MEDIA REACTION: INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS, GLOBAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 003144 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, GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR; 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 -------------- ¶1. "INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE," editorial in December 11 HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "The Pakistan government is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. If it defends Jamaat-ud-Dawa it will have to face an even stronger global opposition. At the same time, it is incapable of acting tough against this terrorist group because of the Army and the ISI's backing. Its firmness against the terrorists will also depend on to what extent the world community will help Pakistan to raise its head against the ISI-terrorist links. The situation demands expert diplomacy. Both extreme aggressiveness and haste or excessive carelessness could result in an unpleasant sitution. India has adopted the right approach on this. It has been patient and has also built pressure, which made Pakistan agree to ban Jamaat-ud-Dawa in the UN Security Council. The beginning is good, but the entire world will have to make constant and joint efforts to attack the most sensitive part of terrorism." ¶2. "PAKISTAN'S DECEITFULNESS," editorial in December 11 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "On India's demand to ban Jmaat-ud-Dawa Pakistan's saying that it would proscribe it if the UN Security Council declares it a terrorist organization clearly shows its intention. The Council's act 1267 allows forbidding the Al-Qaida and Taliban organizations and its supporters. It means if the UNSC could not prohibit Jmaat-ud-Dawa for some reason, it was all for giving it a clean chit. India expects a positive international reaction, but it needs to be careful with China. If needed India should not hesitate in giving a clear massage to China... Pakistan keeps saying that it is also struggling with terrorism, but refuses to take serious action against it. It keeps demanding the evidences and when it is given all the proofs, it starts calling itself a responsible nation. If it has even a slightest possible sense of responsibility left in it, it should dissolve the ISI without any further delay." ¶3. "FIRST PROMISE" editorial in December 12 Kolkata Bengali independent ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "...Pakistan says it will conduct the trial of the Pakistani terrorists... The question is what was the government doing for so long? The Mumbai incident was only a tip of an iceberg... It seems there are no other ways but to carry on diplomatic negotiation with Pakistan... To do this, India has to tread cautiously on a thin rope of diplomacy which is gradually becoming thinner... It should be kept in mind that Pakistan's present government is very weak, and there exits threats of military coups if the government is cornered too far... Such a development...will not augur NEW DELHI 00003144 002 OF 003 well for India... Most importantly, even in this atmosphere of hot diplomatic exchanges India should not give the cooperation on intelligence related matters a miss." ¶4. "PAKISTAN'S WAR CRY" editorial in December 12 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN. "... The impression one gets from Pakistan's present attitude is that the country is preparing to fight yet another war against India... Any war between India and Pakistan will pose a serious threat to South Asia's regional security. Therefore, the international community must keep up its pressure to compel Pakistan take stringent measures against terrorist forces... Surprisingly, Pakistan, despite being one of its victims, continues to support and abate terrorist activities." ¶5. "SENSITIVITY OF INDO - PAK RELATIONS", editorial in December 11, 2008 issue of right - to - centre Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN EXPRESS", New Delhi: "Geelani Cabinet's committee for Defense has expressed to resolve that national security and defense will be taken care of, at any cost. It is a clear indication that Pakistan will not tolerate any possible attack by India on organizations like Lashkar - e - Toiba, Jaish - e - Mohammad, active within the territory of Pakistan. On the other hand, Indian government is entirely unsatisfied by the actions taken by Pakistan army. Recently, Communication and Broadcasting Minister, Sherry Rahman reiterated the words of Prime Minster, Yusuf Raza Geelani that Pakistan is a nuclear power, they believe in peace and their desire for peace should not be constructed as their weakness. What message does this threatening tone disseminate?" ¶6. "HELPLESSNESS OF PAKISTANI PRESIDENT", editorial in December 12, 2008 issue of right - to - centre Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ", New Delhi: "India is not ready to rely assurance given by Pakistani rulers because of its past experiences of Pakistan's frauds. No need to repeat the fact that India wants amicable relations with all of its neighbors. Today, terrorism has engulfed the whole world. Pakistan is also one of its victims. Terrorism has hampered the entire progress and development of Pakistan. The forces, which want to see any dictatorship or military rule in the country, are adamant to sabotage the democracy restored by Asaf Ali Zardari, the President of an economically tattered Pakistan. The entire world community accepted that it is Pakistan, which is a hub of terrorists. Under these circumstances, Pakistan, particularly the president of Pakistan should follow the positive strategy only. India will decide its future strategy in the light of Pakistan's initiatives in this regard. India knows well the duties and rights of a good neighbor. Now, it is the high time when Pakistan should learn how to behave with its neighbors." -------------- GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR -------------- ¶7. "ANOTHER ATTEMPT FOR PEACE," editorial in December 9 NEW DELHI 00003144 003 OF 003 Cuttuck Oriya daily SAMAJA. "Though the U.S., Russia and China have not signed the agreement to ban use of cluster bombs, their moral support may be taken as an indication that they would ultimately put their seal. Cluster bombs if used by terrorists can create havoc. As it is, no country including the U.S. is insulated from the threat of terror. Unfortunately, some countries help terrorists clandestinely. Without an open agreement to fight terror and ban use of dangerous weapons such as the cluster bombs, it would be impossible to think of a safer world. Over hundred countries signing the ban cluster bombs agreement...is a welcome step towards making the world a safer place to live in." MULFORD