A dialogue between Obama and CIA Chief

Obama (Sipping his tea): Hi! Chief what’s the latest from Afghanistan?

Chief: Good Morning Sir! (Pausing for a while and waiting for the president’s response.) Sir, there is a report in The News Pakistan that Taliban are preparing for a deadly spring offensive. The TTP has joined hands with Afghan Taliban and their strength might have increased manifold.

Obama (Taking a big sip from his cup): Oh! This is worrisome. What are your agents doing! We should have known it earlier.

Chief: Sir, we don’t have first hand sources from those areas. All we rely on is local media and information from second hand sources such as politicians, NGOs and Afghan intelligence. ISI is also not cooperating with us. Our media is also beating about the bush and the Think Tanks are becoming more dormant.

Obama (Emptying his cup of tea): What is the situation in Pakistan?

Chief: Sir, the PPP, ANP and MQM are under attacks from Taliban and it seems they will not be able to win elections. Maulan Fazal ur Rahman’s popularity is growing in KPK. Imran is becoming the major stakeholder and his popularity has reached a decisive level in Punjab and KPK.

Obama: (Looks worried):  What about the dialogue process with the Taliban?

Chief: Sir, we are not moving an inch further. Our friends in Saudi Arabia are trying to use their influence but the Taliban want a full control on Afghanistan and a subsequent recognition by the US.

Obama (Angrily): Somebody must tell these stupid fellows that this cannot be happened. How can we recognize a hardliner Islamic State which can possibly attack the US! They must agree on some power-share. Why is the ISI not convincing them?

Chief: Sir, the Saudis and ISI are on the same page. They think that the Taliban should be given full control to end this war.

Obama (thinking): We cannot agree with this formula. We’ll not rely on any guarantor either as we had been attacked from the same land.

Chief: True Sir. If right-wingers come to power in Pakistan we would be having more trouble on the border side and our exit strategy will be affected.

Obama (Looking more worried): Let me discuss it with my secretaries. I wonder what our ambassadors are doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan! We must also listen to our think-tanks and media. I must also consult my democrat congressmen. This Afghanistan is turning into a quagmire.