Because of Pakistan's corrupt government, the Taliban survives, Osama bin Laden has been able to thrive for so long, and Mullah Omar remains a fugitive, and the people who work for Pakistan's clandestine security service, the Inter-Services Intelligence, provide aid to these terrorists.

Gall believes that instead of going to war in Iraq in 2003, the USshould have battled al-Qaeda and the Taliban within Pakistan, citing quotes from local officials.

Beginning shortly after 9/11, Carlotta Gall has reported from Afghanistan and Pakistan for practically the entire period of the American war and occupation. She documents how much this conflict has cost the Afghan people, and how much of the harm can be traced back to Pakistan and its deceitful government and intelligence agencies in her book The Wrong Enemy.

She shows alarming proof that demonstrates Pakistan's role in shielding Osama bin Laden and training extremists operating in the region. Her firsthand stories of Pakistani intelligence goons, Taliban leaders, American generals, Afghani politicians, and the countless innocents caught up in this lengthy battle are enthralling. Pakistan, not Afghanistan, has always been the actual adversary.

On May 15, 2014, Penguin Publishers released the book.