THE killing of Israrullah Gandapur in a suicide bomb attack on October 16 has made Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s job to tame and reign in Taliban a bit more difficult in more than one respect. The party has lost one of the few parliamentarians in its ranks who, in their own right, represent a distinctive mix of parliamentary experience and political promise for future. Including him, PTI has lost three members of the provincial assembly to terrorist attacks in less than six months after the May 11 elections. His death shows a trend: all the three MPAs won the May 11 elections as independent candidates and joined PTI after it emerged on the provincial political scene as the largest party after the last held elections. The young Gandapur was more than a moderate face of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly where right-wingers and traditionalists, from among the treasury and the opposition benches together, dominate the stage. His feudal background might not make it easy for the liberals to call him a `moderate`, but he was different for being one of the three or four members of the sitting provincial assembly who wear western attire, including two piece suits with matching neckties in decent colours. His manners were decent, language mild, face smiling, and posture humble which all made him distinct from most of the others in the sitting or the previous two provincial legislatures of which he also remained a member. His loss would be difficult to compensate for PTL A true Pakistani politician in the making, he was a pragmatist, knew well when to strike a political deal andhow nicely withdraw from a political party after winning election on its ticket or when to contest an election as independent candidate. Perhaps, he never needed a political party to win an electoral race in his native Kulachi tehsil of district Dera Ismail Khan, but he knew well the party affiliations, at times, prove handy in getting good deals from within one`s own party or the party in power. His death in a suicide bomb attack has added to PTI`s dilemma. The party has been putting a brave defence of Taliban against all odds. Despite losing one after another MPA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in terrorist attacks, it has vehemently been crying for initiating peace negotiations with the militants. It never budged from its stance againstdrone attacks in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Then why is it under the terrorists` attack? Who is striking it? There could be several explanations to solve this riddle. The three MPAs might have fallen victim to some old enmities or rivalries with their opponents buying support from militants to achieve their nefarious designs. Another explanation could be: the party forms a soft civilian target or it is being equated with the state for its leader Imran Khan pursuing a path that serves the interest of the country`s military leadership. A successful peace dialogue would help military to win the last battle without even fighting it. Whatever the case maybe, Talibanhave gain more than losing much in the killing of Mr Gandapur or his two other colleagues. `Taliban don`t have to lose anything even if the peace negotiations fail,` said a defence expert. PTI did not cry foul against Taliban in clear words after any of the deadly attacks that occurred after it assumed power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Every killing of its supporters in the provincial assembly bled it more, but it responded by crying hard for initiating the likely peace dialogue with Taliban. Its anxiety levels have gone up so does its desperation to initiate talks with Taliban. It knows it won`t be able to deliver in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without peace in the province. However, its vehement support for talks with Taliban and avoidance to holdTaliban responsible for the killing of its MPAs or general public in the province gave vigour to Taliban. PTPs position on the recent bombings in Peshawar and the killing of its MPAs has, apparently, served Taliban`s purpose more than people`s interest. Taliban too want peace dialogue, but they have come up with more composed posture. PTPs open support to peace talks has served Taliban`s cause. As PTI continues to bleed more and more and declines to hit the evil in the bud by mincing words against Taliban, this would add strength to Taliban`s pre-negotiation position. Anxiety and desperation would give Taliban an unparallel strength to open up the dialogue process with an upper hand, which is not people`s interest. Negotiation is a tricky affair. Anxiety and desperation do not serve one`s position during the peace talks.