MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL,

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002126 STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, PAKISTAN / ISI, PAKISTAN, GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM / NAM CONFERENCE, SAARC SUMMIT IN COLOMBO, WTO/DOHA ROUNDS, APOLOGY BY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; NEW DELHI AUGUST 2-4, 2008. This cable reports on relevant media reaction from India's large non-English press. Embassy New Delhi reports on English-language media via email in the daily "Early Edition". USG customers please write to Geeta Krishali (KrishaliG@state.gov) to subscribe to the "Early Edition." -------------- U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL -------------- ¶1. "A BIG SUCCESS," editorial in August 3 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "India's government and its diplomats should be given credit for the green signal given to the India- specific safeguards agreement by the IAEA board of governors. The next step is to secure the vital 45-member NSG's approval, which is not going to be easy despite U.S. assurances of every possible support to India... On the domestic front, the anti-nuclear deal sections will continue opposing it. They are spreading disinformation, and will not politically benefit from this. The Indian government should only concentrate on the NSG waiver and the US Congress' approval, rather than worrying about the internal opposition." ¶2. "NUCLEAR ACCORD: APPROVED IN THE IAEA" editorial in the August 4, 2008 Surat-based centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "The Congress-led federal UPA government under the stewardship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has scored a first victory vis-`-vis the Indo-U.S. bilateral civilian nuclear deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of directors has unanimously given its green signal to the safeguards agreement in Vienna. This paves the way for India to approach the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers' Group for its approval. After NSG approval, the deal's final stop will be the U.S. Congress. It appears that America's support will ensure the deal passes the Congress test smoothly... The one thing India should be proud about is that her image in the IAEA has improved. This also indicates that India is now out of nuclear isolation as she will be able to trade with other nuclear weapon state..." ¶3. "THIS SUCCESS IN VIENNA," editorial in August 4 independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "Approval of India-specific safeguards at the IAEA has for the first time paved way for getting nuclear fuel for a country, which never promised not to make atom bombs. India's growing importance in the international arena, its increasing economic strength as well as its emergence as a regional superpower worked behind India's success. While virtually no country opposed India, and even Pakistan kept silent...domestic political parties surprisingly had started obstructing it... They failed to realize that it would not have been possible for India to overcome nuclear apartheid without U.S. initiatives...." ¶4. "APPROVAL OF NUCLEAR SAFEGUARD AGREEMENT", editorial in August 3, right-of-center Urdu daily "SIASAT", Hyderabad: "Thanks to our subservient and obsequious ruling class, a major chunk of Indians will soon become peons and minions of the big world powers. It is bad news for Indians that their ruling class, despite strong opposition, achieved its vested interests by suppressing those of the motherland. When the major powers of the world saw India on its way to achieving nuclear strength on its own, they hatched a conspiracy to subjugate it. Congratulatory statements from world leaders on the approval of the nuclear safeguards agreement show they were successful in achieving their goal. India will gain international strength and prestige only when wise voters of the country will elect nationalist leaders, instead of selfish and opportunistic ones." ¶5. "STATEMENT OF NICHOLAS BURNS", editorial in August 2 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "Nicholas Burns' latest comments that Hyde Act was binding on India are worrisome. In fact, opponents of the nuclear deal have been continuously hammering the point that the Hyde Act puts restriction on any experiment for strategic purposes, which amounts to mortgaging India's atomic independence to America. However the UPA government has been rejecting the above criticism, saying that America is responsible to remove any impediment in the way of nuclear deal in question. However, senior leaders of America and Nicholas Burns on many occasions have said that Hyde Act is applicable to Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement too. This statement negates the UPA government's explanations and exposes its lies." -------------- PAKISTAN / ISI -------------- ¶6. "U.S. ANNOYANCE," editorial in August 1 centrist HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "CIA Deputy Director Stephen R. Kappes confronted Pakistan officials with evidences about the ISI's links with terror groups in the north-western tribal areas during his Pakistan-visit. It is the first time that U.S. has demonstrated a hard line against the ISI. It seems that ISI's suspected role in the NATO troops' fight against terrorists in Afghanistan has crossed the limits of the U.S. endurance... Intelligence agencies in a democratic country are under civilian control, but the ISI in Pakistan follows the army's orders. The religious fanatics, created by Pakistan at one time to uproot the pro-Russian government in Afghanistan and create turmoil in India, have now become a headache for it. If Pakistan still does not learn a lesson, the situation will further degenerate." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶7. "REINSTATEMENT OF SACKED JUDGES IN PAK," editorial in August 2 right-of-centre Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ", New Delhi: "Eminent lawyers and lawyers' association in Pakistan have been agitating for the reinstatement of dismissed judges, but their demonstrations and agitations have cut no ice. The present government can get such a bill passed in the national assembly, and get it approved by President Pervez Musharraf. PPP's Asaf Ali Zardari considers constitutional complications responsible for the delay in the reinstatement. It is quite absurd excuse. In fact, he is unable to solve any problem of democratic government of Pakistan, with foresight. The reinstatement of dismissed judges will give fresh strength to Pakistan's integrity and stability because the dismissal was a blot on the Islamic republic of Pakistan." -------------- GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR -------------- ¶8. "THE BUSINESS OF TERRORISM," op-ed in August 3 right- of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by security expert K. Subrahmanyam: "Senior U.S. State Department official Thomas Schweich has said that the Taliban cannot be defeated until opium cultivation is not eradicated from Afghanistan. As per his plan, Afghanistan President Karzai should be asked to stop supporting opium- cultivation and the drug-trade. Pentagon should be aware of the strategy to impede drug production. The countries active in the war against terror should also be asked to cooperate in this plan... Since India is affected the most by drug-trade in Afghanistan it should take up this matter to the U.S. and initiate a debate on how drug- trafficking is becoming a hurdle in the war against terror. It should also hold talks with Karzai on this issue. Actually, U.S., India and Afghanistan should plan a joint opium eradication strategy, which is needed to uproot the Taliban." ¶9. "WHY IS TERRORISM GETTING THE BETTER OF US?"editorial in the August 3, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily NAVASHAKTI. "Admittedly, Islamic terrorism is difficult to cope with. Even a superpower like the U.S. has been unsuccessful in containing Jehadi elements. So it is not surprising that India is finding it difficult to counter Pakistan-based insurgents. But even as we acknowledge that much of the terrorist activity happening in India can be traced back to Pakistan, we have to also admit that our counter-terrorism machinery has been unsuccessful in curbing the involvement of the local population who aid and abet the Pakistani outfits. The government has been pretty ineffective in unearthing the dynamics of the network between the local accomplices and their Pakistani counterparts. There is no point in merely asking the general public to cooperate with the police and administration in the event of terrorist attacks. Where is the political will and initiative to pin down the culprits at specific spots?" ¶10. "REGIONAL COOPERATION" editorial in August 4 Guwahati Assamese independent ASAMIYA PRATIDIN. "...Terrorism was the main subject of deliberations in the...SAARC Summit, as it has emerged as a major threat to leading member countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan... In fact, the way terrorism has spread all over South Asia it is no longer possible for a single country to fight against it... Moreover, the question of regional security is closely related with terrorism. Therefore, SAARC countries should take concerted efforts to fight terrorism together." ¶11. "PAKISTAN WILL NOT STOP TERRORISM, IT NEEDS TO BE COMPELLED TO DO SO," editorial in August 4 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali daily, BARTAMAN. "After the remarks by Pakistan's Prime Minister and the Pakistani Ambassador in the U.S., one may think that Pakistan will now probably behave properly but...that will be a far-fetched imagination... Pakistan's real problem is fanatic fundamentalism... No doubt, Pakistan's Prime Minister was forced to take a softer position under American pressure but, neither the Prime Minister nor the president possesses the power to control ISI or the terrorist groups... Pakistan will not stop terrorism. It must be forced to do that. Every country in the world including the SAARC nations should drive Pakistan toward that direction." -------------- IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM / NAM CONFERENCE -------------- ¶12. "COMMENDABLE STEP BY NAM", editorial in August 1, right-of-center Urdu daily "INQUILAB", Mumbai: "The declaration of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) foreign ministers in Tehran that Iran has every right to continue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes is highly commendable. It is an important development, particularly at a time when Uncle Sam and its western cronies are engaged in mean efforts to convince the world that Iran is a rogue. Support of more than 100 countries, including India, is sufficient to deflate the air of this wicked propaganda wherein the world community is being incited to stop the Uranium enrichment process by Iran. The international media has already reported that the U.S. directed Israel to be prepared to attack Iran, if needed. This direction is indicative of a grand conspiracy and aggressive designs. All international fora like NAM should try individually as well as collectively to stop the U.S. and Israel. In fact, they are the biggest threat to the world." -------------- SAARC SUMMIT IN COLOMBO -------------- ¶13. "SAARC UNDER THE SHADOW OF TERRORISM", editorial in August 2 right-of-center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN EXPRESS", New Delhi: "The agenda of the SAARC summit should have been SAFTA and all the member countries should have serious deliberations as to how SAFTA should be implemented smoothly. But a new wave of terrorism throughout the world left behind the important issues. Terrorism came on top on the SAARC agenda. Under a well- conceived conspiracy, efforts have been made to turn all eyes towards terrorism, ignoring other key issues. It is probably not coincidental that whenever India and Pakistan want to start bilateral talks, the subcontinent reverberates with the bomb blasts and our friendship gets soaked in the blood of innocents. Heads of SAARC countries, particularly that of India and Pakistan, should deliberate on the point seriously. Only mutual cooperation, brotherhood and love can defeat this conspiracy, which is being hatched against us on an extensive level." ¶14. "SAARC SUMMIT MARRED BY ACRIMONIOUS INDO-PAK RELATIONS" editorial in the August 2, 2008 Surat-based centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "It isn't surprising to know that the SAARC summits are dominated by hostility between two major South Asian neighbors, India and Pakistan... The involvement of Pakistan's ISI in the Indian embassy bombings in Kabul, the Pakistani military's unprovoked firing along the Line of Control, and acts of terrorism in India having linkages to Pakistan have over the years created an environment of distrust between these SAARC neighbors... It is therefore incumbent on Prime Minister Singh to tell his Pakistani counterpart Gilani in no uncertain terms that any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan is possible only if it stops aiding and abetting terrorism against India. The efficacy and success of the SAARC forum rests on whether nations adopt a cooperative approach rather than a confrontational one with member nations...." -------------- WTO/DOHA ROUNDS -------------- ¶15. "WTO: INDIAN FARMER SHALL REMAIN POOR" editorial in the August 4, 2008 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMCHAR. "The collapse of WTO agricultural trade talks in Geneva is in India's [India's agricultural community's] interest. The WTO is America's brainchild aimed at trapping India's economy in general and its agricultural production in particular. It is known that huge subsidies enjoyed by America's farmers reduce their production costs. This is not the case with South Asian nations including India. Hence, the failure of these talks is a blessing for the 450 million strong Indian farming community, especially when there aren't many people who stand up for Indian farmers' interests... The so-called leaders of today, who are oblivious to the hardships faced by farmers, represent farmers at the international level. The result is a myopic understanding of farming-related issues that only tends to help rich farmers. There has been no visible improvement in the situation of poor farmers. The rising number of suicides by farmers is a case in point... It is thus important to note that had the WTO talks succeeded, it would have benefited only the rich farmers leaving the poor farmers at the mercy of landlords and governments." -------------- APOLOGY BY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES -------------- ¶16. "A HISTORICAL APOLOGY" editorial in the August 2, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "The apology tendered by the U.S. House of Representatives for subjecting African-Americans to slavery and segregationist laws in the past is the second best piece of news from the U.S., the first of course being the Democratic Party's presidential nomination of a black person. Both the developments have the potential of giving a positive turn to U.S. politics. There are those who do not read too much into these symbolic gestures. But the U.S. House of Representatives deserves kudos for acknowledging the negative impact of slavery on a section of U.S. society..." White