Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001–2016 - Steve Coll (Book)

Title: Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001–2016

Author: Steve Coll

Date Published: February 6, 2018

Publisher: Penguin Press

Category: Non-fiction / History / Intelligence / Politics

Directorate S is the sequel to Steve Coll’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Ghost Wars, offering a detailed chronicle of the United States’ covert operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan post-9/11. The book focuses on the CIA’s efforts to combat Al Qaeda and the Taliban, highlighting the complexities of U.S. intelligence and military strategies in the region. The title refers to a clandestine unit within Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, known as “Directorate S,” which was instrumental in supporting the Taliban, thereby complicating U.S. objectives.

Coll’s narrative is grounded in extensive research, including over 100 interviews with key figures from the U.S., Afghan, and Pakistani governments. He delves into the intricate relationships and often conflicting agendas among these nations, providing insight into the challenges faced by American intelligence and military personnel. The book sheds light on the difficulties of nation-building and counterinsurgency efforts, as well as the unintended consequences of foreign intervention.

Critically acclaimed for its depth and clarity, Directorate S was awarded the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and was longlisted for the National Book Award. It stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of America’s prolonged engagement in South Asia and the intricate web of international espionage and diplomacy.