Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Steve Coll (Author)

Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Author: Steve Coll
A+ QUALITY

Introduction

Directorate S by Steve Coll is a comprehensive account of the clandestine operations conducted by the CIA and other intelligence agencies in Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2001 to 2016. The book explores how the CIA's involvement in the region, along with the complex role played by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), shaped the outcomes of the U.S.-led war on terror. Coll meticulously documents the political and military challenges faced by American and Afghan forces, highlighting how the secretive nature of these operations, coupled with Pakistan's conflicting loyalties, undermined long-term peace efforts. The book follows up on Coll's earlier work, Ghost Wars, providing a deeper understanding of America's longest war and the hidden dynamics of international espionage.

Key Points

1. Role of Pakistan's ISI (Directorate S)

   • The book highlights how Pakistan’s ISI maintained secret ties with the Taliban while outwardly supporting U.S. counterterrorism efforts, creating a dual game that complicated American strategy.

2. CIA’s Covert Operations

   • Coll examines the CIA’s extensive covert operations, including drone strikes and special forces missions, and how these tactics shaped the conflict’s trajectory.

3. American Political and Military Missteps

   • The book details the failures of American military and diplomatic strategies in Afghanistan, including unrealistic nation-building goals and poor coordination between the White House, Pentagon, and CIA.

4. Taliban Resurgence

   • Coll explains how the Taliban regrouped and regained strength despite American military presence, with support from elements within Pakistan’s intelligence network.

5. Impact on U.S.-Pakistan Relations

   • The book explores the complex and often strained relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan, as American officials struggled to balance strategic dependence on Pakistan with growing mistrust.

Why Read This Book

Directorate S provides a rare and detailed insight into the hidden side of the war on terror, revealing how intelligence operations and diplomatic failures shaped the conflict’s outcome. Steve Coll’s investigative depth and access to key sources make this an essential read for those interested in international relations, military history, and Middle Eastern politics.

Conclusion

Steve Coll’s Directorate S masterfully dissects the complex intelligence and political dynamics behind America's involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It serves as a critical analysis of how secret wars, espionage, and conflicting alliances shaped one of the most complicated conflicts of the 21st century.