Title: The Misunderstood Ally
Author: Faraz Inam
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-4836-7933-4
Pages: 350
Genre: Fiction, Political
Reviewed by: Jason Lolus

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The Misunderstood Ally by author Faraz Inam is a thoughtful, insightful, and entertaining novel portraying different perspectives of the War on Terror. Inam examines the tenuous alliance between Pakistan and the United States by juxtaposing the perspectives of three main characters: Samantha Albright (United States CIA), Lt. Col. Dhilawar Hussain Jahangiri (Pakistani Army Commander), and Mullah Baaz Jan (Afghani National and radicalized militant). Inam’s humanization of these characters begets empathy. This leads to thought-provoking questions on why “we” and “they” fight this war. And as the title implies, understanding one another is the key to answering those questions and the key to ending the cycle of violence known as the War on Terror.

Working as allies of the United States and protecting Pakistan, Lt. Col. Dhilawar Jahangiri (Dhil) leads a team to attack Mujahideen and Al Qaeda leadership gathering for a wedding. Mullah Baaz Jan (Baaz) is charged with protecting the area where the wedding takes place. Remotely, Special Agent Samantha Albright (Sam) orders a drone attack on the same event. Dhil’s group is successful but Sam’s drone strikes demolish the scene. Dhil is disgusted that civilians are killed in the attack and frustrated with the United States’ continuing interventions in Pakistan. Dhil, is always the faithful soldier to Pakistan, and begins to question the futility of this war. Baaz is suspected of colluding with the enemy (Pakistan and/or the US) since he is the only one left alive. Baaz is banished from his native Afghanistan and fights to reclaim his reputation as a militant. Sam is promoted and sent to Islamabad where she befriends a local man named Bilal Khattak. They end up falling in love, but a visit to Bilal’s parents winds up in a confrontation with Baaz. The collision course of these characters ends with Dhil being appointed to rescue Sam, despite his growing disillusionment with the war and with Pakistan’s alliance with the US. As these three characters’ paths collide, we get an intimate look at each perspective.

The novel is superbly written and it is most insightful for its look at the complicated alliance between Pakistan and the United States. It raises and discusses some important questions about the War on Terror. How does the West win the hearts and minds of the Middle East? What created the rise of extremism? Does the West really understand Islam? How has the US misunderstood Pakistan’s role in this ongoing war and vice versa? I found myself empathizing with all three characters and this is the novel’s great achievement. I was not sure who to “root” for then realized that is the point. It is not heavy-handed but does suggest that out of this mess of a war, understanding one another is the key first step towards peace.