BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting to the End, The Pakistan Army’s Way of War” by C. Christine Fair.

Book Review by V. Ramaswami

“Fighting to the End, The Pakistan Army’s Way of War” by C. Christine Fair.  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-19-946707-5.  Printed in India by Replica Press.

     This book provides an in-depth examination of Pakistan’s evolution to its current status as a greedy, revisionist state engaged in an eternal war with India, conducting “Jihad under a nuclear umbrella” using Islamist militants, blackmailing for Western support with nuclear threats and repeated misadventures that could escalate to a full scale war, and becoming increasingly in conflict with the international community.    Based on extensive research of Pakistan’s own military literature, the author lays the blame unequivocally at the doorsteps of the Pakistan army for its doctrines based on theocratic notions of a state founded on religion, delusional non-acceptance of recurrent defeats, existential paranoia not justified by facts, and a self-destructive and impossible quest for equality with India.  It paints a dismal picture for Pakistan’s future based on the military’s control of foreign policy, a military officer corps comprising mainly officers from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP) whose theocratic beliefs are intolerant - if not inimical - even towards other Pakistanis, and its successful brainwashing of the population by control of education, the Press, and the media.   Nullifying any hope of change is Pakistan’s dependence on the terrorist group LeT and its closely allied militants, which is necessitated to keep at bay the hard core Pakistani Taliban, which has turned against the Pakistani government.  The book unequivocally declares US sympathies placed on Pakistan and the belief that addressing Pakistan’s security and economic concerns will change its course as misplaced and deserving to be stopped.  The unstated conclusion of the book appears to be that the only option available now to India and the USA is to suffer until a generational change occurs in Pakistan over decades, or to diminish its nuclear and military capabilities drastically.

    Had the author used a pen name, some – particularly in Pakistan and the USA - may brush it away as possibly written by an Indian for propaganda.   The author is, however, a reputed Professor of Security Studies in the USA affiliated with a top-notch university, and her work is based on extensive research and careful study of the writings that form the core of Pakistan’s military playbook.  These facts make the book an important document worthy of study by policymakers particularly in India and USA.  For years, I have expressed the view that the US has allowed itself to be conned by Pakistan, and the latter has been emboldened by it to a point where it is becoming a threat not only to India, but even more to the US and the greater international order.  The book comes at a critical juncture when Pakistan is forming an increasingly stronger alliance with China, an emerging threat to the USA and world order.  How ironic that Pakistan now offers a land corridor to the sea and naval port resources to China, the nemesis of the USA, after deriving so much support from the USA which gave it much probably based on fears planted by the UK that Pakistan may grant Russia such access to the sea!  The book would have been more complete had it included some details of how USA and its other Western allies failed to see the facts objectively for nearly seventy years and abetted Pakistan to become such a threat at the expense of a flourishing democracy respecting international commitments and order. Perhaps, the author considered the US folly all too obvious and immediate from the facts put forth.

     A fact that stands out from this carefully done research is that Pakistan’s use of Islamist militants and terrorists is not forced upon it as an act of desperation by a weaker state with any real existential threats, but one chosen by its military establishment from the very inception of Pakistan due entirely to its need to bypass civilian government’s impedance, its own theocratic ideology, and lack of touch with reality.  Many specific references are cited from Pakistan’s Green Book along with many pertinent quotations from many who have had major influence on Pakistan’s policies.  The impotence of the civilian government of Pakistan and the absolute control of the army of the nation’s foreign policy and defense are delineated carefully in an authentic manner.  The characterizations of Pakistan as a revisionist state (i.e., as one constantly in need of challenging status quo and disrespectful of international order) and as greedy in the sense of  being “fundamentally dissatisfied with the staus quo, desiring additional territory when it is not required for security” are made in an unarguable manner.  The delusionary aspects of Pakistan’s military that characterizes even major defeats as success (to have stopped India from overrunning the nation) are enumerated and asserted to be essential for the military to maintain its power.

      

    Without mincing words, the author states: “The United States, India, and others should abandon their hopes for transformation that have often undergirded engagement strategies.”  Not only does the book repeat observations by noted writers like Tellis that “…(Pakistan) simply cannot match India through whatever stratagem it chooses – it is bound to fail” and the obvious fact that “Pakistan should have come to some accommodation with India long ago,” and  “the longer Pakistan defers this ultimate concession the more costly its eventual concession will be.”

    So far, America has conducted its foreign policy in this region oblivious or in total disregard to these realities and creating unintentionally the risk that Pakistan, a state in total disarray, may become a threat to the US and its ability to contain China and its ambitions.  It remains to be seen if the US will persist in its failed policies or will listen to its real specialists and alter policy in more constructive ways to strengthen itself and a fellow democracy that is a more dependable and responsible force in the world.   Be that as it may, the author of this book has much to be proud of in producing a document of great value and merit that effectively negates the continuing erroneous recommendations of various think tanks and politicians.

I recommend it strongly for both Indian and Western analysts and policymakers in addition to those interested in the subcontinent.

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Dr. V. Ramaswami, a retired scientist  who has served as an Adjunct Professor at several universities, is also the author of the book, “Innovation by India for India, the Need and the Challenge.”
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