When the blind lead the blind, what happens can be well ascertained from the peace dialogue between the Taliban and the government. Chaudhry Nisar is frustrated with the negotiating committee representing the Taliban. Nevertheless the other day he sounded inexplicably upbeat for seeing the unseen — the results of the peace talks suddenly rising above expectations. At one point the government’s statements are laced with dire consequences if the Taliban refuse to mend their ways. At another, the Taliban are given a new lease of life through acceptance of some of their demands. One morning we find the Taliban extending an olive branch to the government. But on a typical day the wrath of the Taliban descends upon us with an ultimatum to the government, or else… The swings in the government’s and Taliban’s attitudes show that the dialogue is not on the path to a mutually acceptable outcome. The government has changed its strategy on the talks. In this new development, the government says it would directly engage with the Taliban Shura. We have been told that so far, in spite of all the talks, the ‘real’ talks have yet to take place. It is to make that ‘real’ talk eventually happen that the government has decided to dispense with the strange role of the Taliban committee all these months; creating rather more confusion than clarity on the issue at hand. The government is waiting for a nod on the venue the Taliban find suitable to conduct the direct talks. Once the venue is decided, the government will hear what the demands of the Taliban are. Only time will tell how far this direct engagement with the militants would facilitate the government in bringing an end to terrorism. We are not told who will talk to the Taliban on behalf of the government. Neither are we told about the demands the government will make. Or is it going to be the usual one way street? The goodwill gesture, another one, by the government on the eve of the expected meeting; releasing another batch of 13 non-combatant TTP prisoners, is proof that the government’s platter for the Taliban is fuller then the Taliban’s. We have not heard if the Taliban have decided to release the non-combatant hostages in their custody. So far the government’s demand to this end has fallen on deaf ears. This pattern might repeat itself, to establish that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. So much for ‘peace’, and so much for the government’s writ, invisible even in the dialogue.