SPECIAL REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 003064 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 REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT REINFORCES U.S. ASSURANCES OF SUPPORT TO INDIA AGAINST TERROR ¶1. SUMMARY: The highly positive media coverage of Secretary Condoleezza Rice's visit to New Delhi on December 3 has left behind the lasting image of AMERICA being India's First Friend in the time of need. In creating that image, the Secretary's visit was supplemented by other significant American presences in India this week - those of FBI sleuths toiling with their Indian counterparts in Mumbai, and the visits of Admiral Mike Mullen and Senators McCain, Lieberman and Graham. The Secretary gave two press conferences in New Delhi - one of them jointly with Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Both the press conferences, attended by close to a hundred national and international media outlets, generated massive coverage in the print and electronic media. The one outstanding comment by the Secretary on Pakistan being accountable for "non-state actors" too was music to Indian ears. End summary. -- "U.S. CALLS PAKISTAN'S BLUFF, WANTS ACTION AGAINST TERRORISTS" ¶2. During a joint news conference with Secretary Rice, India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "There is no doubt the terrorist attacks in Mumbai were perpetrated by individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers are in Pakistan." ¶3. Secretary Rice said Pakistan has a "special responsibility" to cooperate with the investigation into the deadly Mumbai attacks. Secretary Rice said the US expects all "responsible governments" to help with the investigation and "Pakistan has a special responsibility to do so and to do so transparently, urgently and fully." -- "RICE'S NO-NONSENSE MESSAGE TO PAKISTAN" ¶4. The Indo-Asian News Service said the U.S. called Islamabad's bluff saying it must take "direct and tough action" even if the perpetrators are "non-state actors." Asked to comment on President Zardari's claim that the Mumbai attackers were "stateless actors," Secretary Rice reportedly said: "Non-state actors remain a matter of responsibility if it's in your territory." The Indo-Asian News Service said this was Rice's no-nonsense message to Pakistan. All newspapers and television channels highlighted this observation of the Secretary in their reports. ¶5. Secretary Rice reportedly described the strikes in Mumbai as "attacks at India and its integration with the world". "I have spoken with the home minister, and we are looking at reforms in India. The U.S. has experience in counter-terrorism. The special focus has to be on terror financing and intelligence sharing," she reportedly said. -- "RICE: WE'LL INSIST ON DIRECT, TOUGH ACTION BY PAKISTAN" ¶6. THE HINDU reported that Secretary Rice admitted that the Mumbai terror strikes were more sophisticated than the previous serial bomb blasts in several major Indian studies, but wanted the response limited to arresting the culprits and ensuring that no further attack took place. Pakistan had a central role to play in ensuring both these things, she added. -- "DETERMINED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM" ¶7. THE ECONOMIC TIMES highlighted Secretary Rice's assurance to Foreign Minister Mukherjee: "We are going to work very closely with you in any way you can to try to get to the bottom of what happened NEW DELHI 00003064 002 OF 003 and then help you act on that." -- "PAK MUST ACT AGAINST MUMBAI KILLERS: RICE" ¶8. THE TIMES OF INDIA said that in a direct snub to Pakistan, Secretary Rice brushed aside President Zardari's alibi that the perpetrators of Mumbai terror were "non-state actors," saying it was a matter of Islamabad's responsibility and Pakistan needed to act against them. The paper's diplomatic editor Indrani Bagchi said Secretary Rice will tell Zardari in Islamabad that Pakistan must act against the Mumbai killers. -- "INDIA URGED TO EXERCIZE RESTRAINT" ¶9. THE TRIBUNE said that while Secretary Rice turned the heat on Pakistan, she also advised India to exercise restraint, cautioning that any move to strike at terrorist camps across the border could have "unintended consequences". "Any response needs to be judged by its effectiveness and by not creating other unintended consequences," the paper quoted her as saying. -- ADVANI SEES PAKISTAN AGENCIES' ROLE IN ATTACKS ¶10. The Secretary's meeting with L.K. Advani, the leader of the Opposition BJP party, was also widely covered in the media. THE HINDU reported that in the meeting, Advani emphasized that the Mumbai attacks could not have been carried out without the Pakistan agencies' knowledge, guidance and training. The Secretary reportedly told Advani that these concerns would be registered with Pakistan. THE ECONOMIC TIMES reported that the Secretary assured Advani of Washington's "full cooperation" to India in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack. -- "U.S. SETS STAGE FOR STRIKES IF PAK DOES NOT ACT" ¶11. THE TIMES OF INDIA reported that even as Secretary Rice was in New Delhi, India's Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon made the rounds in Washington, explaining India's position and the growing anger across the country after Pakistan's latest provocation. The paper reported that Menon was assured of full cooperation and support as India dealt with the consequences of the incident. -- "EMPTY RICE BOWL" ¶12. THE MAIL TODAY was perhaps the only newspaper that expressed a lack of optimism about the visit, saying the Secretary came with platitudes and advised patience with Pakistan. Swimming against the tide of highly positive reporting, the paper said "the U.S. reaction to the terrorist carnage in Mumbai has been to unleash the conflict-prevention mechanisms by flooding the region with high-level visits." ¶13. COMMENTARY: The Secretary's visit came at a time when India is looking for international endorsements against Pakistan, particularly from the US. While the Secretary's remarks in New Delhi were largely reiterations of previous messages from Washington, it was her flying down thousands of miles to stand with India in its hour of need that made all the difference. At the same time, it is evident from the media reporting that India is now looking for active U.S. support against Pakistan, rather than verbal assurances. Editorial commentary on the visit is expected in the coming days, but the upbeat reporting thus far reflects the grand public affairs NEW DELHI 00003064 003 OF 003 success of this visit. MULFORD