"(The New York Times put him on a retainer for several months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when he was working as a journalist, to help its correspondents better understand Pakistan.)" (emphasis mine.)
Oh NYT, why do you always fall for those "silver-tongued interpreters".
Since moving to the United States, Mr. Haqqani has developed an affinity for American culture. He taught international relations at Boston University from 2004 to 2008, and he roots for the Red Sox. Well that seals it for me - never trust a Red Sox fan LOL! More seriously, have you had a chance to skim through his books Sepoy? I have heard it mentioned several times, without knowing who he was or his background and was curious to see what people think of it.
Well, he started off with the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba (IJT), the notorious student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)... he had a stint with the PML-N too, but now seems firmly entrenched in the PPP... quite an ideological ride, isn't it? Nadeem Farooq Paracha accuses Haqqani, who won the top slot in the 1979 student body election at Karachi University, of introducing sophisticated weaponry into Karachi University, a trend that soon caught on in the rest of Pakistan as well... http://nadeemfparacha.wordpress.com/student-politics-in-pakistan-a-celebration-lament-history/ His shady past aside, he does seem to handle the press well... By the way, it would be illuminating for everyone to share their encounters with the IJT on a separate thread... they have terrorized campus life in Pakistan for well over three decades... did I tell you about the time they shot one of their own point blank at my school?
Rather charmingly, CM presented me with a purple-tongued bibhatsa sepoy banner to accompany this post. Perhaps it's trying to forecast a future as "catnip for American journalists, offering a mix of high-minded analysis and street-corner gossip.pop kulcha punditry?
wow, this guy has a resume that makes for a perfect puppet president for the US to install in Pakistan.
It would make for interesting research to see how people the NYT, WSJ, WAPO and the Hindu have priased and recommended for Pakistan have actually turned out for Pakistan over the years. Even more interesting would be to see the Pakistani intellectual community's reaction to these names and such coverage.
Haqqani is a very sharp and funny fellow, can say pretty outrageous things at times and I guess the journos like that. I met him a few times when he worked in DC and found him an odd mix of opportunist looking for influence/cash and journalist proud of having stood up to government goons, though not above making peace with the bosses who ordered the goons around. Much like political playas anywhere who crave access and influence, and as he really does know the Washington establishment well, you can see why he'd be a good choice for ambassador. Apparently the line he keeps repeating is "we need to look forward, not backward." As for being a media whore, am guessing he just did it for the money, was juggling a few other jobs too.