign policy
towards other countries which are friendly towards India. Thus US
support to India will always cause alarm for Pakistan.

The book starts with an overview of the problems faced by Pakistan in the
shape of its vulnerabilities and how these weaknesses affect regional
 530 BOOK REVIEWS

stability. He examines the ups and downs in the USA/Pakistan relation-

ship based on the threats emanating from Pakistan-based terrorism,
nuclear weapons and Pakistan’s influence in the region. Addressing
these threats, he proposes some options for the USA to achieve favour-
able results within prescribed limits.

He argues that Pakistan shows different ‘faces’ to different audiences.

These faces are four in number, the first one being of an elite-dominated
basket case of a country with a tiny number of ‘haves’ possessing tremen-
dous power and wealth, while the rest have little. The second is Pakistan
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 19:48 13 February 2015

as a garrison state heavily influenced by its military, which directs

national policy objectives, with major economic gains for them. The
third face is that of a terrorist incubator wherein the nation suffers a can-
cerous growth of violent ideologies. The fourth and last face is of a youth-
ful, idealist Pakistan teeming with the energy and reform-minded
ambition of its rapidly growing population.

Pakistan presents different faces according to the kind of audience and the
latter’s history of friendship with the country. The face(s) Pakistan por-
trays to the USA also depends on three strands of anti-Americanism.
The first is primarily a reaction to Washington’s trusted relationship
with the Pakistan military. The second strand reflects a Pakistani sense
that partnership with the USA has never lived up to its strategic
promise, and, finally, the third reflects a view that 1980s US support to
the Afghan Mujahidin fuelled the rise of the most violent anti-American-
ism of the jihadists.

Moreover, Musharraf’s decision to support the US war on terror after

‘9/11’ acted as fuel on a fire inside Pakistan. Then certain events led to
Pakistan being accused of state-sponsored terrorism through support for
the Haqqani network, which was targeting US and Afghan national insti-
tutions inside Afghanistan. These incidents added toxicity to the bilateral
relationship and made it impossible to resolve matters quickly or easily.
Giving no value to resolving such issues, the USA and Pakistan continued
to fight a psychological war with each other, with the USA cancelling
major military and economic aid to Pakistan and the latter supporting
anti-US actions.

However, there appeared a bright spot in the relationship when US

support played a crucial role in assisting Pakistan after the 2005 earth-
quakes. This help resolved some misunderstandings and infused a
sense of trust. However, the Raymond Davis incident in Lahore and
 BOOK REVIEWS: SOUTH ASIA 531

the issue of US drone strikes then halted this cooperative spirit. Issues
related to Af-Pak instead of Pak-Af started to emerge on the scene with
US insistence that Pakistan should do more at a time when Pakistan
was itself involved in a major combat operation against the Taliban of
Swat.

In conclusion, the book suggests that “defensive insulation” may be the

only possible approach for the USA. This solution is recommended
due to Pakistan’s deep-rooted ideology of jihad and the power exercised
by religious extremists in a country full of turmoil and unrest.
Downloaded by [McMaster University] at 19:48 13 February 2015

Markey provides an excellent commentary on the dilemmas faced by the

US-Pakistani relationship. He clearly understands Pakistan and proposes
that American policy makers should offset the difficulties in dealing with
Pakistan by pressing on with specific issues which may bring mutual
benefit. He suggests too that the American leadership need to have a
greater understanding of the way in which Pakistanis view the world.
This effort is worth it to build trust and bring the two nations closer
together in responding to common causes.

MUHAMMAD ALI QURESHI © 2014

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2014.954227

Shaharyar M. Khan and Ali Khan. Cricket Cauldron: The Turbulent

Politics of Sport in Pakistan. Foreword by Imran Khan. I. B. Tauris,
London, 2013. pp. xx + 300. Illust. Notes. Index. Hb. £19.99. ISBN
9 7817 8076 0834

Cricket in Pakistan, as in the whole of the subcontinent, is a national

obsession arousing intense passions, rivalries, scandal and jingoistic sen-
timents. Once described by former British Prime Minister John Major as
“more than a game”, cricket is reflexive and unique in giving expression
to wider socio-political processes and occupies a special place in
Pakistan’s national psyche. With India/Pakistan cricket rivalry considered
one of the most intense sport rivalries in the world, matches between the
two neighbours have been feared for stoking nationalist passions rather
than subduing them. This fear is not entirely misplaced since, in a
quest for legitimacy and parity with India, Pakistan has sought to use
cricket to match India’s prowess and leverage the game to build morale
among its citizenry.