In a week's time, Pakistan is going to have right-wing governments at the federal level and in three provinces. These governments will be headed by the Muslim League (PML-N) and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with support from different religious and sectarian parties and groups. These parties have come to power promising peace and stability in the country by entering into talks with the Taliban. Both the PMLN and PTI must have a road map to achieve peace, which is why both are already in close contact with different religious leaders who once acted as mentors and inspiration for the Taliban. However, despite all this euphoria on the part of our new rulers, I wonder what the Taliban themselves think of these overtures. We may ignore their response in the media as part of a propaganda war, but their actions on the ground tell another story. Let's review what has happened since Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan were declared clear winners in the May 11 general elections. On May 12 a suicide bomber targeted the residence of the inspector general of Baluchistan police killing several people; on May 17 two mosques were bombed during Friday prayer in Malakand killing more than 20 worshipers; on the same day militants attacked an army convey near Darra Adam Khel killing five soldiers; and on May 21 Chinese workers were targeted in Karachi at the time of the Chinese prime minister's arrival in Pakistan. On May 23, the Taliban attacked Baluchistan Constabulary vehicles in Quetta killing 12 soldiers; on May 24, six policemen were killed near Matni; and on May 27, the police again came under attack in KPK province with five policemen killed including one DSP. On May 28, a polio team was attacked in Peshawar resulting in the death of a female health worker forcing the WHO to suspend the polio vaccination campaign. On May 28, Peshawar residents were forced to take shelter from shattering bomb blasts. What do all these events in just the last two weeks indicate? Perhaps both the right-wing leaders and the Taliban are fooling each other. The Taliban will use the lull during talks to regroup and reposition itself while right-wing leaders will attempt to blame the failure of the talks on outside forces. The 2008 Swat deal should be sufficient to open the eyes of peace lovers. But perhaps we are unable to see clearly because we are so in love with our murderers. Masood Khan, Jubail
