MEDIA REACTION: INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 003161 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, TERRORISM (INDO-PAK CONTEXT, GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS; 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. "ZARDARI'S EXCUSES," editorial in December 15 right- of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan is refusing to hand over the terrorists wanted by India and denying that the sole terrorist captured in the Mumbai terror attacks is a Pakistani national. Despite the international pressure, it has adopted a negative and tenacious attitude. Now the U.K. is also saying openly that Pakistani elements were behind the Mumbai strikes and the Pakistan government will have to take serious action against them. Pakistan's so-called democratic government is still not affected. On the contrary, Pakistan is making false allegations against India of violating its airspace and of the Indian Minister of External Affairs threatening its President. It is the height of shamelessness that despite the irrefutable and sufficient evidences it is denying the Lashkar-e-Taiba links to the ISI. Now the Indian Government will have to firmly clarify that it will+QllQ.9 MQaQEY(?QQA SAHARA Hindi daily: "What U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said during his India- Pakistan visits has further strengthened India's position at the international level. It is clear from his statements that his strategy was totally based on pressurising Pakistan to initiate, by itself or jointly, an anti-terrorist campaign. It was, certainly, a message for India also that its anger is justified, but it should not take military action against Pakistan. His saying that there is enough evidence of Lashkar-e-Taiba's involvement in the Mumbai massacre must have increased pressure on Pakistan. President Zardari had no option but to agree to his suggestion that it is the time for action and the terrorists should not get shelter on Pakistan's soil. The U.S.-U.K. strategy is quite clear now with the visit of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State followed by Brown's visit. But, our motive is the complete destruction of Pakistan-based anti-India terrorism. It is in the interests of the entire world." ¶3. "PAKISTAN'S NATIONAL CHARACTER IS BASED ON VIOLENCE AND FALSEHOOD" editorial in the December 16, 2008 centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "Pakistan perhaps is the only nation possessing a temperament of violence and falsehood. Leaders starting from Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, to the present President Zardari have NEW DELHI 00003161 002 OF 004 nurtured extremism and terrorism there. Terrorism emanating from Pakistan has reached such epidemic levels that it now threatens global security. Basically, Pakistan's aggressive behavior is a result of its inferiority complex arising out of a feeling of ill-will toward its neighbor [India]. Besides, the entire international community is sneering at Pakistan for its alleged links to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Despite all this, Pakistan continues to trumpet that India should provide hard evidence of 26/11 terror strikes before jumping to conclusions. India forgets that it is dealing with a nation that thrives on falsehood. What the world forgets though is the fact that Pakistan is the epicenter of global terrorism and the world cannot heave a sigh of relief until it is eliminated from the root...." ¶4. "TIME FOR PAKISTAN TO TAKE CONCRETE ACTION" editorial in the December 16, 2008 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "Despite the global community upping the ante against Pakistan, the latter continues to be in a state of denial and refuses to take concrete action against those involved in the Mumbai terror plot.... What Pakistan needs to be reminded of is that, if it doesn't rein in radicals, extremists and fundamentalists operating on its soil, then the global community, including America and Britain, will set the house in order in Pakistan.... Only time will tell whether Pakistan takes concrete actions against all the rogue elements or forces India and other nations to adopt an aggressive approach." ¶5. "A DIGNIFIED REMARK ON AN UNDIGNIFIED COUNTRY", editorial in December 15, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ" New Delhi: "For the last 60 years, India has been tolerating the undesirable activities of its neighbors with great patience and forbearance. For the first time, we complained to the Security Council, which in turn castigated Pakistan and asked it to take immediate action. These are some initial stages. The way our Prime Minister tackled this stage, shows that he will accomplish the forthcoming stages with the same diligence. He knows that better relations with neighbors are a must for progress and development. That is why he never looks down upon any of the neighboring countries. In his statement, instead of accusing Pakistan directly, he said in an effective manner: 'Terrorists came from Pakistan to invade Mumbai.' This sentence mirrors the political wisdom of Dr. Manmohan Singh, and is worthy of a dignified Prime Minister of a great democratic country." ¶6. "MEDIA AND WAR ATMOSPHERE", editorial in December 15, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "MUNSIF", Hyderabad: "The outgrowth of tension and acrimony between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai incident is natural. But electronic media of both countries failed to play their expected roles in mitigating the atmosphere of tension and conflict. It is the responsibility of Pakistan to completely subdue the terrorist elements, and not give NEW DELHI 00003161 003 OF 004 its neighboring country India any room to complain. As a major country, India always demonstrated magnanimity in this regard. Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism. In fact, religious intolerance is the fundamental reason for terrorism. Terrorist organizations of Pakistan are misinterpreting various religious terminologies. In a nutshell, media of both countries should exercise extreme patience, tolerance and realism in the situation borne out of the Mumbai attack." ¶7. "EVEN MORE DANGEROUS FOR PAKISTAN" editorial in December 16 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN. "...Pakistan is going to face a fate similar to Somalia's, Iraq's and Afghanistan's where religious fundamentalist and terrorist forces brought about wars on their soil... These forces are using the innocent and God- fearing tribal people in Pakistan...as their weapon... To maintain its control over Asia, the U.S. is bent on fighting a decisive battle to wipe out terrorist forces indoctrinated in religious fundamentalism... Pakistan's common people may face dangerous consequences from the anti-terror war unless its leadership stops aiding and sheltering Laden's Al Qaida... The sooner Zardari takes Rice's and Brown's warnings seriously the better it is for Pakistan." ¶8. "IF WE OBSERVE PAKISTAN FROM A PAKISTANI STANDPOINT," editorial-page article in December 16 independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA by Assistant Editor Semanti Ghosh. "...How Islamabad has retained power by transforming all its administrative and societal failures into an anti-India tirade has few parallels in the world. America too eagerly supported it in its obsession with the Cold War... Consequent to constant brainwashing over the past six decades, the Pakistani society has undergone considerable changes... People's anger against India is so pronounced now that...if Islamabad wants to fight terrorism, it is not the Army, but the masses who will overthrow the government. It is from this perspective that Delhi will have to evolve its diplomatic relationship with Pakistan. No doubt, India will have to maintain its pressure on Islamabad, but excessive pressure may boomerang... So, it will really be a tightrope walk for India." ¶9. "PAKISTAN'S FALSEHOOD," editorial in the December 16 left-of-center Kolkata Bengali daily, SAMBAD PRATIDIN. "Let Pakistan stop telling lies. This is not befitting of a neighbor. The way Pakistan has been trying to spread canards against India is absolutely unjust. Pakistan is trying to build a war-like situation in a planned manner. Under these circumstances, the Indian government must take a strong posture. There is no room for showing any weakness." -------------- TERRORISM (INDO-PAK CONTEXT) -------------- ¶10. "TERRORISM: LEARNING A LESSON FROM PAKISTAN", NEW DELHI 00003161 004 OF 004 editorial in December 15, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "URDU TIMES", Mumbai: "Everyone says that terrorism is not related to any religion. But it is also true that terrorists have impressions of different religions and faiths. That is why terrorists have different colors (ideologies). In India, there are red, saffron and green colors of extremism and terrorism. Such groups grew out of proportion in Pakistan due to political instability. As a result, terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jamaat- ud-Dawah etc. became a burden for Pakistan. Nobody is ready to oppose them and control them. Now, under the pressure of America and the entire world, Pakistan is taking actions against these non-state players. Similar is the attitude of India with respect to saffron (Hindutva forces) terrorism. Here in India, the same mistake is being committed. However, if the saffron terrorism is given a free hand, the day is not far off when it may defame us within and outside the country." -------------- GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS -------------- ¶11. "GLOBAL RECESSION AND INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR", editorial in December 15, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "To what extent the global financial crisis may affect India can be assessed from the fact that the growth rate in the Indian Industrial Sector further decreased to 5.45%. Economists are taking it as the most crucial negative tendency in the last 15 years. This growth was 12.2% in October 2007, dropping to 5.45% in September of the current year. Most probably, the downfall is due to the tremendous decrease in exports. The decrease is because of lesser demand for export goods from Europe and America. These impacts on India are due to the global economic and Banking System crisis, and recession in economic markets." MULFORD