Afghanistan has once again proved that it is not a failed state and it can do it. Recovery of Ali Haider Gilani, a son of former prime minister Yoursaf Raza Gilani, after three painful years from Al Qaida by Afghan and the US forces may be a surprise for those who have mistaken that war-torn country for a lost hope. But this is not the first time they have proved their metal. Earlier, they played a vital role in recovery of Shahbaz Taseer, who is a son of Punjab’s assassinated governor Salmaan Taseer. At that time, an English news channel called me for comment, its producer worried about ill-placed and hesitant comments from Pakistani analysts. I had the honour of working with Taseer’s newspaper Daily Times for about a decade in Lahore and Islamabad as a pioneer team member, and was happy to say something about his son. The anchor said it was miracle as there were reports that Shahbaz was hit by a drone attack. But it was not so. The Pakistani media reports were driven by frenzy against drones and right-wingers were falling over themselves to bring out a human angle of that issue. It surely was an issue of human rights. Innocents were hit. But surely not for those who were raising it. Some irresponsible acts of our journalists were also behind distorting the facts. For example, I was called by DT Lahore office back in 2011 seeking report on a protest “going on against drone attacks on Constitution Avenue”. Our reporters combed the area but there was no protest. Then we came to know that anchor of a private TV channel gathered two or three people, put them on camera on the Avenue and later aired his show on this issue. The same anchor is also known to press veiled girls of Lal Masjid to weep loudly in his show to drive home the point that they have been suppressed in the military operation against the terrorists holed up there. Media was playing the same sort of dirty games on the issue of Ali Gilani. But only those who have been to Afghanistan or have frequent encounters with Afghans knew that a lot has changed while the game is still on. Kabul is no more a picture of destruction and disaster. It turned successful in eliminating the animals that carried out the heinous murder of what we now know as “Zabul Seven”, a minor also among the victims. Hirat and Mazaar Sharif have broken free of the clutches of Taliban and have sustained their freedom for years now. Time was when Gilanis came to Multan with others but now Multan has taken them as its children. There is something strange about this city – and that is its persistence, resilience and love that has made it survive through history. Gilanis have done their part to place this one of the most ancient cities in the world at a par with modernity. Upon the safe return of one of its children, Multan thanks Afghanistan. The blogger is a media researcher. He can be reached at furraat@gmail.com