MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 003204

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,
TERRORISM, OIL, PALESTINE; NEW DELHI-20-22 DECEMBER 2008.

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."

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INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
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1. "PAKISTAN UP TO ITS GAMES," op-ed article in the
December 21 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by
strategic columnist K. Subrahmanyam: "With its
statements, Pakistan is trying hard to provoke India to
take military action. Its objective is to blackmail the
U.S. Pakistan wants to use it as an excuse for the non
cooperation with the U.S. It has already intensified
attacks on the supplies for U.S. troops in Afghanistan...
The Pakistani generals have conspired to provoke India
for taking military action and to begin proxy war through
terrorism for forcing U.S. to leave Afghanistan. But,
Pakistan may have to bear the consequences. If U.S.
leaves Afghanistan, Pashtunistan Dari-speaking people can
form a new state together with the Tajik and Uzbek areas
with Iranian help. Russia and China should also be
worried about Afghanistan's disintegration and
Pashtunistan's surfacing. But, more than any other
country it should be a grave concern for Pakistan. Indian
and U.S. policy makers should make joint efforts to
prevent Pakistan from succeeding in its plan."


2. "UNSUCCESSFUL AND USELESS ZARDARI," editorial in the
December 21 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily:
"Former PM Nawaz Sharif's statement that the captured
Mumbai militant Kasab is indeed a Pakistani has ripped
the mask off President Zardari's face. This is the right
time for India to warn the international community that
trusting Zardari means overlooking the danger emerging
from Pakistan. Zardari is not only denying the
confirmation that Kasab is a native of Pakistan, and the
irrefutable evidence presented by India, but also the
assessment of international security experts... India
should seriously consider how to handle a failed nation.
It should take into account, while stepping up pressure
on Pakistan, that Zardari may be the Army's puppet. He is
either helpless or pretending to be feeble. In both
situations, trying to put pressure on the Pakistani
administration through him is a sheer waste of time. The
way Zardari has failed in meeting the expectations of the
world community, including India, is alarming for the
global community."


3. "FAILED STATE PAKISTAN," editorial in the December 20
right-of-center AMAR UJALA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's
leaders are giving contradictory statements. For
instance, one says Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar is
under house-arrest, and the other condemns it. Now former
premier Nawaz Sharif has nailed Pakistan President
Zardari's lie on Kasab, confirming that he is from
Pakistan. Most importantly, Sharif said the functioning

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of the current government is making Pakistan look like a
failed state. It seems Zardari has become a puppet in the
hands of the Army and the ISI. Pakistan is a safe haven
for terrorists. The chiefs of notorious groups like
Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad have the
government's support. Thus, it is meaningless to expect
any cooperation from Pakistan. Since Pakistan is the
creator of terrorists, it will also have to destroy them.
The dilemma is, how will the Zardari government combat
terrorists when the army supports them? And if it will
not fight, then the world community will have to launch
an attack over there."


4. "WHAT COMES IN THE WAY OF DECLARING PAKISTAN A
TERRORIST STATE?" editorial in the December 22, 2008
centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "Pakistan
continues to be in a state of denial despite being fully
aware that its soil has been used by terrorists to mount
macabre attacks on 26/11 in Mumbai. Not only has it not
taken any action on the perpetrators of this attacks, but
Pakistan has also trumpeted that India needs to provide
proof of Pakistani involvement. Even western powers have
blown their lids over Pakistan's complicity, and have
reprimanded it for not doing enough to nail down
extremists on its soil.... India has been a victim of
state-sponsored terrorism across the border for more than
four decades now. Despite this, India has not taken any
concrete measures to crush these rogue elements....
Pakistan is characterized by cunning, deceit, and
untrustworthiness. The only way to rein in Pakistan is
by declaring it a terrorist state...."


5. "PAKISTAN CLEAN BOWLED" editorial in the December 20,
2008, multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily
GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "The Indian cricket board's decision
to call off the Pakistan tour conveys the general mood of
the Indian citizenry. It is a clear indication that
India will not make any compromises henceforth. India
has stated in no uncertain terms that ensuring cordial
relations is a two-way endeavor. If Pakistan doesn't
respond positively, then India is not interested in such
arts, culture and sports diplomacy. India's decision is
symbolic, as it conveys that Pakistan should be prepared
for more sanctions if it doesn't come clean on its
behavior."


6. "PAKISTAN GETS BEATEN ON HOME GROUND" editorial in the
December 20, 2008, Mumbai edition of right-of-center
Marathi daily VRITTA MANAS. "None other than Nawaz
Sharif, a political bigwig from Pakistan, has challenged
President Asif Ali Zardari's earlier assertion that there
was no proof the arrested Mumbai terrorist (Ajmal Kasab)
hailed from Pakistan's Punjab province. Sharif, the
former premier, has said the suspect's village was
cordoned off and his parents were not allowed to meet
anyone. Sharif insists that the people and media should
be allowed to meet Kasab's parents so that the truth can
come out. India should in fact thank Sharif for exposing
Pakistani security agencies' cover-up operations in
Kasab's village of Faridkot. Sharif has helped in
stepping up the global pressure on Pakistan..."

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7. "IS AJMAL KASAB A STATE GUEST IN INDIA?" op-ed article
by executive editor Sanjay Raut in the December 21, 2008,
Mumbai edition of right-of-center Marathi daily SAAMNA.
"There are some lawyers, and some members of the English
newspaper media, very eager to hold a brief for Ajmal
Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from last month's
attacks in Mumbai. The outburst and uproar of these
lawyers and media is indeed shameful. They are more
bothered about Kasab's rights than about the fundamental
rights of the innocents who died in the attacks. They are
making a martyr out of a terrorist and naturally this is
doing no good to the cause of the global war against
terrorism..."


8. "WAR WITH PAKISTAN MAY BE UNAVOIDABLE" editorial-page
article by veteran columnist Pabitra Kumar Ghosh in the
December 21 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali BARTAMAN. "...The
Pakistan government, except for reacting verbally, has
done nothing to implement the U.N. resolution on the
Pakistani terrorist outfits... The U.S. is not ready to
tolerate this...and, instead of Pakistan, they are now
looking for alternate ways to supply resources to the
NATO forces at war in Afghanistan. They want Indian
cooperation, and want India by their side in the Afghan
war... Since the situation is taking such a turn, a
bloated conspiracy campaign involving Christians, Jews
and the Hindus has been launched in Pakistan. The main
objective of this conspiracy is alleged to be destroying
an Islamic Pakistan... It is further alleged that both the
U.S. and Israel have targeted Pakistan, and India
reportedly wants to join hands... The main aim of Pakistan
is to cripple India instead of fighting against this
triumvirate... The Indian government is not in favor of
war, but Pakistan, as it had in 1965 and 1971, is getting
ready to launch a preemptive attack. War, therefore,
cannot be averted even should anyone wish to."


9. "TENSION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN", editorial in the
December 20, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "MUNSIF",
Hyderabad: "Indo - Pak relations touched their nadir
after the Mumbai incident. Consequently, the Indian
cricket team's tour of Pakistan has been cancelled. Our
neighboring country Pakistan, during this period, kept
changing statement after statement, telling lie after
lie. The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, himself
kept changing his stand vis-a-vis the issue in question,
leaving India with no option but to distrust it. At a
time when the whole country is full of anger over the
terrorist attack on Mumbai, their anger will not subside
by playing cricket matches. What is needed most is to
remove the atmosphere of terrorism. For this reason,
first of all the Pakistan government will have to control
extremists and terrorists ruling the roost in its land.
However, it seems the Pakistan government is also feeling
helpless before these elements. Pakistan and none other
than Pakistan is responsible for the current situation.
India has always followed the policy of 'forget and
forgive', but Pakistan has never valued India's
magnanimity."


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TERRORISM
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10. "OPPOSITION'S ROLE IN INDO-PAK TENSIONS", editorial
in the December 21, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily
"SIASAT", Hyderabad: "Border tension and diplomatic
discords have hampered Indo - Pak bilateral relations. In
this way, those conspiring minds, which planned to pit
these neighboring countries against each other, may stand
successful in their endeavors. A group of politicians
tried to make the Mumbai terrorist attack a sentimental
issue along communal lines. Why are the BJP and similar
parties flying into a rage over Antulay's demand of
investigations into Karkare's assassination? They should
know that it was Hemant Karkare who was investigating not
only the Malegaon (Maharashtra) Bomb Blast Case, but also
certain other causes of terrorism. If his death is a part
of some conspiracy, only an honest enquiry will reveal
the hidden truth. The opposition is making an all-out
effort to paint the picture according to their whims.
What is disgusting is the ruling group is also
thoughtlessly echoing the voice of opposition."

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OIL
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11. "POLITICS OF OIL", editorial in December 20, 2008
right-of-center Urdu daily "URDU TIMES", Mumbai: "The
current situation with oil prices is beyond any
explanation. Experts agree that 2009 will be worse than
the current year in two respects: the consumption of oil
will not rise, and the world will not come out from the
quagmire of global recession and the financial crisis.
The only way out is to ban interest-based trade, and
futures trading of consumer goods. Without such action,
the economic condition of the world will not improve."

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PALESTINE
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12. "ISRAEL-PALESTINE CEASEFIRE", editorial in the
December 20, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA
SAMAJ", New Delhi: "During a six - month ceasefire,
Israel's activities are explicit proof that Israel is not
sincere in matters relating to the ceasefire. Rather, it
used this period to hatch conspiracies secretly. For
example, during the ceasefire, it blocked all the roads
to Gaza and stopped the replenishing of food and medicine
stores. During this very period, American Don tried to
destroy Palestinians, in the same ways his father did.
Israel kept violating global laws. The whole world
community criticized Israel, and the UNO appealed a
number of times, but because of American protection, none
of these efforts made any headway."
MULFORD