argued in favour of a homeland for

the Muslims of the Indian

The Struggle for subcontinent. It was from this very
point that the “struggle” for a
Pakistan: A separate homeland started and in a
Muslim Homeland very short span of seven years
reached to its “logical” conclusion.
and Global Politics During these crucial seven years
Muslim League sold the idea of a
by separate homeland to the targeted
Ayesha Jalal populace with a promise that the
Published by Belknap creation of Pakistan would end all
Press, Massachusetts their miseries. However, the Pakistani
state, even after more than six
Pages: 435 decades of its existence, miserably
failed to meet the modest
Price: $ 35/- expectations of its citizenry, let alone
Year of Publication 2014 providing them the much needed
space to realise their dreams. Due to
the inherent contractions in the
national ideology, based on Islam,
Ashish Shukla* and inaccurate policies of the ruling
politico-security establishment,
In March 1940, Pakistan even lost over half of its
Mohammad Ali population and territory in 1971 when
Jinnah in his East Pakistan became independent.
presidential Pakistan of today has deservedly
address to All India earned an unceremonious distinction
Muslim League’s Lahore session not of being “the most dangerous spot
only underlined the distinctiveness on the world map” because of the
of Hinduism and Islam but forcefully large scale violence, sectarian strife,
*Ashish Shukla is a doctoral fellow of ICSSR associated with Centre for South
Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi, India.”

Journal of Peace Studies 69 Vol. 22, Issue 1&2, January - June, 2015
 BOOK REVIEW

religious extremism, politico- Islamic system in the country.

economic instability and terrorism.
The author explains institutional
At such a crucial time, Ayesha Jalal, imbalance and army’s exceptional
an eminent Pakistani historian and rise in the context of regional rivalry
Professor of history at Tufts with India and Cold War international
University, has come up with a study politics. According to her, in the wake
that focuses on the historical journey of conflict with India over Kashmir,
of Pakistan and analyses various ups Pakistan needed to increase its
and downs. Contrary to the widely defence funding. Since the country
held and established narrative, the did not have enough resources to
author argues that Jinnah’s idea of meet the defence requirement, it
“Two Nation Theory” was based on pleaded to Washington for economic
political, not religious, opposition to and military aid which later resulted
the Indian National Congress which in Pakistan joining the Cold War
logically culminated into a separate security alliance system. There is no
Muslim homeland—Pakistan. doubt that the US played an important
Although she concedes that Islam as role in facilitating army’s rise in
a political identity played an Pakistan, yet it is equally true that
important role in the creation of Pakistani leaders, both civilian and
Pakistan, yet rejects religion being military, were very keen to align with
the main impetus behind it. the US. There is enough evidence to
Irrespective of whether religion was suggest that Jinnah tried to develop
the main impetus or not, once an understanding with the US to get
Pakistan came into being, the economic and military aid in return of
establishment, instead of engaging Pakistan’s, yet to be born, support
in serious discussion over the South against the communist expansionism.
Asian history, emphasised on Islam This was followed by a number of
and “Two Nation Theory” to requests by Pakistani leaders. Initially
construct the national narrative US administration was eyeing on
which resulted in the adoption of an greater economic and other stakes in
ambiguous and ill-defined national India, but agreed to Pakistan’s
ideology. Successive ruling regimes, request in a changed atmosphere and
both civilian and military, did not try especially after Jawaharlal Nehru
to remove the ambiguity surrounding refused to be a part of Cold War
the national ideology. This gave rivalry.
religious right enough room to
demand imposition of Sharia based For Jalal, the breakup of Pakistan

Journal of Peace Studies 70 Vol. 22, Iÿsÿ sue 1&2 January - June, 2015
 BOOK REVIEW

in 1971 was not because of the active participation in the “holy war”
inherent contradiction of Pakistan’s in Afghanistan brought intense sums
ideology, but the autocratic and of economic and military aid to
centralised policies of the state Pakistan but with the same token
managers. In reality, ever since 1947, radicalised the populace and gave
Islam was the only glue holding the birth to a highly destructive
two wings together. For Bengalis, Kalashnikov culture. The author
their language, culture and the way rightly claims that it seriously
of life were more important than the compromised state’s monopoly over
religion. Soon after partition, it was the instrument of coercion.
reflected in their unanimous rejection
of Urdu as a national language of Zia’s death in a mysterious plane
Pakistan. However, the West crash ended a long spell of military
Pakistani elites did not pay much rule and paved the way for general
attention to it and continued elections that brought Benazir Bhutto
emphasising on Islamic ideology and into power in 1989. The next decade
India threat to keep the country saw the dismissal of four
united. The strategy worked for some democratically elected governments
time but failed in the end. led by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz
Sharif—each thrown out of office
In post-1971 Pakistan, Zulfikar Alil twice. In October 1999, serious
Bhutto with his populist approach differences between Prime Minister
raised hopes in millions of Pakistanis and Army Chief over Kargil
for a better future. He even gave culminated into fourth bloodless coup
Pakistan a new constitution in 1973 in Pakistan. It was during Pervez
which established parliamentary Musharraf’s military regime that al-
form of democracy in the country. Qaeda operatives attacked United
However, his dictatorial style and States in September 2001. In a very
army’s resolve of not submitting to a challenging and changed
civilian authority failed the atmosphere, Musharraf opted for
democratic experiment and paved Hobson’s choice and made Pakistan
the way for an exceptionally long a frontline state in US-led war against
period of military rule. Gen. Zia-ul- terrorism. With his newfound
Haq, once in power, launched an confidence, argues Jalal, Musharraf
intense Islamisation programme on took a number of steps on domestic
the one hand, and took steps to firmly front that further marginalised the
entrench army in the power structure mainstream political parties and
of Pakistan on the other. Pakistan’s institutionalised army’s role in the

Journal of Peace Studies 71 Vol. 22, Issue 1&2, January - June, 2015
 BOOK REVIEW

power structure of Pakistan. democratic dispensation, Pakistan

Army “continues to shape foreign
While discussing the fallout of US- and defense policies and has the
lead war on terror, especially the ultimate say in internal security
increased terror related violence in matters.”
Pakistan, the author chronologically
proceeds and analyses almost all In nut-shell, the study is rich in
important internal developments content and analysis, yet has certain
such as military operations in tribal shortcomings. It is surprising that an
areas, Musharraf’s confrontation eminent scholar of her stature,
with Judiciary, drone attacks, instead of suggesting to evolve a new
discovery of Osama bin Laden, national consensus to deal with the
memogate issue and so on. In the end multifaceted challenge, goes on to
the she acknowledges the fact that defend the discredited “Two Nation
despite a civilian government Theory” and refuses to accept the
completing its full term and inherent contradiction in the ideology
transferring power to the other of Pakistan.

Journal of Peace Studies 72 Vol. 22, Iÿsÿ sue 1&2 January - June, 2015