Carlotta Gall's book The Wrong Enemy:
America in Afghanistan, 2001–2014 was published in
2014. She contends in the book that the
US
and its allies have been focused on halting
al-Qaeda and Taliban supporters' terrorist actions in
Afghanistan when they should have been focusing on opposing elements in
Pakistan.
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
US
should 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.