MEDIA REACTION: INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS IN WAKE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 003123 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: MEDIA REACTION: INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS IN WAKE OF MUMBAI ATTACKS, MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM; NEW DELHI. 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." -------------- -------------- INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS IN WAKE OF MUMBAI ATTACKS -------------- -------------- ¶1. "PAKISTAN'S HELPLESSNESS," editorial in the December 10 HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan, for the first time, has really acted against terrorists, but under pressure. If the Pakistani rulers really want to eradicate terrorism their actions should match their words. They should stop the diplomatic drama and destroy the terrorist camps running on their soil. The Mumbai terror attacks forced the U.S. and Europe to think that the Pakistani terrorists could also create troubles for them. Thus, the U.S. stepped up pressure on Pakistan... If the U.S. and Europe stop their financial aid, it could create serious difficulties for Pakistan. And the statements of the sole terrorist survivor of Mumbai massacre, Azam Amir Kasav, and the solid proof of him being a Pakistani citizen have made the situation even more difficult for the Pakistan government. The U.S. intelligence agencies' reports are also pointing to the ISI's involvement. Now Pakistan has to decide if it wants to continue to be an international headache or it wants to be included in the category of the successful nations?" ¶2. "TRAPPING PAKISTAN," editorial in the December 10 RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "India's anti-Pakistan global diplomacy regarding the Mumbai terror attacks is, actually, its strategy of trapping Pakistan. And raising this issue in the UN Security Council is a part of this strategy. India perhaps wants to create grounds to act against Pakistan with the permission of the Council... And Pakistan seems to have a two-sided strategy-- reiterating the commitment of cooperation and giving statement, taking into consideration the internal politics, of not handing over any Pakistani to India; and on the other side, trying to make the world believe that Pakistan itself is struggling with terrorism. The Western countries, including the U.S., hesitate in adopting strict attitude against Pakistan because-- firstly, they feel that it will endanger democracy over there and secondly, it can increase anger in the Islamic world. This thinking is the biggest obstacle at present in the way of the success of the Indian diplomacy." ¶3. "DETENTION OF MASOOD AZHAR AND LAKHVI IS ABSOLUTE EYEWASH," editorial in the December 11 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali daily, BARTAMAN. "Pakistan's new civilian government is completely helpless at the hands of...strong power centers. The government may not stay in power if it really wants drastic action against the terrorists. The Pakistani Army and ISI will not let the government continue. That is the reason why America too does not NEW DELHI 00003123 002 OF 003 believe that Pakistan has detained the terrorist leaders or has put them under house arrest. The Pakistani government's claim is untenable." ¶4. "A DIFFERENT EID," editorial in the December 11 independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "This year's Eid was a bit different in the wake of the Mumbai massacre... Muslim leaders have made it clear that there is no relation between protection of minority rights and their development ... The leaders have done a good job by going on record that they too regard India as their motherland and they are no less committed than any other Indian nationals in preventing damage and destruction to the country. It was indeed necessary to send out this message to timid and hesitant secularists at this hour of crisis." ¶5. "UNTRUSTWORTHY NEIGHBOR" editorial in the December 11, 2008, Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "Ultimately Pakistan has, though indirectly, admitted to the complicity of Pakistan's Jehadi elements in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan has been pressurized enough by the world community to not just admit to the connivance but also take action against the terrorist operatives. Now the moot point is whether the recent arrests of terrorists, initiated by the Pakistani government, are genuine or misleading. There is a possibility, and a strong one, that the rapid action against Pakistani terrorist groups is a sham. Similar action was taken against terrorist operatives during General Pervez Musharraf's tenure. But these terrorists are moving freely today, under some other guise. Immediately after Asif Zardari came to power, these Jehadi element have become extra-active. And Zardari again is an untrustworthy character whose public statements are to be taken with a pinch of salt. He has contributed to the anti-India environment in Pakistan. One cannot even rule out the possibility of a sudden airstrike by Pakistan against India..." Similar editorial appeared in the December 11, 2008 edition of Marathi daily LOKMAT. ¶6. "PAKISTAN'S ACTIONS AGAINST TERRORISTS: GENUINE OR SHAM?" editorial in the December 11, 2008 centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "Succumbing to the international pressure, especially the U.S., the Pakistani government has clamped down on terrorists operating in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Muzzafarabad. This seems to be an apparent bid by Pakistan to stave off rising global and India's rage over Pakistan's lackadaisical approach in reigning in the rogue elements there.... Whatever may be the case, the steps initiated by Pakistani government in apprehending Lakhvi and Masood Azhar indicate that India is certainly on these terrorists' hit-list who have been carrying out their nefarious activities against India.... Besides, what is the guarantee that reigning in these elements will bring an end to anti-India activities? Even Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and the military continue to foster anti-India sentiments through such radical NEW DELHI 00003123 003 OF 003 elements.... Considering all this, it is difficult to comprehend that Pakistan's actions will yield any results." A similar editorial appeared in the December 10, 2008 Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR. ¶7. "INDO - PAK RELATIONS: NEED FOR PATIENCE AND WISDOM", editorial in the December 09, 2008 issue of right - to - centre Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "In fact, Mumbai terror attack had wider intentions. By attacking Mumbai, The Business Capital in India, the destructive elements wanted to dilute its economic strength, to fan communal riots and to pitch both the countries against each other. Asaf Ali Zardari has already assured his every sort of cooperation to India. In Pakistan, there are a number of destructive elements who want to hamper bilateral dialogue process between both the countries. The story of concocted telephone story vindicates the suspicion that enemies of Indo - Pak friendship are also responsible for terrorist activities in both the countries. They want to deviate Pakistan's attention from happenings taking place in the bordering areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan and to divert the direction of their canons towards India. At present, the dialogue process between the two countries is completely at a stand still. Pakistan should take action against the terrorists and such organizations active within the terrorists of Pakistan, in order to eliminate the atmosphere of distrust." -------------- MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶8. "LET THERE BE NO AMERICAN DEPENDENCE," editorial in the December 11 CPI (M) Organ GANASHAKTI Bengali daily. "India now has turned to the UN by slightly dissuading from its policy of U.S.-dependence on combating terrorism. Though there was no further terror attack in the U.S. post 9/11, terrorists continue to unleash violence at different parts of the world. Still the Security Council did not care to take much initiative; rather, the U.S. has been playing a big brotherly attitude on the pretext of fighting terrorism. Ultimately, India wanted to utilize the Security Council. CPI (M) too had already urged the government to move in the same direction. India's initiative in activating the UNSC is certainly positive. India's foreign policy, dependent on the U.S. will never be able to resolve the problem of terrorism." MULFORD