SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION (CONTINUED): MUMBAI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 NEW DELHI 003035 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 (CONTINUED): MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS This cable reports on relevant media reaction from India's English and large non-English press. SUMMARY: The Indian media's demands for a confrontation with Pakistan over the Mumbai attacks continued to grow today. While castigating the government and political leadership for their tardiness in tackling terror, newspapers across the country demanded that India rope in the international community to put pressure on Pakistan. Even the most moderate voices in the Indian media are now saying that even of the Government of Pakistan was not directly involved in the attacks, the country cannot claim innocence when its soil is used for terrorism. TV commentators providing an outlet for public anger are sustaining the high emotion in the public and in government. "Decisive and firm" action against Pakistan is the demand. End Summary. NB: Announcement of Secretary Rice's planned visit was carried by electronic media in the morning news cycle; her remarks calling for Pakistani transparency in the investigation is running through the evening news cycle. -------------- MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS -------------- ¶1. "GO TO THE SOURCE," editorial in the December 1 centrist English Daily THE TIMES OF INDIA (Circulation: 2.1 million). "It's also time for New Delhi to work together with the US, the UK and other concerned governments to evolve a common approach towards Pakistan, which is the world's central terror hub ... Even if one presumes that elements in the Pakistani government are not involved in the attacks, evidence points to Pakistani soil being used to mount these attacks on India. Islamabad can't escape without accounting for this ... The Bush administration has, till recently, tended to be indulgent towards the Pakistani military and the ISI but president-elect Barack Obama apparently sees things differently. There now needs to be a determined international effort to ensure Pakistan no longer remains the ground zero of terror." ¶2. "MAKE THE CASE," editorial in the December 1 centrist English Daily THE TIMES OF INDIA (Circulation: 2.1 million). "The real problem lies within Pakistan, 
Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The violent campaign of extremists in these territories not only destabilizes the region but also puts the entire world at grievous risk ... By striking India these terrorists are striking at the free world. It is therefore pertinent that powerful global players in the western world, and China, exert their influence on the administrations in Islamabad and Dhaka and compel them to put their houses in order. India, on its part, must also invest more in global efforts to fight the scourge of ideologically-driven terror. But before that, it must step up diplomatic efforts in coordination with the rest of the world's affected countries." NEW DELHI 00003035 002 OF 009 ¶3. "A TALE OF TWO CRISES," analysis in the December 1 centrist English Daily THE INDIAN EXPRESS by C Raja Mohan (estimated circulation: 200,000). "India's actions in the next few days must be sensitive to the internal divide in Pakistan. India's case that the Mumbai attacks are linked to groups operating in Pakistan must be strong enough to mobilize significant international pressure to test Zardari's offer to act against these groups and their patrons in the security establishment ... What Dr. Singh needs now is a strategy that combines controlled escalation with flexible diplomacy to build an international coalition that includes the civilian leaders of Pakistan as well as the US and NATO." ¶4. "FIGHT TERROR WITH ISLAMABAD," editorial in the December 1 pro-economic reforms English daily THE ECONOMIC TIMES Circulation: 465,000). "Globalized problems require globalize solutions. To that extent, Islamabad's initial decision to respond positively to PM Manmohan Singh's request to send the ISI chief to India to help in tackling the Mumbai terror crisis was significant. That it has partly gone back on that decision by promising cooperation instead - which might include a visit by ISI personnel - diminishes this significance ... New Delhi must leverage the ISI visit to evolve a bilateral security-intelligence mechanism that enables the state apparatuses of the two nations to work in tandem while responding to terror attacks in the region. It is nobody's case that what the country faced in Mumbai was not an act of external aggression. Majority of the terror operatives were Pakistani nationals. And yet it would be utterly misplaced to respond to it as if it were a "Pakistani attack on India" ... Some powerful sections of the Pakistani polity and state, especially its military-intelligence wing, are in sync with the Pan- Islamist jihad project. What is equally indisputable is that the Pakistani polity is, on the whole, engaged in a struggle to militarily contain such elements and politically stamp them out ... New Delhi must patiently aid such a process through a calibrated mix of pressure and cooperation." ¶5. "TIME TO ACT FIRMLY, DECISIVELY ON PAK," editorial in the December 1 centrist THE ASIAN AGE (estimated circulation: 390,000). "Pakistan's protestations of innocence are not being taken seriously - neither by the people nor by the government. Duplicity and obfuscation by Islamabad over nearly three decades on the terrorism issue have made Indians inured to phoney Pakistani denials ... Given the situation in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's Waziristan area being under the American scanner, Washington would not like Pakistan Army units to move from that region to face India in the event of an Indian deployment. We may be reasonably certain that the United States and its Western allies are urging India to take meaningful steps short of mobilizing the armed forces." ¶6. "UNTRUSTWORTHY PAKISTAN," editorial in November 30 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily (circulation 1.83 million): "After flushing out the Pakistani NEW DELHI 00003035 003 OF 009 terrorists, it is necessary to target its leadership now. If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wanted Pakistan to send the ISI chief to assist in investigating the Mumbai massacre, then it is meaningless that he agrees to a director-level official... We are fooling ourselves to believe that the Pakistan government has no control over the ISI. If it is true then how come its official is coming to India at all? Now India should not agree to anything less than the dissolution of ISI. We should try our best to put an effective pressure on Pakistan. If Pakistan is not ready to understand that wiping out terrorist infrastructure is in its own interest, there is no option left, but to prepare the world community to jointly destroy the terrorist bases in Pakistan. And there are enough reasons to believe that the ISI is also one of them." ¶7. "NEEDLE OF SUSPICION POINTS TO PAKISTAN" op-ed article in November 30 centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily (circulation 390,000) by strategic affairs specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "The Indian investigating agencies have once again found the terrorists' links to Pakistan. The picture will further be clear after the interrogations of the detained militants... After 9/11 U.S. created a new post of Director of National Intelligence to establish coordination among all the intelligence agencies and to monitor them. Similarly, under a major bureaucratic change the Department of Homeland Security was also formed. But, it is really shocking that despite a far bigger terrorist challenge, our political parties do not really feel the need of the intelligence coordination and establishment of a joint internal security system. Now while all the evidences are pointing to the involvement of Pakistani elements India should try to avoid such things, which could create a serious tension between India and Pakistan. Similarly, our two major national parties should plan a joint anti-jihadi strategy to prevent a communal struggle in the country." ¶8. "RESIGNATION OF SHIVRAJ PATIL" editorial in the December 1 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA (Circulation: 153,275): "There is evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai. And so the Indian government has taken a tough stand against Pakistan. In spite of this, sensible and intelligent Indian citizens are repeatedly asking the government to mend its own security setup while keeping a close eye on theenemy. Why allow the enemy to take advantage of us? On one hand, we should take stern action against our enemies and not allow them to succeed in their bad intentions. But on the other hand, we should also make sincere efforts to keep the administration active and alert. We should hope the new home minister will concentrate on these issues too." ¶9. "VULTURES DANCE OVER BLOOD-SOAKED DEAD BODIES" op-ed in the December 1 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ, New Delhi (Circulation: 63,000) by columnist Dr. Rizwan Ahmad: "Pakistan may not be involved in the terror attacks on Mumbai as relations between the two countries have been improving day by day. Vested interests, who are NEW DELHI 00003035 004 OF 009 against better relations between the two neighbors, leave no stone unturned to destabilize the peace process. The recent attack on Mumbai may be part of this conspiracy. Last week it was disclosed that a top Rashtriya Swaymsewak Sangh leader has links with the ISI of Pakistan. Hemant Karkare, the chief of Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS),the organization investigating these links, was also killed in this attack so that the reality could be veiled for ever." ¶10. "NEW DANGEROUS FACE OF TERROR", editorial in the November 29 right-of-center Urdu daily "URDU TIMES', Mumbai (Circulation: 45,000): "We had written earlier that the face of Hindu terror that has been brought forth so far, is just the tip of an iceberg. If the investigations proceed on the right track, the real face of terror comprising of a dangerous liaison between the Sangh Parivar & Mossad shall come up. The satanic terrorism that was witnessed by Mumbai from the night of Wednesday, 26th November right up to the afternoon of Thursday, 27th November definitely carries the mark of a MOSSAD strike. It also indicates towards how the Indian ally of MOSSAD, the Sangh Parivar has been indulging in acts of utter madness in the aftermath of the unprecedented action being taken by the ATS in recent days. The assassination of Hemant Karkare along with five other top-notch officials in cold blood, is the most vital evidence in this context. The police can very well expose the truth behind the Deccan Mujahideen with a little bit of attention." ¶11. "WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?" editorial in the November 29, 2008 Mumbai-based centrist DNA (circ: 400,000): "That India's financial centre can be brought to a standstill by a handful of men is not just a matter of shame or thundering rage: it is a damning indictment of the way security is handled in our country.... This style of functioning is unacceptable when it comes to issues as serious as this. Where or even what are our disaster management systems? Why does a country which crows about its hundreds of millionaires not even have proper medical facilities for accidents, paramedical services and so on? We have the expertise and technology to send a rocket to the moon but we do not have adequate stretchers to carry the wounded away from the scene of an accident? Why do our police not have proper protection gear? These are questions which have been asked many times before but we forget to insist on answers as time passes." ¶12. "TERRORISTS UNDERSTAND ONLY ONE LANGUAGE: TEN BULLETS FOR EVERY SINGLE GUNSHOT," editorial in the November 29, 2008 Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR (circ: 200,000). "....Religiosity and spirituality cannot heal the wounds inflicted by terrorists. Citizens have now crossed the limits of their patience. The only response to the terrorists should be in the language they understand; which is fire ten bullets for every single gunshot fired by the terrorists.... The attack on Mumbai is a proxy war against India by our neighbor. The terrorists are now targeting towns and cities that are prospering economically. Be it NEW DELHI 00003035 005 OF 009 Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Mumbai.... It is high time that India took decisive action on war footing to crush this menace failing which her own existence will be in jeopardy." ¶13. "HOW LONG???" editorial in the November 29, 2008 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR (circ: 900,000). "It is becoming a rewarding experience for those organizations exporting terrorists into India. Not only these terrorists strike at will killing 200-300 people but they have been using India as a platform to send the message to the international community that terrorism has not come to an end.... The terrorists have the passion to put an end to all religions other than Islam. As long as the politicians of this country do not imbibe a similar passion to crush the same terrorism, innocents will continue to pay with their lives." ¶14. "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LEARN FROM THE PAST?" op-ed article by senior editor Ashok Panvalkar in the left-of- center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES (circulation: 250,000). "This is the time to really check our level of preparedness in the wake of repeated terror attacks.... It is crystal clear that Pakistan has sponsored these latest terror attacks. But what is not clear is India's action plan? What are we going to do about this obvious Pakistani collusion? Are we waiting for the next attack? Do we still believe in the confidence-building measures between India and a notorious Pakistan? There is a section of Indian intellectuals who still advocate that both the countries should first achieve consensus on sundry ticklish issues and then approach the Kashmir tangle. But gentlemen, what does one do if this neighboring country just doesn't stop bombings and killings in the meanwhile?..." ¶15. "FINANCE MINISTER'S `ENCOUNTER' : WHAT ABOUT THE COUNTRY?" editorial in the December 1, 2008, Mumbai edition of right-of-center Marathi daily SAAMNA (circulation: 500,000). "Our prime minister and foreign minister tell us that Pakistan is involved in the Mumbai attacks. Is that news? We also got to know that our government is going to hold talks with the Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Now what is Zardari going to do? He is himself a terror-struck ruler whose wife was bombed off by the Lashkar-e-toiba. Can such a man be of any help? And we know that terror-training camps are run on Pakistani soil with the active assistance of Inter Services Intelligence, which, in other words, means the Pakistani government sponsors such camps... This is the time to wage a war against Pakistan..." ¶16. "PAKISTAN BEHIND THE MASK" editorial in the December 1, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL (circulation: 550,000). "While India tries hard to establish a dialogue with Pakistan, India has to be alive to the fact that Pakistan is not a democracy and that its uncouth political culture cannot digest concepts like peace, harmony, elections and tolerance. This manifests itself in the rapid u-turns Pakistan takes in its NEW DELHI 00003035 006 OF 009 assurances. Within 24 hours of accepting a request from India to send the ISI chief for sharing of information related to the terrorist attack in Mumbai, Pakistan has gone back on its word...It is one thing to be an ornamental part of the U.S.-led global war against terror, and it is another thing to take a committed stand against terrorist outfits which operate on U.S. soil..." ¶17. "THIS IS THE TIME FOR SOME GLOBAL ACTION" editorial in the November 29, 2008, Mumbai edition of left-of- center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES (circulation: 250,000). "Almost all countries, including China and Pakistan, have condemned terrorist violence in Mumbai. But this time we need more than condemnation. There has to be an internationally-endorsed code of conduct for every country. And the United Nations should be empowered to take strictest of actions and impose sanctions against the ones who violate that code, the ones who openly organize and sponsor terror-training camps, the ones who give shelter to terrorists. Pakistan's duplicity in this context is well-known and it is time that the country pays a price for its doublespeak..." ¶18. "IN DUBIOUS BATTLE," editorial page article in the November 30 centrist English daily THE TELEGRAPH (Circulation: 251,000). "All clues available from the attack on Mumbai point to a very close Pakistan link. But it would be simplistic to lay the entire responsibility at Pakistan's door. The planning of the assaults on the various sites in Mumbai bear close resemblance to what happened at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. There is a wider and a bigger organization at work, which cannot be pinned down to one particular nation... The political class in India has a lot to answer for. It is in the context of the need for greater co-operation to counter a global threat that India's recent friendship with the United States of America acquires urgency. Critics of this friendship, because they view the world through ideological blinkers, see it in terms of India being too pro-U.S. It is no longer a question of ideology or being pro- or anti- this. It is a question of survival...." ¶19. "THE MUSLIM BLOC," edit-page article in December 1 centrist English daily THE STATESMAN (Circulation: 178,000) by M Riaz Hasan. "Islam, that is being practiced today, looks different from that preached by Prophet Mohammed... Muslims all over the world may be strictly following the five basic tenets of the religion, but the TalibanizatiozQ,QUQQ plan such a gargantuan operation so meticulously? ... As for the argument that Muslims are patently incapable of carrying out an attack of this magnitude and sophistication, I think it is the self-inflicted defeatism of the Muslims that makes them think so. The Al-Qaida and its acolytes have the human and monetary resources to mount such attacks and they have demonstrated their devastating potential in Bali, Madrid NEW DELHI 00003035 007 OF 009 and London since 9/11...." ¶20. "PAKISTAN MUST TAKE A CLEAR POSTURE ON TERRORISM," editorial in the November 30 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali daily, BARTAMAN (Circulation: 447,000). "In the wake of terrorist strikes in Mumbai, the Indian government must seize the opportunity of pressuring Pakistan. Now, Pakistan will have to make its stand clear on providing instigation to terrorists... Why does Pakistan still allow terrorists to use its own soil?" ¶21. "WHO IS BEHIND THE MUMBAI ATTACKS?" editorial in the November 30 left-of-center Kolkata Bengali daily, SAMBAD PRATIDIN (Circulation: 273,000). "Even if the ISI chief himself does not come (to India) and depute his representative that will become a significant event in the history of Indo-Pak diplomacy... The Pakistani government should immediately come forward and sincerely cooperate with India in order to root out the sin of terrorism." ¶22. "ATTACK ON INDIA VIA THE SEA ROUTE/OUR SECURITY SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY" editorial in November 30 Kolkata Urdu nationalist AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ (Circulation: 65,000). "After each and every terrorist attack our Prime Minister and other government officials issue statements to take the nation into confidence that the government has crushed the terrorists with iron hand, and such things would never happen again. But these statements ultimately proved to be false promises. It's true that the land border areas between Pakistan and India have been safeguarded well, but much is to be done to secure the sea borders." ¶23. "TERRORISTS CRUSHED" editorial in November 30 Kolkata centrist Urdu AZAD HIND (Circulation: 45,000). "It will make no difference to know who were or are the terrorists. Whoever may they be, they have to pay the price for taking so many innocents' lives. In this regard we should even take help from our neighbor countries, and international communities. It's necessary that we destroy the root of terrorism. International communities are already with India. So now we should plan wisely to root out terrorism once for all." ¶24. "Time to act firmly, decisively on Pak," editorial in December 01, Secunderabad-based left-of-center English daily DECCAN CHRONICLE (circulation: 1 million): "Given the situation in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's Waziristan area being under the American scanner, Washington would not like Pakistan Army units to move from that region to face India in the event of an Indian deployment. We may be reasonably certain that the United States and its Western allies are urging India to take meaningful steps short of mobilizing the armed forces. Those familiar with the nuances of state practice will no doubt recognize that other options are available, and a mix of variables can also be successfully attempted. But this calls for a wide national consensus and determination on the part of the government." NEW DELHI 00003035 008 OF 009 ¶25. "The Pakistani hand?" editorial in November 29, Bangalore-based, left-of-center English daily DECCAN HERALD (circulation: 350,000): "... Pakistan government cannot avoid responsibility if persons of Pakistani origin or organizations that operate there are behind the attack. The fact that Pakistan also has seen terrorist outrages is no mitigating factor. The ISI is not under the control of the civilian government in Islamabad, and assurances on curbing anti-India activity within Pakistan, given to India by successive leaders of that country, have not been kept." ¶26. "Wake-up call: The old ways won't do," editorial in November 29, Secunderabad-based left-of-center English daily DECCAN CHRONICLE: "America had its September 11, 2001, and then systems were put into place to prevent a recurrence. Two major European cities took massive hits but subsequently came up with answers that can stand scrutiny. In India, however, we plod on as before. If the unleashing of terrorism on this country is part of the war of a thousand cuts, we seem to fight that war with a thousand bandages. It seems to be not India's way to develop immune systems, to establish quick response procedures, and to maintain and keep these systems well greased so that terror practitioners may be rebuffed. They also need to be deterred from trying their luck over and over again." ¶27. "War on Mumbai: The next chapter," editorial in December 01, Bangalore-based independent Kannada daily KANNADA PRABHA (circulation: 180,000): "...But, is India in a position to prove the role of Pakistan in this tragedy? The answers need to be found to this question. Indulging in a clash with Pakistan without solid proof (which is a populist measure in an election year in India) may not be logically right. Instead, India should place all proofs available to prove Pakistan's hand -away from media - before the world leaders. Convince both - world leaders and Pakistan - to devise a long-lasting strategy to root out terror from India." ¶28. "Lessons should be learnt; Pak should cooperate," editorial in December 01, Bangalore-based independent Kannada daily VIJAYA KARNATAKA (circulation: 700,000): "...There may not be direct involvement of the Pakistan government in this attack. But, there are enough proofs available to show that terrorists got shelter and training on Pak soil. But why is Pakistan hesitating to cooperate by sending its ISI chief, as requested by India. Interestingly, the U.S. has extended its helping hand. The U.S. should exert pressure on Pakistan to cooperate and also help Pakistan to eliminate terrorists and their camps in Pak." ¶29. "Challenge of terror," editorial in December 01, Bangalore-based left-of-center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI (circulation: 550,000): "The people at the helm of affairs should understand that we are amidst of war. The government should exhibit it will to eliminate terror from this soil. Strengthening of inland security and NEW DELHI 00003035 009 OF 009 modernization of security systems should be the top most priority." ¶30. "India is a brave country" editorial in November 29 right-of-center Chennai-based Tamil daily, DINAMANI, (circulation: 130,000): "...LeT, the terror outfit said to be behind the Mumbai attack says that it is fighting to capture Kashmir. How can killings of hundreds of people in Mumbai will help them in fighting for Kashmir? This is nothing but sheer disease in mind of those involved in the attack. India is a brave country and capable of recovering from these kinds of sabotage by silly people." ¶31. "LACK OF POLITICAL WILL" editorial in the December 1, independent Telugu daily EENADU (Circulation: 1 million): "...It is learnt that the terrorists who came from Pakistan got the support from the Dawood Ibrahim's aides in Mumbai. Dawood-LeT-ISI mutual cooperation in executing the terror is being established. Dawood Ibrahim's promoted terrorism is not new to India. But, what we lack is political will. It is high time, India needs to tackle terror by placing national interest above all other vested interests. Or else, the Nation will not forgive politicians." MULFORD