KABUL DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE TO GENERATE PRESS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 010429

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK AF
SUBJECT: KABUL DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE TO GENERATE PRESS IN
PAKISTAN

REF: KABUL 2524

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. Pakistani papers continue to give attention to last
week's demonstrations in Kabul, with most characterizing the
precipitating incident as a sign of American arrogance and
the resulting demonstrations as a bellwether of increasing
Afghan impatience with the American presence. The high point
of negative coverage came on May 31, when virtually all
papers -- both English and Urdu and representing every
political persuasion -- included extensive editorial coverage
of the incident. Many papers have continued to offer
assessments through the weekend. A representative sample of
coverage follows:

-- Editorial in Islamabad-based Urdu daily, "Ausaf," 5/31:
"Most of the Afghans hate Americans, and this incident has
exposed the true face of the forerunner of democracy. The
U.S. did not liberate the Afghans; in fact, they have stolen
the freedom of Afghanistan."

-- Editorial in Lahore-based English daily "Daily Times,"
5/31: "Afghanistan's woes are not only or mainly because of
Pakistan, an allegation that Mr. Karzai and his government
have repeatedly hurled at Islamabad. The Kabul rioters were
not Taliban; they were common Afghans unhappy with the
situation...The incident should also put the U.S. on notice.
The clock is ticking on its presence..."

-- Op-Ed in national Urdu daily "Nawa-e-Waqt," 6/1: "The
sudden rebellion in Kabul had nothing to do with Al-Qaida or
Mullah Omar. Moreover, Kabul is not dominated by Pashtuns.
Americans say that the brakes of their truck had failed...It
was not the failure of brakes of just one truck; the brakes
of entire United States of America have failed."

-- Lahore-based English daily "Daily Times," and national
English daily "The News" 6/2: Both dailies carried in full a
transcription of the June 1 NY Times editorial "Afghanistan,
Unraveling."

-- Op-Ed in National English daily "The News," 6/2: "...the
scale of the furious anti-America riots in the capital city
of Afghanistan has confounded the US and its western
allies....The intriquing aspect of the deadly riots was the
preponderance of Tajiks...The U.S. and its allies ... should
have known that the Afghan people wouldn't indefinitely
tolerate the presence of foreign, non-Muslim troops.

-- Article in Lahore-based English daily "Daily Times" 6/4:
Transcribed AFP story headlined: "'Bad Behavior' Holding US
Troops back from Conquering Kabul."



2. (C) Comment: The rioting in Kabul has struck different
chords in Pakistan. Anti-U.S. Islamists trumpet it as an
indication that western "occupation" of Afghanistan is on its
last legs. Elsewhere, the unrest is seen as lending credence
to the view that violence in Afghanistan has indigenous roots
(including among Tajiks) and is not Pakistan's
responsibility. A broader and more thoughtful concern is
that if Karzai and the coalition are in fact in trouble in
Afghanistan, the implications for Pakistan are not good. The
excellent analysis in reftel will be most helpful as we
engage interlocutors here. Given the impact of the U.S.
media on local commentary, we hope Department backgrounders
will help put the incident in context and bring a sense of
proportion to media coverage.
CROCKER