Not long ago, someone asked a valid question that how come Taleban spokesman is always in touch with media, similarly journalists also make routine calls to Taleban senior leadership, then why these hideouts, from where these calls are made or received, can’t be traced by intelligence agencies. There came a blunt response to this query: Taleban spokesman himself is staying in Islamabad, then should we try to look for these gentlemen in Pakistan’s tribal areas. This response was taken as a taunt on intelligence agencies’ failure to track down the militant leadership.

But now things are crystal clear. Not only the proverbial cat but in fact many cats have come out of the bag. Taleban have announced a committee, which would negotiate the peace deal with the government. Well I was not surprised to find Imran Khan, Maulana Samiul Haq, Mufti Kifyat, Molvi Abdul Aziz and Molvi Ibrahim on the committee announced by the militants. I believe these Taleban sympathizers are basically leaders of those militants.

Masood Khan

Jubail