A front-page story in today's New York Times reports on "secret talks" between the Taliban foreign minister, Mullah Muttawakil, and Pakistani officials. The Times article renders the foreign minister's name as "Mullah Abdul Wakil Muttawakil," while a photo cutline that runs with the article inside the paper calls the foreign minister "Mullah Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil."
The Times claim that these were "secret" talks is questionable. If the talks are being reported on the front page of the New York Times and being disclosed to the paper by Pakistani officials, they are not much of a secret. The Los Angeles Times reports in today's editions that "Over the weekend, several Pakistani newspapers reported that Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel, who is considered a moderate in the context of the extreme fundamentalist regime, also secretly traveled to Islamabad to meet with senior Pakistani officials." Again, if this news is being reported in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and "several Pakistani newspapers," it isn't much of a secret.
The New York Times article refers to "the moderate Taliban camp" led by Mullah Muttawakil. The New York Times article also refers to "moderates like Mullah Muttawakil." The New York Times never explains what exactly is "moderate" about Mullah Muttawakil. Does he support Israel's right to exist? Does he believe in the right of women to drive cars and to vote and to dress as they please? Does he believe people should be allowed to watch television and listen to Western music? Does he believe in freedom of religion and freedom of the press?
The Los Angeles Times is more helpful in this respect, describing the mullah as "a moderate in the context of the extreme fundamentalist regime." The New York Times just calls him "moderate," making him sound like Lowell Weicker or something.