PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 13, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001029 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 13, 2009 Summary: Reports of "commandos descending on militants' chief Fazlullah's stronghold in Swat to conduct search operation" dominated headlines in all newspapers on Wednesday. All newspapers highlighted report that "at least 10 people were killed in yet another suspected U.S. drone attack" in South Waziristan near Pak-Afghan border. Reports on the "National Assembly's strong backing of military action against Taliban rebels in troubled areas" also received extensive coverage. The remarks of U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke that the "U.S. was considering additional aid to Pakistan to help hundreds of thousands of its citizens displaced by the military offensive against Taliban" received prominent display. President Zardari's statement that he made in an interview with NBC TV that the "ISI along with the CIA conceived and gave birth to the Taliban" was also highlighted. Most major newspapers ran editorials analyzing various aspects of the ongoing military operation including the escalating difficulties of the Internally Displaced Persons. The liberal Urdu daily "Express," observed that "it is the international community's responsibility to help Pakistan deal with circumstances that emerged as a result of the operation against extremists." The centrist national daily "The News" wrote: "Some plan must also be put in place to help the people caught up in the midst of fighting. Many of them are the most impoverished residents of war-hit towns and villages, who lack the resources to flee." The Lahore-based liberal daily, "Daily Times," noted that the "population exodus from the Malakand region should have been the first thing to come to mind when the government decided to finally confront the Taliban in Swat with military action." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Troops Descend On Fazlullah Stronghold; ISPR Says 751 Militants Killed So Far" "The News" (05/13) "The Pakistan Army on Tuesday dropped heliborne troops, including commandos, in the stronghold of militants' chief Maulana Fazlullah to conduct a search operation, while security forces made significant achievements in the operation. So far, 751 militants had been killed in the ongoing operation while 29 personnel of security forces were martyred, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said at a news briefing in Islamabad on Tuesday." "Drone Attack Kills Ten More In SWA" "The News" (05/13) ;"Twelve people were killed in yet another U.S. drone attack in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) near the Pak-Afghan border on Tuesday morning. Tribal sources said six, or possibly more, missiles were fired at three to four houses at Sunrai Zyara Leeta border village at 8 am." "MPs Back Operation against Taliban" "Dawn" (05/13) "The ongoing military action against Taliban rebels in the Malakand division of the North West Frontier Province received a strong backing in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Most of the speakers said the rebels now deserved no mercy in view of their challenge, in the garb religion, to everything that the Pakistani state stands for." "U.S. Ponders More Aid For Pak IDPs" "The Nation" (05/13) "The Obama Administration is considering additional aid to Pakistan to help hundreds of thousands of its citizens displaced by the military offensive against Taliban in the Swat Valley, the top U.S. envoy for the region Richard Holbrooke told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee." "U.S. Provides Emergency Electrical And Logistical Support Equipment To IDP Camps" "Jang" (05/13) "The people of the United States are providing logistical equipment including generators and transformers to power water pumps and lights benefitting more than 22,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP),the U.S. Embassy said in a statement on Monday." "Two U.S. Senators Oppose Move For Pakistan Aid" "Dawn" (05/13) "The Obama administration faced strong opposition from two Senators - a Democrat and a Republican - to rush $497 million of emergency aid to Pakistan. One of them, Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, said he was concerned that the Obama administration was trying to rush emergency aid without proper congressional oversight to a country where some of the leaders have been called 'Mr. 10 per cent' because of their alleged corruption. 'It will be a monumental mistake' if the administration sent aid to Pakistan without proper congressional oversight, he said. Senator Bob Mendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, said he had voted for bills supporting Pakistan on several occasions in the past but he was not going to vote for this move." "All-Party Conference" "Dawn" (05/13) "The U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke welcomed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's decision to call an all-party conference to discuss the situation in Swat and the adjacent valleys, noting that other political parties in Pakistan also had welcomed this suggestion." "CIA, ISI Created Taliban Together, Says Zardari" "The News" (05/13) "President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence along with the CIA conceived and gave birth to the Taliban, Zardari told the NBC news channel in an interview on Monday." "CIA, Not ISI, Created Taliban, says Kaira" "The News" (05/13) "Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has made it clear that the Taliban were the creation of CIA and not the ISI, while addressing Pakistan community in New York." "IDPs Fear Serious Repercussions For Govt. If Military Operation Fails" "The News" (05/13) "The hapless people of the Malakand region, displaced by the military operation, want complete elimination of the militants to dispel the impression that both parties to the conflict - Taliban and government - are two faces of the same coin. Dozens of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Swat, Dir and Buner residing in various camps in Mardan stated this while talking to 'The News.'" "Half Million Fresh IDPs Registered" "The News" (05/13) "More than half a million people have fled fighting between the military and Taliban in Malakand Division and registered with authorities in the last 10 days, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday." "Deserted Buner Villages Are Ghost Towns" "The News" (05/13) "Despite the fact that the security forces now control about 70 per cent of the area in Buner, villages in the once busy and thriving district are virtually ghost towns and those still remaining are considering to leave due to the feeling of insecurity and lack of basic services." "Militants On The Run In Swat, Malakand, Says Malik" "The News" (05/13) "Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Tuesday said the situation in Swat was under control and the militants were on the retreat. Talking to journalists in Islamabad, Rehman Malik said that the militants were on the run." "Offensive In Swat - Boon Or Bane For Taliban?" "Dawn" (05/13) "Monday's suicide attack that killed and maimed a large number of people at a paramilitary check-post in Darra Adamkhel was not entirely unexpected. Perhaps the only surprising element was its timing and location. In the past, extremists associated with the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of Baitullah Mehsud have been quick to hit back as a riposte to military operations in Swat and its adjoining areas and/or in Waziristan. On this occasion, they not only waited but also appear to have chosen a target randomly." "It's Time To Force U.S. Out: Nizami" "The Nation" (05/13) "Editor-in-Chief daily 'The Nation' and Chairman 'Nazria Pakistan Trust' Majid Nizami has said that the time has come to force the U.S. to go out of Pakistan in order to save our nuclear assets and destabilization of Pakistan. And if the rulers do not ask America to get out, we should get rid of them." "MoU Has Nothing To Do With India" "The News" (05/13) "Commerce Secretary Salman Ghani has said the MoU signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Washington for renegotiating Afghan Transit Trade has nothing to do with India and is purely a bilateral understanding, while talking to 'The News.'" "Opposition In NA Assails Afghan Transit Trade MoU" "The News" (05/13) "The government came under attack in the National Assembly Tuesday for signing in Washington a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding Afghan transit trade that will allow India to use the Pakistani land route for trade with Afghanistan.... Expressing anguish over the signing of the MoU, Ayaz Amir said instead of being treated on a par with India, we are now being bracketed with Afghanistan." "Experts Express Concern Over Afghan Transit Trade" "The News" (05/13) "The business experts including a former Foreign Secretary have demanded of the government that the transit trade treaty with Afghanistan should have been signed in Pakistan not in Washington and the same should be displayed for the people as keeping it secret and covert was creating doubts among the traders." "Trilateral Summit Postponed" "The News" (05/13) "The trilateral summit of the presidents of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, expected in Tehran on May 19, is likely to be postponed, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said on Tuesday." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "IDPs Await International Assistance," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/13) "Since Pakistan is playing a role in the war on terror to preserve international peace, it is the international community's responsibility to help Pakistan deal with circumstances that emerge as a result of the operation against extremists. This help is actually in the international community's interests." "IDP Issues," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "Some plan must also be put in place to help the people caught up in the midst of fighting. Many of them are the most impoverished residents of war-hit towns and villages, who lack the resources to flee. These people, like the IDPs, must not be punished for their helplessness. All that is possible must therefore be done to show them they have not been abandoned and that all that is possible is being done to ensure their suffering is as limited as possible. A failure to do so would benefit the Taliban." "Prospects Of A 'Quick Finish' In Swat," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/13) "A population exodus from the Malakand region should have been the first thing to come to mind when the government decided to finally confront the Taliban in Swat with military action. But, as the tragic drama of the refugees unfolds now, there are crucial dimensions of the conflict that were not taken into account. One can easily take in one's stride the initial difficulties faced by the internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Mardan and Swabi camps. One knows from experience that in the coming days the camps will settle down to normal functioning after an initial appearance of chaos." "Looking America In The Eye," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/13) "Addressing Pakistanis in New York, President Zardari said that after getting the parliament's mandate, he will look America in the eye as he talks about Pakistan's future.... If President Zardari is really serious, instead of going on all these [foreign] trips he should hold an all-parties conference to discuss the impact of the military operation in Swat, FATA and Balochistan, and the inequities faced by the people of NWFP and Balochistan and formulate a comprehensive national strategy.... Only the Pakistani nation can play a role in strengthening democracy and this can happen only when the government - giving importance to the nation's sentiments - raises the slogan of "Go America Go" and instead of using force, adopts the path of dialogue." "Muddled Numbers," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "If the majority of Taliban fatalities are caused by artillery and airstrikes rather than by infantry - then who goes in and counts the bodies afterwards? And who buries them? Where? We are told that the army is prepared for 'hand-to-hand' fighting in Mingora. We are told that the Taliban will be 'wiped out' of Swat and elsewhere. We are told many things - and yet we are told nothing at the same time. '700 dead' in the last four days?" "Deceptive Aid," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/13) "It is quite surprising to learn that out of $1.9 billion of the U.S. aid, almost half would be spent on enhancing the security of U.S. Embassy and consulates in Pakistan. This belies the common impression given by the American leadership that the sum is directed at strengthening the country's economy. It sounds pretty devious.... The protection of U.S. missions in the country could not serve the purpose of improving the economy. This is a sad reflection on the way U.S. intends utilizing the aid while its official, political and media circles keep harping on the theme of billions of dollars doled out to Pakistan. Strangely also, the Americans insist on the right use of the aid." "Military Operation Should Be For A Short Period Of Time," an editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (05/13) "The flawed administration, lack of makeshift dwellings, almost no healthcare, and food and absence of proper guidance for the IDPs about their camps necessitate posting of such government officials at the camps who are committed and devoted to this noble cause, or else, maladministration and half-hearted measures will shatter the trust of the international community, particularly the donor countries and agencies on the Government of Pakistan. It is regrettable that prior to the military operation, no one anticipated the issue of a population exodus. And the problems and difficulties of these unfortunate people reveal mismanagement and bad performance of the government... Moreover, the government must confine the military operation to a short span of time, and its framework and objectives must also be clearly defined." "Need To Deal With Foreign Agenda," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (05/13) "The two hundred years history of the United States clearly shows that it has ruined many countries by exploiting them for its own national interests. We can see what happened in Afghanistan and Iraq, and now it is Pakistan's turn. The U.S. officials' hue and cry that Pakistan has become a safe haven of Al Qaeda, Taliban and terrorists, has some reason. If truth be told, the hidden objectives of this uproar are same as those were in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now it is up to our rulers that how do they deal with this threat, or will they go on with the military operation against their own people." "Signs Of Consensus," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "The government, for its part, has accepted the opposition's call for an all-parties conference to discuss the emerging situation. For the first time, it is clear that the treasury and the opposition alike believe the militants have gone too far and that our way of life is in imminent danger. The time has come for all politicians of any standing to state their case: do they support Talibanization or wish to halt it in its tracks?" "U.S. [IRI] Survey Report," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/13) "According to the U.S. International Republican Institute, President Zardari's popularity has now dropped to 19 per cent, while Mian Nawaz Sharif has been declared the most popular leader, with 75 percent support... This report by the IRI undoubtedly reflects the awareness of the Pakistani nation, and this collective awareness signals the supremacy of democracy. President Zardari and his party must ponder why his popularity is declining and try to improve the situation else the PPP's fate in the next elections will be similar to that of the PML-Q's. On the other hand, Mian Nawaz Sharif has come out as the most popular leader because his views have echoed national sentiments. However, he should not rely on any certificate from the U.S. to endorse his popularity because there seem to be several U.S. objectives at work behind this validation." "Can The Taliban Be Defeated?," an op-ed by S.M. Naseem in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "As for the local population, although it may not have much love for the Taliban, they hardly see the security forces as their protectors.... If the army wants to play its role in saving the nation from the threat some believe it had helped create, it will have to both reinvent itself internally and reconstruct its role in societal transformation.... It needs to be realized that, like all insurgencies, the Taliban insurgency can't be quashed through a military operation alone, unless the people themselves are convinced of its viciousness and futility.... It will be foolhardy to believe that people at large will rise against the Taliban." "Hammer And Anvil Action In Swat," an op-ed S.M. Hali in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/13) "It is imperative that the operation be supported wholeheartedly to purge the region of the miscreants. This time if the government means business, it should support the armed forces, more importantly, the people have to be wholehearted in championing the cause. The plight of the refugees requires international support. The IDPs must be sheltered, fed, and aided to overcome the trauma of the last few years of suppression, terror and fear. If the IDPs are not supported in their moment of need, they can be exploited by circumstances or the miscreants to turn to terror. The world owes it to them to save them from the hammer and anvil of misery and death." "The Other Side Of War With Talibans," an op-ed Syed Ali Zafar in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/13) "This is a golden chance for the West, and particularly U.S., to show its good side as well. People like Hillary, who has urged Pakistan to start this war against Talibans, should now equally forcefully tell the world that immediate aid should be provided to these people. Surely this will show to the people that the West is with them in the time of need and is not anti-Islam.... The needs of the IDPs have to be met on a war footing parallel with the armed conflict. A failure will mean that the anger of these people will turn against Pakistan. The Talibans would then win a psychological war and people may turn to them in retaliation." "People's Response To The IDP Crisis," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "The total number of IDPs is anybody's guess with all kinds of figures floating around. They could have crossed the figure of 1.3 million by now.... As a military victory against the Taliban may not come soon, the government will have to come up with better and long-term plans to look after the IDPs." "Our Million Plus Pakistanis," an op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "The nightmare figure has crossed a one million. Refugees in their own homeland, thousands of Pakistanis are daily escaping from the killing fields of Swat and other areas.... Meanwhile, how Pakistanis handle the refugee challenge will also impact on the final outcome of Pakistan's counter-insurgency battle. It is a tall order. The Pakistani state, society and the political class have no choice but to rise to the occasion." "History Repeats Itself - At Great Cost To Our Nation," an op-ed by Shireen M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "The Americans have finally got what they wanted thanks to the pusillanimity of our leadership - both civil and military - and all for the sake of temporary-relief dollars, five helicopters and a few other expensive military toys which we should not need since we have a nuclear deterrence in place at the strategic level.... Military action against one's own people has never worked - certainly not for Pakistan. Even when our militants were clearly supported by external players, military action aggravated the situation.... Frankly, it seems more likely that the so-called Taliban may have actually fled away and it is innocent people whose body count is being shown to the U.S. as proof that the army is serious in countering terrorism. The U.S. has prevailed and the nation is the loser. " "Moment Of Reckoning," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) "The launch of a full-fledged military operation in Swat with strong public support offers the government an unprecedented opportunity to chart a decisive new course to halt and reverse the rising tide of militancy that threatens the country.... Ultimately insurgencies are defeated by political means even if the military instrument is essential to create the conditions for these to come into play." "Will U.S. Abandon Pakistan Again?," an op-ed by Brig. A.R. Bilal, in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (05/13) "Despite rebounding suspicions, the U.S. is adamant that its relationship with Pakistan is for the long haul. However, Pakistani infatuation with the U.S. has to be gauged on basis of objective realities rather than rosy promises of an uncertain future. Pakistanis wonder if it is going to be the post CENTO or post Jihad scenario all over again.... The reality is that an ungrateful US has not constructed a single university, hospital, dam, factory, sea port, expressway, railroad, pipeline, electric power generation station, subway, airport, bridge or tunnel in Pakistan. Of the hundreds of billions of dollars spent by the U.S. on development, only an insignificant sum has been spent on Pakistan. The long-term economic needs of Pakistan have been disregarded." Patterson