One thing you will not find a lack of in media is Ego. If we could only transform media Ego into electricity, we would solve load shedding forever. A perfect example of this is a recent headline in The News: “Aman Ki Asha” bears fruit as India ready for talks.

Blogger Ahsan on his blog Five Rupees took notice of this display of congratulatory self-importance.

No, Jang Group, You Did NOT Just Take Credit For The Resumption Of Indo-Pak Talks

Oh dear. Has there ever been a more self-important headline in a newspaper before? I’d credit General Kayani or the IPL fiasco for the resumption of talks before I’d credit this Aman ki Asha crap.

Anyway, here’s the rundown of this whole “resumption of dialog” thing: right now, Pakistan has sought “clarification” of the agenda for talks which India has proposed. While this happens, Rehman Malik will be meeting his Indian counterpart later this month (I fully expect Rehman Malik to make a NYT-front-page-making gaffe at this summit, by the way…something along the lines of “We have evidence that RAW was behind the Mumbai attacks of 26/11″ or “Dawood Ibrahim is a friend of Pakistan’s” or some such).

After the clarification is presumably issued, there will be wrangling over why India wants to discuss everything but Kashmir and water, and why Pakistan wants to discuss nothing but Kashmir and water. If we somehow get through the phase, dates will be set, agendas will be ironed out, “historic” meetings will be scheduled — only to be derailed by the next crisis on the subcontinent.

Media certainly plays an important role in society and can be a force for good. But spare us the self-importance and huge Egos and just give us the facts please!