Unholy Alliances

Article from: The New Yorker | September 23, 2013 | Mishra, Paka! |
"op#ri$ht
%&i' #o( rea' to'a# abo(t what America is 'oi$)% oe of the *'ia
characters i +ohito Mistr#,s %S(ch a -o$ .o(re#% asks/ %"*A
bastar's are (p to their (s(al a(s01$eri$ tactics/% The o2el is
set i 1341, the #ear that *'ia iter2ee' i Pakista,s ci2il war a'
helpe' create a ew atio0state005a$la'esh00from the 5e$ali0
speaki$ pro2ice of 6ast Pakista/ -ike Mistr#,s characters, *'ias
were cof(se' a' icese' b# Presi'et +ichar' Ni7o,s s(pport
for Pakista,s militar# r(lers a' b# his hostilit# towar' *'ia/ After
all, Pakista ha' la(che' a m(r'ero(s campai$ a$aist the
5e$alis, lea2i$ *'ia,s impo2erishe' a' 2olatile bor'er states to
cope with (ltimatel# some te millio ref($ees 8eei$ the cara$e/
The total (mber of the 'ea' is (kow, b(t 5a$la'esh,s o9cial
estimate is three millio/ :Pakista,s clearl# ('erstate' 1$(re is
twet#0si7 tho(sa'/;
<he, '(ri$ the short es(i$ war betwee *'ia a' Pakista,
Ni7o implicitl# threatee' *'ia b# or'eri$ a (clear aircraft
carrier, the =/S/S/ 6terprise, ito the 5a# of 5e$al, millios of
*'ia mi's wet 'ark with $eopolitical paraoia/ Ni7o a' his
atioal0sec(rit# a'2iser, >er# ?issi$er, became, as Mistr# p(ts it,
%ames to c(rse with/% Mistr#,s prota$oist ampli1es a
commoplace co!ect(re: %The "*A pla% i2ol2es s(pporti$
Pakista a$aist *'ia, beca(se *'ia,s frie'ship with the So2iet
=io %makes Ni7o shit, l#i$ awake i be' a' thiki$ abo(t it/
>is ho(se is white, b(t his p#!amas become brow e2er# i$ht/%
-ittle 'i' s(ch *'ias kow that their wil'est s(ppositios were
i'ee' bei$ rati1e' b# Ni7o, himself a $ifte' cospirac# theorist,
who wholl# reciprocate' *'ia atipath#/ The <hite >o(se tapes,
the recor'i$s that Ni7o ma'e of his co2ersatios i o9ce, ha2e
lo$ bee reco$i@e' as a mar2el of 2erbal icotiece/ 5(t it is
still startli$ to hear Ni7o m(si$ that what %the *'ias,% the
l(cklessl# hosti$ millios of ref($ees, %ee'00what the# reall#
ee'00is / / / a mass famie/% ?issi$er lo#all# chimes i: %The#,re
s(ch bastar's/%
The e7plaatio for Ni7o,s bi@arre apportiomet of blame lies i a
complicate' etwork of re$ioal lo#alties/ Pakista was a tr(ste'
America all#, to be protecte' a$aist a# threats from *'ia a'
the So2iet =io, two co(tries that were o the 2er$e of si$i$ a
%frie'ship treat#/% Ni7o a' ?issi$er trie' to pers(a'e "hia,
which the# were hopi$ to befrie', to ope (p a frot a$aist *'ia,
its eem# sice the Sio0*'ia <ar of 13A2/ <he *'ia mo2e'
'ecisi2el# a$aist the o2erstretche' Pakistai militar#00the war
e'e' i !(st two weeks00the B2al B9ce, like the alle#s of "alc(tta,
became fe2erish with spec(latio/ The <hite >o(se tapes cotai
this e7traor'iar# e7cha$e '(ri$ the war,s 1al 'a#s:
?issi$er: *f the So2iets mo2e a$aist them Cthe "hieseD a' the
we 'o,t 'o a#thi$, we,ll be 1ishe'/, Ni7o: So what 'o we 'o if
the So2iets mo2e a$aist them) Start lobbi$ (clear weapos i, is
that what #o( mea)
That,s i'ee' what ?issi$er meat/ %That will be the 1al
show'ow,% he sai'/ Ni7o E(ickl# backe' oF from %Arma$e''o,%
as he calle' it, b(t thiki$ serio(sl# abo(t this optio e2i'etl# ha'
its cosolatios/ %At least we,re comi$ oF like me,% ?issi$er sai'/
Ni7o, too, was please' to a'2ertise that %the ma i the <hite
>o(se% is %to($h/% * this <ashi$to b(bble, realit# ha' rece'e'/ As
>aah Are't poite' o(t i her re2iew of the Peta$o Papers,
later that #ear, the assertio of America machismo ha' weir'l#
s(pplate' all strate$ic a' militar# aims a' iterests/ The =/S/
ha' to beha2e like the $reatest power o earth for o
other reaso tha to co2ice the worl' of it/
>ow 'i' the Presi'et of the =ite' States 1' himself
cotemplati$ (clear assa(lt a$aist the So2iet =io
o behalf of Mao Ge'o$Hs "hia while still embroile' i
Iietam) A' wh# 'i' he choose ot to aba'o
Pakistai allies who were clearl# $(ilt# of mass killi$s)
Two absorbi$ ew booksJ Sriath +a$ha2aHs K1971:
A Global Historyof the Creation of BangladeshL
:>ar2ar'; a' Mar# 5assHs KThe Blood
Telegram:Nixon, Kissinger, and a orgotten
Geno!ideL :?opf;J'escribe, from 'iFeret
perspecti2es, this stra$el# e$lecte' episo'e of the
"ol' <ar/ +a$ha2a co2ers a ra$e of metalities,
choices, a' 'ecisios i *slamaba', Moscow, 5ei!i$,
<ashi$to, New &elhi, a' other capitals/ 5ass
foc(sses mail# o America actios a' iactio/ >is
pre2io(s book, KNree'omHs 5attle: The Bri$is of
>(maitaria *ter2etio,L has bee cite' b#
a'2ocates of a =ite' Natios 'octrie, kow as
+esposibilit# to Protect, that e!ois the iteratioal
comm(it# to iter2ee whe a state caot protect its
citi@es from $eoci'e or war crimes/ >is heroes are
s(ch Americas as Archer 5loo', the cos(l0$eeral i
&haka, whose o9ce lambaste' <ashi$to for
s(pporti$ a m(r'ero(s Pakistai re$ime, i a cable
s(bseE(etl# kow as the 5loo' tele$ram/
KB(r $o2ermet has faile' to 'eo(ce the
s(ppressio of 'emocrac#,L the tele$ram sai'/ KB(r
$o2ermet has faile' to 'eo(ce atrocities/ / / / B(r
$o2ermet has e2i'ece' what ma# will cosi'er
moral bakr(ptc#/L ?eeth ?eati$, the =/S/
Ambassa'or to *'ia, likewise calle' o the Ni7o
A'miistratio to Kpromptl#, p(blicl#, a' promietl#
'eplore this br(talit#/L 5(t Ni7o stoewalle' ?eati$,
a' re0calle' Archer 5loo' from &haka/ >e a'
?issi$er showe' cotempt for 'isseti$ America
2oices both withi the A'miistratio a' i the
&emocratic oppositio a' the me'ia/ 5ass 'raws (p a
se2ere i'ictmet of Ni7o a' ?issi$er, hol'i$ them
resposible for Ksi$i1cat complicit# i the sla($hter
of the 5e$alis/L >e writes, K* the 'ark aals of
mo'er cr(elt#, it raks as bloo'ier tha 5osia a' b#
some acco(ts i the same ro($h lea$(e as +wa'a/L
This is ot how Ni7o wo(l' ha2e like' to be
remembere'/ 5# the ietee0se2eties, he ha'
aba'oe' his re8e7i2e ati0"omm(ism of the forties
a' 1fties/ >e ha' come to pri'e himself o taki$ a
Klo$ 2iewL of thi$s, belie2i$ that a balace of
power, rather tha the sta'oFs of the "ol' <ar, was
the best wa# to is(re iteratioal stabilit#/ >e a'
?issi$er were p(rs(i$ 'etete with the So2iet =io
a' la#i$ the $ro('work for his spectac(lar 2isit to
"hia, i 1342/ Ni7o also facie' himself, after se2eral
to(rs to the re$io, to be a Kma who kows Asia/L 5(t,
as 5assHs book makes clear, either he or ?issi$er
took a 'eep iterest i Pakista/ * 13O4, the 2iolet
partitio of 5ritish *'ia ha' 'i2i'e' the s(bcotiet
ito separate homela's for the >i'(s :*'ia; a' the
M(slims :Pakista;/ Pakista was create' o(t of two
re$ios that were separate' b# more tha a tho(sa'
miles of *'ia territor# a' that ha' little i commo
e7cept reli$io/ <est PakistaHs P(!abi0speaki$
militar#0fe('al elite looke' 'ow o the 5e$ali0
speaki$ ati2es of 6ast Pakista, whom the# saw as
raciall# iferior/ The# treate' the pro2ice, which
cotaie' more tha half of PakistaHs pop(latio, as
little better tha a colo#, a so(rce of re2e(e for <est
Pakista a' a capti2e market for its $oo's/
Ni7o preferre' PakistaHs strai$ht0talki$ Sa'h(rst 0
accete' militar# stro$me to *'iaHs electe' lea'ers,
especiall# thoseJPrime Miister *'ira Ma'hi, for
istaceJwho seeme' to be sootil# itellect(al a'
were a'mire' b# 6ast "oast liberals/ As for the
5e$alis, Ni7o was (able to proo(ce or e2e to
reco$i@e the ame of their lea'er, Sheikh M(!ib(r
+ahma, pop(larl# kow as M(!ib, who ha' bee
campai$i$ for a(toom# for 6ast Pakista/ A' Ni7o
was as s(rprise' as e2er#oe else i &ecember, 1340,
whe M(!ibHs part# $aie' a clear ma!orit# i PakistaHs
parliametar# electio/
The militar# !(taJle' b# Meeral Yah#a ?ha, who ha'
ass(me' power i 13A3Jwas rel(ctat to accept the
electio res(lts, a' ?ha postpoe' co2ei$
PakistaHs Natioal Assembl#/ M(!ib feare' coll(sio
betwee Yah#a ?ha a' G(l1kar Ali 5h(tto, the
pop(list <est Pakistai politicia whose part# M(!ibHs
ha' beate/ As M(!ib, Yah#a ?ha, a' 5h(tto
fr(itlessl# e$otiate', 5e$ali separatist a$er be$a
to er(pt i mass 'emostratios/ B March 2P, 1341,
the Pakistai Arm# la(che' a f(ll0scale campai$,
kow as Bperatio Searchli$ht/ After arresti$ M(!ib
a' ab'(cti$ him to <est Pakista a' bai$ his
part#, it set abo(t massacri$ his s(pporters, with
America weapos/
Niri$ sE(a's sprea' o(t across 6ast Pakista,
sometimes assiste' b# local collaborators from *slamist
$ro(ps that ha' bee h(miliate' i the electios/ * the
co(tr#si'e, where the arme' resistace was stro$est,
the Pakistai militar# b(re' a' strafe' 2illa$es, killi$
tho(sa's a' t(ri$ ma# more ito ref($ees/
>i'(s, who compose' more tha te per cet of the
pop(latio, were tar$ete', their (0M(slimess
ascertaie' b# a E(ick ispectio ('ereath their
l($is/ Tes of tho(sa's of wome were rape' i a
campai$ of terror/ :5e$alis also m(r'ere' a' rape'
=r'(0speaki$ M(slims whom the# s(specte' of bei$
1fth col(mists for <est Pakista/; Archer 5loo',
amo$ others, reporte' the sla($hter of professors a'
st('ets at &haka =i2ersit#, a attempt to silece the
itellect(al class who ha' eloE(etl# artic(late'
5e$ali $rie2aces/
At 1rst, Ni7o a' ?issi$er were impresse' b# the
ferocit# of Yah#a ?haHs crack'ow/ KThe (se of power
a$aist seemi$ o''s pa#s oF,L ?issi$er sai'/ 5ass
e7amies i 'etail how their attit('e re8ecte' the
importat role the# ha' $i2e Pakista i their plas for
"hia/ Yah#a ?ha was the pricipal iterme'iar#
betwee 5ei!i$ a' <ashi$to, persoall# co2e#i$
to "hiese lea'ers the AmericasH 'esire for a closer
'ialo$(e/ * April, 1341, the same moth that the 5loo'
tele$ramHs (welcome report o PakistaHs atrocities
arri2e', Ni7o recei2e' his ea$erl# awaite' i2itatio
from the "hiese/ >e e7cite'l# propose' that ?issi$er
secretl# $o to "hia, to prepare the wa#/ >e boaste'
that it was $oi$ to be a K$reat watershe' i histor#,
clearl# the $reatest sice <<**LQ the reliabl# boosterish
?issi$er rake' it e2e hi$her, as Kthe $reatest sice
the "i2il <ar/L * .(l#, ?issi$er, fei$i$ a stomach
(pset i Pakista, 8ew from *slamaba' to 5ei!i$, where
he be$a his lo$ ifat(atio with "hiaHs mi$ht#
philosopher0ki$s, Mao Ge'o$ a' Gho( 6lai/
+eporti$ back to Ni7o o PakistaHs help with the
Kcloak a' 'a$$er e7ercise,L ?issi$er !oshe', KYah#a
hasHt ha' s(ch f( sice the last >i'( massacreRL
Still, he reali@e' that the Pakistai $eerals ha'
beha2e' recklessl# i 6ast Pakista/ >e saw that *'ia
was likel# to $o to war to resol2e its itolerable ref($ee
problem a' that it was bo(' to wi/ >e coc(rre'
with Ni7oHs 'escriptio of the *'ias, who were
secre'# traii$ a' armi$ 5e$ali $(errillas, as Ka
slipper#, treachero(s people,L who Kwo(l' like othi$
better tha to (se this tra$e'# to 'estro# Pakista/L
Yah#a ?ha ha' to be s(pporte' (til the $reat
Presi'etial 2isit to "hia was co1rme'/
* a''itio, as 5ass writes, K?issi$er ow ar$(e' that
=/S/ 'emostratios of fealt# to Pakista wo(l' pla#
well for the "hiese,L who ha' 'istr(ste' *'ia sice
their bor'er clashes i 13A2/ S(pporti$ the
is(pportable was part of a ima$e0maki$ strate$#, a
'emostratio to the "hiese that, as the Peta$o
Papers sai', the =ite' States was Kwilli$ to keep
promises, be to($h, take risks, $et bloo'ie' a' h(rt
the eem# ba'l#/L A' the ee' to pro!ect America
cre'ibilit# a' to($hess $rew: o A($(st 3th, *'ia
si$e' its frie'ship treat# with the So2iet =ioJa
Kbombshell,L i ?issi$erHs paicke' appraisal, that
co(l' spoil Ke2er#thi$ we ha2e 'oe with "hia/L
P(blic opiio ha' also bee shifti$ a$aist <est
Pakista/ * .(e, a report b# a itrepi' Pakistai
!o(ralist ame' Atho# Mascarehas ha' appeare'
i -o'oHs S('a# Times, with the hea'lie
KM6NB"*&6/L 6'war' ?ee'# ret(re' from a 2isit to
the ref($ee camps i A($(st, haili$ *'iaHs Kwa# of
compassio/L That same moth, a cocert i New York
i s(pport of 5a$la'esh, or$ai@e' b# Meor$e >arriso
a' +a2i Shakar, 'irecte' the co(terc(lt(ral eer$ies
of the ietee0si7ties to a ew ca(se/ Ni7o, howe2er,
p(t his faith i the pro2erbial America i'iFerece to
forei$ aFairs: K5iafra stirre' (p a few "atholics/ 5(t
#o( kow, * thik 5iafra stirre' people (p more tha
Pakista, beca(se Pakista the#Hre !(st a b(ch of
brow $o''am Moslems/L
A 2isit to <ashi$to i No2ember b# *'ira Ma'hi 'i'
ot impro2e Ni7o a' ?issi$ers chaces of
postpoi$ war betwee *'ia a' Pakista (til after
the s(mmit with Mao Ge'o$/ 5ass e(merates the
2ario(s temptatios ?issi$er prepare' for her: Kfamie
relief, iteratioal relief presece, ci2ilia $o2eror,
amest#, (ilateral with'rawal/L 5(t she seeme'
implacable, talki$ to Ni7o with the toe, ?issi$er
recalle', of Ka professor praisi$ a sli$htl# backwar'
st('et/L B &ecember Oth, Yah#a ?ha, fe' (p with
*'ia ifri$emets o PakistaHs territor#, 'eclare'
war/ Ni7o a' ?issi$er blame' *'ira Ma'hi/ *t
Kmakes #o(r heart sick,L Ni7o tol' ?issi$er, for the
Pakistais Kto be 'oe so b# the *'ias, a' after we
ha2e ware' the bitch/L Ni7o a' ?issi$er, 'esperate
ot to lose face with the "hiese a' the So2iets,
respo'e' to PakistaHs loomi$ 'efeat with the cra@#
lo$ic of escalatio/ ?issi$er threatee' the So2iet
=io a' eco(ra$e' the "hiese to iter2ee a$aist
*'ia, a', as Ni7o p(t it, Kscare those $o''am
*'ias to 'eath/L Ni7o, cotemplati$ Arma$e''o,
'ispatche' the =/S/S/ 6terprise/
The So2iets, the "hiese, a' the *'ias pro2e' to be
more le2elhea'e' tha the self0st#le' e7poets of
+eal0politik i the B2al B9ce/ The So2iet =io, Sriath
+a$ha2a shows i his book, was o less a2erse tha
the =ite' States to the break(p of Pakista, to which it
ha' sol' armamets/ +a$ha 2aHs arrati2e, which
cotra'icts 5assHs at se2eral poits, ar$(es that there
was othi$ ie2itable abo(t the 'issol(tio of
Pakista/ The creatio of 5a$la'esh was the pro'(ct
of Kco!(ct(re a' coti$ec#, choice a' chace/L
*'ia was iitiall# rel(ctat to arm 5e$ali rebels a' to
e$a$e Pakista militaril#, a' it wo(l' probabl# ot
ha2e si$e' its frie'ship treat# with the So2iet =io
ha' it ot bee for threats from ?issi$er/ A' all that
Ni7oHs bl(9$ with the =/S/S/ 6terprise achie2e'
was, accor'i$ to +a$ha2a, to Ksp(r the *'ias to
capt(re &haka a' seal their 2ictor#Job!ecti2es that
ha' ot bee o their strate$ic hori@os whe the war
be$a/L B &ecember 1Ath, *'ia force' Pakista ito
a (co'itioal s(rre'er i &haka/ Niet# tho(sa'
Pakistai sol'iers a' ci2ilias became prisoers of war
Jthe# remaie' i *'ia (til 1343Ja' Pakista lost
its most pop(lo(s pro2ice/ &efeat shocke' ma# <est
Pakistais, who ha' come to belie2e that oe bra2e
M(slim sol'ier eE(ale' te >i'( oes/ Nrom the o,
shame a' h(miliatio 'ro2e PakistaHs militar# a'
itelli$ece establishmet to seek Kstrate$ic 'epthL i
Af$haista a' a polic# of K'eath b# a tho(sa' c(tsL
i *'ia0r(le' ?ashmir/
5ass 'escribes the 'e2io(s wa# that Ni7o a'
?issi$er maa$e' to b(r# their role i the 'ebacle/
Americas ha2e also Kabsorbe' some of Ni7o a'
?issi$erHs cotempt for 5a$la'esh,L he lamets/
KNarawa#, poor, browJthe place is all too easil#
i$ore' or mocke'/L *t is also tr(e that Ni7o i 1341
was far more worrie' abo(t AmericaHs protracte' war i
Iietam, which, t#picall#, he wishe' to e' witho(t
a'mitti$ 'efeat/ >e reco$i@e' that Kpeace with
hoor,L a (f(l1lle' promise from his 13AS
Presi'etial campai$, was ke# to his reelectio, i
1342/ 5(t either itesi1e' bombi$ of North Iietam
or secret talks with >aoi were pro'(ci$ the res(lt he
'esire', a' a icreasi$ ma!orit# of the America
p(blic tho($ht the war a mistake/ * .(e, 1341, the
Times be$a to p(blish e7cerpts from the Peta$o
PapersQ the same moth, the &emocratic0ma!orit#
Seate 2ote' for the with'rawal of America forces
from Iietam/
These setbacks ma'e Ni7o more 'esperate for
s(ccesses abroa'/ As he saw it, resetti$ relatios with
>aoiHs mai allies, the So2iet =io a' "hia, co(l'
ot ol# is(re his place i histor#Q it co(l' also
pers(a'e North Iietam to e' the war o terms
fa2orable to the =ite' States/ *sofar as the *'ia0
Pakista imbro$lio feat(re' i these itricate plas, it
was a (isace, alo$ with the co8icts of ma# other
remote co(tries, icl('i$ those i the Mi''le 6ast/
Ni7o ha' o 'o(bt that p(blicl# taki$ si'es i 6ast
Pakista wo(l' be, as he tol' ?issi$er, Ka hell of a
mistake/L ?issi$er, too, while cocl('i$ that the =/S/
sho(l' ot co'em the crack'ow i 6ast Pakista,
ma'e it pri2atel# clear to Yah#a ?ha that Pakista
co(l'Ht e7pect America assistace while the
sla($hter coti(e'/ S(ch a co(rse of p(blic restrait
a' pri2ate press(reJechoe' to'a# i Presi'et
BbamaHs st('ie' ref(sal to call the 6$#ptia co(p a
co(pJ oFere', he felt, Kthe best chace of coser2i$
o(r limite' abilit# to i8(eceL e2ets/
?issi$er a' Ni7o were E(ick to accept the fait
accompli of a i'epe'et 5a$la'esh, a' the
es(i$ o(ster of Yah#a ?ha b# 5h(tto, whom the#
'eteste'/ A' Ni7o co(l' cease fretti$ abo(t So(th
Asia, whe, !(st two moths after PakistaHs 'efeat, he
ma'e his mometo(s 2isit to "hia, the ia($(rate'
'etete with the So2iet =io, a', i No2ember,
'isi$e(o(sl# claimi$ to be eari$ peace with hoor
i Iietam, wo a la'sli'e reelectio/ As ?issi$er tol'
Gho( 6lai, Kthe f(t(re of o(r relatioship with Peki$ is
i1itel# more importat for the f(t(re of Asia tha
what happes i Phom Peh, i >aoi or i Sai$oLJ
or, he co(l' ha2e a''e', i &haka/
Ni7o a' ?issi$er were clearl# ot b(r'ee' with a
e7cessi2el# moralistic 2iew of forei$ polic#, b(t ma#
postwar A'miistratios, &emocratic as well as
+ep(blica, 2iolate' America i'eals of 'emocrac# a'
h(ma ri$hts while p(rs(i$ what the# sawJmostl#
wro$l#Jas atioal iterests/ * -ati America, for
istace, co(ter0is(r$ec# practices, icl('i$ the
(se of 'eath sE(a's, hoe' b# "/*/A/0sposore' forces
i M(atemala i 13PO were 'iF(se' b# pro0America
re$imes across the re$ioJ5ra@il i 13AO, "hile a'
=r($(a# i 1343, Ar$etia i 134A, a' 6l Sal2a'or i
the late se2eties/
Ni7o a' ?issi$erHs p(rs(it of iteratioal cre'ibilit#
thro($h macho post(ri$ was rash/ 5(t s(ch forcef(l
eForts to 'eter potetial eemies a' i8(ece frie's
ca be 'ate' back, as Are't wrote, to Kthe fatef(l war
crime that e'e' the last worl' war,L the 'estr(ctio of
>iroshima a' Na$asaki/ The imperati2e to look to($h
at all costs, most recetl# embo'ie' b# Meor$e </
5(shHs Kshock a' aweL tactics i *raE, also wei$he'
omio(sl# o Presi'et ?ee'# '(ri$ the "(ba
missile crisis a' o Presi'et .ohso i Iietam/ :*t
ow wei$hs o 5arack Bbama as he cotemplates
p(iti2e actio i S#ria/; The 'ecisio i 1343 b# the
h(ma0ri$hts0frie'l# "arter A'miistratio to $i2e the
So2iet =io Kits ow IietamL i Af$haista with the
help of *slamist m(!ahi'ee sowe' a more e7tesi2e
$eopolitical 'isor'er tha what <illiam 5('# calle'
the K(ecessar# risk0taki$L of Ni7o a' ?issi$er/
At the same time, to foc(s o the moral capacit# or
c(lpabilit# of America lea'ers ca obsc(re the r(thless
$ambits of r(li$ classes i less powerf(l co(tries/
M(!ib, the fo('i$ father of 5a$la'esh, s(pporte'
*slamists a$aist pro$ressi2e forces, amestie' 5e$ali
collaborators of Pakistai war crimials, a' bae' all
oppositio political parties, before he was assassiate'
b# 5a$la'eshi Arm# o9cers, i 134P/ 5a$la'esh is
still str($$li$ to o2ercome the tormete' le$ac# of his
misr(le/ Two #ears after the re2elatios of <ater$ate,
*'ira Ma'hi e7cee'e' Ni7oHs most 8a$rat
ille$alities b# s(spe'i$ ci2il liberties a' arresti$
ma!or oppositio lea'ers/ 5h(tto, a champio of social
!(stice for the poor, 'i' ot 'e# the ecessit# of a
crack'ow i 6ast Pakista/ K* wo(l' ha2e 'oe it with
more itelli$ece, more scieti1call#, less br(tall#,L he
sai' i a iter2iew/ * 134O, he was able to
'emostrate his re1e' approach b# (leashi$
helicopter $(ships o secessioists i PakistaHs
wester pro2ice of 5alochista/ <est PakistaHs
lea'ers reco$i@e' the rebellio(s 5e$alis as a threat
to their militar#, ecoomic, a' political he$emo#, a'
there is ot m(ch that the =ite' States co(l' ha2e
'oe to cha$e their perceptio/
&isappoite' b# AmericaHs fail(re to sta' (p for
h(ma ri$hts, 5ass sees a more ispiri$ e7ample i
K*'iaHs 'emocratic respose to the pli$ht of the
5e$alis/L * a footote, he writes, KThis book e7te's
m# ar$(met that liberal states ca be 'ri2e towar'
h(maitaria iter2etio/L Altho($h ma# *'ias
e7periece', as 5ass writes, Kreal soli'arit# with the
5e$alis,L *'ira Ma'hi was 'ri2e to war b# the
politicall# e7plosi2e a' ecoomicall# catastrophic
presece of ref($ees i *'ia, a' the fear of (rest i
the bor'er areas where she ha' !(st cmshe' a ma!or
left0wi$ is(r$ec#/
* ma# wa#s, the re$io is still 'eali$ with the
'emos (leashe' b# the $reat territorial scissio of
1341/ *'iaHs s(ccessf(l (clear tests, three #ears later,
sp(rre' PakistaHs (r$et a' costl# attempts to
achie2e parit#/ The 'esire for re2e$e moti2ate'
Pakistai sol'iers a' spies, as the# or$ai@e' ati0
*'ia militat pro7ies i Af$haista a' ?ashmir/
PakistaHs militar# a' itelli$ece establishmet,
'espite the proliferatio of ew e7teral a' iteral
eemies, has remaie' istit(tioall# obsesse' with
*'ia/ *'ia, i t(r, has $o2ere' ?ashmir with the help
of sec(rit# forces a' &racoia laws, a' has bee
b(il'i$ a sec(rit# fece o its bor'er with 5a$la'esh/
S(ch a aftermath of the creatio of 5a$la'esh
presets a challe$e to liberal iter2etioists who
wish to 'raw $(i'ace for f(t(re actios/ Norce0backe'
h(maitariaism, which relies o ratioal i8(ece o2er
e2ets i other co(tries, ma# ha2e bee a more
feasible pro!ect i the bipolar era of the "ol' <ar, with
its relati2el# 'e1e' a' stable web of alliaces a'
pro7ies/ To'a#, a m(ltit('e of ewl# empowere' actors
make a series of choicesJ the M(slim 5rotherhoo'
Presi'et appeasi$ the militar#, sa#, or liberal
6$#ptias backi$ a co(pJthat ha2e wholl#
(pre'ictable coseE(eces/
The lea'er of the loe s(perpower 1's his free'om of
actio e2er more costraie' b# 'omestic political
'#sf(ctio a' the comple7ities of $eo0political
t(rmoil/ Bbama was e7pecte' to restore a ethical
shee to post03T11 forei$ polic#, b(t he has itesi1e'
'roe warfare i Yeme a' Pakista, p(rs(e' whistle0
blowers, a' faile' to close 'ow M(ataamo/ *t is
'i9c(lt to ima$ie him riski$ *sraelHs sec(rit# b#
taki$ a har' 1e a$aist the 6$#ptia $eeralsJ
especiall# ot while he wei$hs the appropriate
respose to S#ria war crimes, copes with the h(ma
costs of the *raE occ(patio a' of the iter2etio i
-ib#a, seeks peace with hoor i Af$haista, re0starts
peace talks betwee *srael a' Palestie, a' cotrols
the fallo(t from 6'war' Sow'eHs re2elatios/ A$aist
this back0'rop of permaet crisis, of iel(ctable
compromises a' tra'e0oFs, the moral resposibilities
of liberal 'emocracies seem ar'(o(s/ +eso(rces are
mea$er, itetios tro(bli$l# ambi$(o(s/ *'iaHs r(lers
i 1341, 5ass writes, were K'ri2e b# a imp(re mi7 of
h(maitaria a' strate$ic moti2es/L The same
cotamiate' ble' also 'ri2es those who choose war
as a meas to e' 2iolece/ As aother s(ch
itercessio looms, we sho(l' be mi'f(l of the
aftereFects a' the people who are left to cope with
them/
Ne" #or$er ma$a@ie, Sept 23, 2013