SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 NEW DELHI 003013 SIPDIS 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: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS This cable reports on relevant media reaction from India's English and large non-English press. SUMMARY: The Indian media across the political and language spectrum expressed shock and outrage at the continuing Mumbai terror attacks, calling it "India's 9/11." Editorials lambasted the government for its perceived intelligence failure, and political leaders for mutual bickering at the cost of inaction. Several newspapers saw a Pakistani hand in the attacks, and cited post-9/11 U.S. preparedness to demand a rigorous anti- terrorism mechanism. TV reports that the arrested terrorist is a Pakistani national. Further reports say that PM Singh and PM Gilani have agreed that the Pakistani Army and ISI chiefs will fly to India to coordinate the investigation. END SUMMARY. -------------- TERROR IN MUMBAI -------------- ¶1. "IT'S WAR," editorial in the November 28 centrist English Daily THE TIMES OF INDIA (Circulation: 2.1 million). "This nation is under attack ... India is effectively at war and it has deadly enemies in its midst ... The government should immediately work on an internal security doctrine that demarcates the role of various security wings and a clear command structure to deal with terrorism ... Besides terrorists coming in from the Arabian Sea, their looking for Americans, Britons and Israelis give the signal that the attack on Mumbai is a spillover from the larger war on terror ... South Asian borders are notoriously porous ... To tackle terror in India it is urgently necessary to stabilize Pakistan and Bangladesh. And, India should seek international help now to upgrade its own security apparatus, but also to stabilize the entire region stretching from Afghanistan to Bangladesh. There is no time to waste." ¶2. "A NATION THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO SLEEP," editorial in the November 28 nationalist English Daily THE HINDUSTAN TIMES (Circulation: 1.6 million). "India is under attack. And along with it, the idea of India is under attack ... One would have thought that our governments, law and order machinery and political establishment would be prepared to tackle and disarm these noxious forces ... the Deccan Mujahideen carries all the hallmarks of the genre of terrorist networks that go under the name of al-Qaeda. This is 21st century terrorism reaching the shores of our country. Unfortunately, Indian counter-terrorism is still in 20th century gear ... It also needs to implement stringent anti-terror-laws ... A department of homeland security is still shockingly a non-concept here ... After September 11, 2001, America came together to fight a common, shape-shifting enemy. Can we as a nation that has known terrorism for far longer - and with far more wounds to show - come together to face this nation-crippling assault?" ¶3. "AN AFFRONT TO THE INDIAN STATE," editorial in the NEW DELHI 00003013 002 OF 010 November 28 Left-of-Center English Daily THE HINDU (Circulation: 5280000). "Mumbai as the country's financial and business centre has always been an obvious target for those seeking to destabilize the Indian state, and terrorists attacks have been occurring in the city with a distressing frequency in the recent past.... While the Government of Pakistan appears to be serious in putting any form of support that its Inter-Services Intelligence provided for terrorism behind and in its pursuit of improved relations with India, there are several groups in the country that go about quite openly recruiting and training people for terrorist attacks in India. Given the series of attacks within Pakistan itself, its government's determination and ability to contain terrorist elements within is no doubt open to question ... The strengthening of the intelligence machinery with increased manpower and more sophisticated equipment, brooks no further delay." ¶4. "HOW MANY MORE?" editorial in the November 28 pro- economic reform English daily THE BUSINESS STANDARD (estimated circulation: 300,000). "This is the age of terrorism, and the government has to find a way to deliver security in the face of all the challenges that such an age poses ... So, despite the protestations of peace and friendship by the Pakistan president, it is clear that the ISI itself, or rogue elements in it, continue to wage covert war against India ... This confirms the existence of a jihadi terrorist network operating within the country. Is it too much to ask that the intelligence agencies penetrate this network and break up its cells?" ¶5. "OUR NIGHTMARE, OUR WAKE-UP CALL," editorial in the November 28 centrist English Daily THE INDIAN EXPRESS by Shekhar Gupta (estimated circulation: 200,000). "Posterity will record this as India's 9/11. But are we now stirred enough to also respond to it with the equanimity with which the other democracy recovered, and has protected its people in the seven years that followed? ... But a policy of genuine, non-partisan zero- tolerance towards terror of all kinds would have made the task of such conspirators much tougher ... Time had come a long time ago to depoliticize our response to terror just as other great democracies around the world have done. We can mourn that we lost all that time. But now, even if a tragedy like this cannot make both sides - in fact the entire political class - made amends, we have no right to call ourselves a great nation, democracy, civilization. We can't let a bunch of murderous thugs rob it all away from us. We have to also ensure that others of their ilk are never to hit our people or our foreign guests again. Ever." ¶6. "THIS IS WAR WAGED AGAINST THE NATION," editorial in the November 28 pro-BJP-right-of-center English daily THE PIONEER (estimated circulation: 365,000). "Had the Prime Minister been even remotely serious about combating terrorism, his first step would have been to sack the Intelligence Bureau chief as well as the head of the Research & Analysis Wing ... If the Prime Minister is not convinced of the abysmal failure of these two crucial NEW DELHI 00003013 003 OF 010 agencies in providing real time intelligence input and undertaking counter-terrorism operations, then there is no reason to take note of his labored denunciation of terrorism ... Had he been sincere about waging war on terror, he would have come up with a plan in his first 100 days in office, which he spent dismantling the anti- terror structure put in place by the NDA Government ... The failure of the Government, however, must not weaken the nation's resolve to stand united against the evil forces of terrorism." ¶7. "IF THIS IS OUR 9/11, LET'S FIGHT IT LIKE U.S.," editorial in the November 28 centrist THE ASIAN AGE (estimated circulation: 390,000). "With jihadist forces on the rise in Pakistan, terrorists have lately turned on their masters in a bid to capture political power with the connivance of sections of the ISI, virtually a state- within-a-state in that country. These sections have not given up their anti-India jihad ... The spectacular nature of Wednesday's multiple strikes on India's commercial capital led a former high-ranking US official to describe it on CNN as "India's Nine-Eleven". There is truth in this, but there is also a fundamental difference. America wasn't attacked by an immediate neighbor ... If this was India's Nine-Eleven, it is possibly time for this nation to respond, just as America did seven years ago. The government and Opposition must together ensure at Friday's all-party meeting that the nation speaks in one voice, and acts decisively against the international terrorist dens from which India is regularly targeted." ¶8. "MUMBAI PARADIGM OF TERROR," editorial in the November 28 pro economic reforms English daily THE ECONOMIC TIMES (Circulation: 465,000). "Beyond measures such as preparedness and response, the extremism that feeds such fanatical acts needs to be addressed in the wider socio- political arena. That is, without doubt, and as various nations around the world have discovered, the best kind of pre-emptive measure. That said, installing effective anti-terror mechanisms are also a matter of intra-state and international cooperation ... India should now press hard for greater intelligence sharing within the region." ¶9. "FIGHT TERROR UNITEDLY," editorial in November 28 right-of-center Hindi daily AMAR UJALA (Circulation -- 815,000). "India really has no plan to fight terror. And if there is ever any movement forward, then politics comes in the way. Every time there is an incident, there are demands for a federal agency to combat terror. But even that gets mired in suspicion that terror laws may be misused. Our politicians are playing games with us; then do not value our lives." ¶10. "ATTACK ON INDIA'S NATIONAL INTEGRITY," editorial in November 28, right-of-center Hindi daily DAINIK JAGRAN (Circulation 1.832 million). "The terrorist strike in Mumbai has left Indians outraged. India's national integrity has been attacked. And this is a proxy war being fought against India by another nation. The truth is that our government merely pays lip-service to fighting terror - there is no real plan, strategy or NEW DELHI 00003013 004 OF 010 political will to fight terrorism. Our leaders only know how to play cheap politics in the name of fighting terror." ¶11. "HOW MANY MORE!" editorial in November 28 centrist Hindi daily HINDUSTAN (Circulation 800,000). "The terrorists have challenged the spirit of India by attacking its heart - Mumbai. Our security and intelligence agencies are a joke! We need to make up our mind whether we want to respond to the challenge of terrorism by taking serious actions, or just pay lip- service." ¶12. "MUMBAI IN GRIP OF TERROR," editorial in November 28 centrist Hindi daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA (Circulation -- 290,000). "Earlier it was just bombs. Now bombs are passe. Terrorist are aiming straight at people with their guns. Our security establishment stands like a mute, helpless spectator. We always cut a sorry figure in the face of terrorism. All political parties in India should come together and take terrorism as their biggest challenge. This has to be one concerted fight, without political bickerings!" ¶13. "ATTACK ON MUMBAI" editorial in the November 28 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA (Circulation: 153,275): "The degree of organization of this terrorist act can be assessed from the fact that the terrorists were well acquainted with the streets of the city, the internal passages of the hotel and the working methods of the military. In his message to the nation, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had tough words against terrorist acts. This reflects the unshakeable resolution of the country against terrorism. In his message, he also announced the immediate formation of a federal agency. These terrorist activities have, however, once again proved that we have to do a lot to combat the worst menace of terrorism." ¶14. "BACKGROUND OF MUMBAI ATTACK" editorial in the November 28 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ (Circulation: 63,000): "The dreaded terror attacks on Mumbai would not only obstruct the ongoing investigations of the Malegaon bomb blasts, but also sabotage the proof gathered so far in that case. ATS (anti terror squad) Chief Hemant Kirkire had very recently pointed out the involvement of VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) top leader Pravin Togadia in the Malegaon bomb blast. This disclosure had unnerved the ranks and files of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). ATS was also collecting proof against Mr. Togadia. Involvement of some more BJP leaders was also being whisp}red in the political circles. This attack has obstructed the investigations of the Malegaon blasts." ¶15. "ARE OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SLEEPING?" editorial in the centrist Urdu daily AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ (Circulation: 105,000): "It is really very surprising that the terrorists successfully conducted contemptible acts of terrorism on such a large scale and that dozens of our intelligence agencies were unaware of these plans to destroy the peace of the city of Mumbai. It is the need NEW DELHI 00003013 005 OF 010 of the hour for our government to think seriously on this issue." ¶16. "UNPRECEDENTED TERRORIST ATTACK," editorial in November 28 Communist Party Bengali daily GANASHAKTI (Circulation: 100,000). "The well-planned terrorist attack makes the antinational conspiracy angle quite evident. Neither the federal government nor the intelligence agencies could take any measure to restore people's confidence. Rather, people are getting more panicked. Different fundamentalist organizations are trying to exploit this situation to their advantage. The Mumbai incident indicates that terrorists will not certainly stop there. As a part of an imperialist design of destabilizing India, terrorists unleashed this orgy of violence with the objective of shattering the nation's democratic foundation. People need to remain more alert and the security system needs to be strengthened further." ¶17. "Wanted: An integrated approach," editorial in November 28 DAILY NEWS & ANALYSES - "The latest attacks in Mumbai are aimed at undermining international confidence in India... International perceptions of India over the past years have been increasingly positive and there is clearly an effort to alter such perceptions to affect foreign investments as well as tourism.... The prevailing 'emergency response paradigm', the principal, if not exclusive, paradigm of response in India, has failed.... Permanent and institutionalized mechanisms of response must now be designed to cope with these persistent challenges." ¶18. "WAR ON INDIA BY DAY AND BY NIGHT," editorial in November 28 left-of-center English daily DECCAN HERALD (circulation: 250,000). "The credibility and efficiency of the country's governmental and security systems lie shattered in the wreckage in Mumbai. The 9/11 attacks in the US are not entirely beyond comparison; the planning and co-ordination that could have gone into the action was out of the ordinary and is marked by a degree of brazenness and sophistication unseen till now. It is not an attack on Mumbai but is an attack on India. The Prime Minister has said his piece on Mumbai. We have heard him before, without any great benefit. The Leader of the Opposition has also spoken. That has also been heard before. After the attack in Mumbai, terrorism in the country has acquired a new dimension and meaning. The entire society, including the government, political parties, the official machinery, the security set-up and the people have to respond to it in ways they are not used to before." ¶19. "FACING TERRORISM WITH CONVICTION," editorial in November 28 independent English daily The New Indian Express (circulation:300,000). "The state has to show speedy results and a resolve that this is going to be the beginning of the end of this nightmare. That includes convincing leadership and a resolute focus on basics, a revamp of intelligence, of detection, of initiative, of strike capability. It is a great thing that the immediate reaction across the political spectrum has been an NEW DELHI 00003013 006 OF 010 absence of partisan name-calling and a feeling of being together in the same raft. And that Pakistan's government says we face a common enemy and has promised full help in the investigation. These declarations of intent have to be fleshed out in ways people can relate to." ¶20. "IRRESPONSIBILITY," front page signed editorial in November 28 right-of-center Tamil daily DINAMANI, published in the front page (circulation: 130,000): "Even after all this, the Prime Minister is not even thinking of changing the Home Minister. The Home Minister himself has not come forward to step down by accepting responsibility for the security lapse. The National Security Adviser Mr. M.K. Narayan also been irresponsible. The way in which three English television channels are telecasting the events without any sense of responsibility is shameful. When the twin towers were attacked in New York, the US media acted in coordination with security agencies. They did not create panic as our Indian media has been doing now." ¶21. "IT IS WAR," editorial in November 28 independent Telugu daily EENADU (circulation: 1 million). "The Prime Minister has once again mooted a task force to fight terrorism and insurgency and asked it to come out with a road map. After the September 11 attacks, within a week, U.S. was successful in establishing strong security agencies to tackle the problem. We are still lagging behind in positioning counterterrorism machinery at place. The spate of terror attacks has not only let the nation be seen as a country soft on terror, but also exposed a government that lacks a coherent nationwide strategy to deal with internal acts of terror. This shows precisely the inaction on the part of the totally discredited government that has emboldened the terrorists to strike again and again." ¶22. "CRUSH TERRORISM," editorial in November 28, independent Kannada daily VIJAY KARNATAKA (circulation: 700,000): "Thickly populated areas have become the targets of the terrorists and their purpose is to destabilize the country. Terrorists have changed their style of attack this time. It seems they wanted to send out a message to the international community that India is no more a safe country and is held under seize. It is the need of the hour to avert such moves and sound the warning bells to those who help terrorists..." ¶23. "MUMBAI TRAGEDY," editorial in November 28, Bangalore-based independent Kannada daily KANNADA PRABHA (circulation: 180,000): "A mechanism has to be put in place to avert this kind of tragedies. All out effort should be made to bring culprits to book and they should be mercilessly punished. No one should come in the way of police action to root out terrorism. This is horrifying and could be termed as treason against the humanity." ¶24. "A TERRORISTS FIELD DAY," editorial in November 28, left-of-center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI (circulation: 550,000): "The people and organizations behind such terrorizing incidents should be identified and punished severely. No terror-related incidents occurred in the NEW DELHI 00003013 007 OF 010 U.S. after 9/11. If the U.S. can achieve this, why not India? All political parties, both the ruling party and the Opposition, should come together to root out terrorism from the country." ¶25. "UNITY AGAINST TERRORISM" editorial in the November 28 right-of-center Urdu daily INQUILAB, Mumbai (Circulation: 65,000): "Who are these terrorists, and is there any major power behind them that wants to undermine our peace and stability? Such questions will take time to be properly answered. However, one can safely say that the way this whole terrorist attack has been conducted, it indicates of enormous planning and organized conspiracy. The operation must have been rehearsed for months, which is possible to be conducted by only a large network... It is extremely unfortunate that at a time when we should have focused on resolving economic problems, when general elections are not far away, and when we are yet to recover fully from the bomb blasts in other cities, we have been forced to face this new subversion... The forces behind such malicious terror elements must be exposed and firmly dealt with.... One of the most important requirements for doing this is that we must be united in facing the challenge." ¶26. "TERRORISM IN MUMBAI" editorial in the November 28 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad (Circulation: 60,009): "This terrorist attack is of extraordinary nature. Especially the way the Anti- Terrorism Squad chief was killed has become a mystery. If the terrorists are foreign nationals, how could they identify Hemant Karkare and fired three bullets directly at him. If any foreign hand is behind the shoot out and blasts, as is being suggested, then Mumbai police and federal and state intelligence agencies should be held responsible... Mumbai's tragic incident is the handiwork of extremely vicious elements. This testing time we must face with complete unity and integrity." ¶27. "SECRET OF TERRORIST ATTACK" editorial in the November 28 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS, New Delhi (Circulation: 53,000): "Be it bomb blasts or other terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, it is the same diabolic mastermind working behind all the terrorists and their heinous crimes.... It is very strange that the Mumbai incident has appeared at a time when the saffron [Hindu] terrorism was being unearthed and the ATS was zeroing in on the Hindutva mastermind... If the perpetrators of the attack are Pakistanis, as some sources have claimed, then they must be acting on behalf of those who are deadly opposed to Hindu-Muslim amity in India and to India-Pakistan friendship.... Indian or Pakistani, whoever they are, we have repeatedly said that their real target is India and its Muslims. They are out to serve their nefarious designs by instigating the majority community against Muslims, and to destabilize the country as our Prime Minister has said. The country must stand united to defeat such a terribly sick mentality." ¶28. "SEASON IN HELL," editorial in the November 28 centrist English daily THE TELEGRAPH (Circulation: NEW DELHI 00003013 008 OF 010 251,000). "Incompetence is the only word to describe the situation, except that the incompetence has left Mumbai strewn with dead bodies. Incompetence always flows from the top. It has been obvious for quite sometime, that the Union home minister, Shivraj Patil, has no control over the critical portfolio he is supposed to handle. The Prime Minister cannot be unaware of the fact that Mr. Patil cuts a ridiculous figure. Yet he remains the home minister... Wednesday night's assault was focused: foreigners seemed to have been made special targets. This indicates a global dimension previously not noticed in terrorist attacks in India...." ¶29. "TIME FOR ZERO TOLERANCE," editorial page article in the November 28 centrist English daily THE TELEGRAPH (Circulation: 251,000) by veteran columnist Swapan Dasgupta. "The Mumbai attack didn't affect the proverbial Man from Matunga, it struck at the heart of the Mumbai elite in Colaba. The Taj and Oberoi hotels weren't some out-of-the-way lunch homes, they are at the heart of Mumbai's social and business life. If it could happen there...it could also happen in the Taj and Oberoi in Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore. This Mumbai attack has brought terrorism to the doorstep of opinion makers - those who determine media content...." ¶30. "MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT'S WAR," story in the November 28 centrist English daily THE STATESMAN (Circulation: 178,000) by columnist Rajinder Puri. "The attack, its scale and nature, are a turning point in terrorist attacks against this country. It comes in the wake of serial blasts across metropolitan cities of India that have steadily escalated. The government's failure to stem terrorism has emboldened the terrorists to attack brazenly. It is most likely that such attacks will proliferate, become deadlier, and come in quick succession. Terrorism has declared full fledged war against India ... The PM should respond by inviting all the major national and regional parties to join a national government. The second required step is that a state of National Emergency should be declared...." ¶31. "WHITHER CONTINGENCY PLAN?" story in the November 28 centrist English daily THE STATESMAN (Circulation: 178,000) by Assistant Editor (News) Chandan Nandy. "...The Maharashtra government failed to implement the contingency plan that any state government must execute when faced with internal or external threats to the country's security... The...failure...stemmed from the fact that neither the central IB(Intelligence Branch)nor the state police security apparatus could anticipate that terrorists would strike at multiple points... The failure was further exposed by first asking the Army to take on the terrorists...and then 'quietly' removing them from the operation...." ¶32. "ATTACKED," editorial in November 28 independent Kolkata Bengali daily ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA (Circulation: 1,400,000). "It is not that many lives are lost in an atmosphere of suspicion and fear, but India's destiny is also hit. The dream of accomplishing the goals of speedy globalization and development cannot be realized with NEW DELHI 00003013 009 OF 010 such a sense of security. The country that was supposed to have been in the forefront of global ompetition with China will gradually be compared with Iraq or Israel." ¶33. "LET US CONDEMN," editorial in November 28 left-of- center Kolkata Bengali daily SAMBAD PRATIDIN (Circulation: 273,000). "This incident will negatively impact the national economy and tourism. The cycle of events makes it clear that no mechanism has yet been developed to gather advance information about possible terrorist strikes. The government must find out loopholes and take necessary steps on war footing." ¶34. "FAILURE OF POLICE AND INTELLIGENCE COMES TO THE FORE ONCE AGAIN," article in November 28 left-of-center Kolkata Bengali daily SAMBAD PRATIDIN by former Army chief General Shankar Roy Chowdhury (Circulation: 273,000). "Terrorist violence and war against the state are completely different and this is unprecedented in the entire world... The army is called out on every pretext since there is no advance preparation and leadership is lacking. This will break the morale of the security forces. The government should depoliticize the police and the intelligence community and put them to real security work." ¶35. "EVERYONE SHOULD NOW STAND UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM," editorial in November 28 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali daily, BARTAMAN (Circulation: 447,000)". "...Different forces are trying to disintegrate the country. In this situation, all political parties should work in a united manner in combating terrorism. Time is not right for passing the bucks and it is now the greatest challenge before us to sustain the integrity of the nation and protect it from the scourge of terrorism." ¶36. "THE BIGGEST TERRORIST ATTACK IN MUMBAI/ARE OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SLEEPING?" editorial in November 28 Kolkata nationalist AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ (Circulation: 65,000). "...It's very surprising to find that the terrorists are doing their work successfully, but the Indian intelligence could not get any indication of that beforehand. The government should pay its attention to this perspective." (Similar story appeared in Kolkata's nationalist Urdu daily AZAD HIND) ¶37. "TERRORIST ATTACK IN MUMBAI" editorial in November 28 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN (Circulation: 160,000). "The attacks in Mumbai clearly demonstrate that the country's internal security faces serious threats... The government must review the entire gamut of security measures, and enact stringent laws to deal with terrorism, and with the people and organizations inciting such heinous crimes." ¶38. "INDIA'S 9/11" editorial in November 28 Guwahati Assamese independent ASAMIYA KHABOR (Circulation: 80,000). "...If 9/11 terror strikes are considered as an attack against the United States then the 11/26 attack is against India... By attacking the prime installations the terrorists have clearly sent out the message that they NEW DELHI 00003013 010 OF 010 can easily destroy India's icons of economic success." WHITE