Directorate S

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Spellbinding ... a magisterial account of the great tragedy of our age ... it is a classic' Evening Standard. 'In the finest traditions of American investigative journalism' The Times. 'Spectacular ... makes Bourne movies pale in comparison' Financial Times. From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars, this narrative details America's grim involvement in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2016. Following the shock of 9/11, the C.I.A. urgently sought to eliminate Bin Laden and his associates, leveraging its prior experience in Afghanistan, where it had collaborated with the Taliban against the Soviet Union. A complex web of assumptions, past alliances, and resentments was reignited. While the initial invasion appeared swift and effective, Bin Laden's escape, alongside much of the Taliban leadership, exposed a catastrophic failure to define NATO's mission in a challenging, impoverished nation. Central to the issue was 'Directorate S', a covert branch of the Pakistani state with its own agenda regarding the Taliban and regional power dynamics involving Pakistan, India, and China, which anticipated a quick U.S. withdrawal. This remarkable account reveals the profound consequences of flawed foreign policy decisions and the tragic loss of lives that ensued.