PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 19, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001088

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 19, 2009

Summary: Reports and photographs of the All Parties Conference
"unanimously backing" the government's counter-insurgency operation
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Tuesday. All newspapers
highlighted reports that the "troops locked in street battles" in
Matta (a town of Swat valley) "killing 27 militants." Several
English and Urdu language dailies published a NYT story that "U.S.
believes Pakistan is rapidly expanding nukes." However, some major
dailies underscored Admiral Mullen's remarks that "Pakistan has not
diverted any U.S. assistance to advance its nuclear weapons
program." The English daily, "The News," and sister Urdu paper
"Jang," highlighted remarks attributed to Prime Minister Gilani that
the "U.S. was playing a double game with Pakistan as we have never
extended any secret cooperation to the U.S. for drone attacks." The
English language daily, "Dawn," reported remarks ascribed to an
American journalist Seymour Hersh that a "special death squad
assassinated Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on the
orders of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney."

Several major newspapers ran editorials on the end of civil war in
Sri Lanka. However, some mainstream dailies editorialized various
other subjects including the ongoing military operation, Pakistan
nukes, and the new judicial policy. The center-right national
English daily "The Nation" observed that "it would be hard to avoid
the impression that the present military campaign has been conducted
under pressure of the U.S." The Peshawar-based Urdu daily,
"Mashriq," noted that the "militants' actions in the garb of
Taliban, their suicide attacks and technological expertise
demonstrate that some big powers in connivance with the enemies of
Pakistan are hatching a conspiracy to strike at the foundations of
Pakistan from within." Commenting on the President Zardari's
determination to launch operation in Waziristan, the English daily,
"The News," maintained that "we have to honestly and with steely
resolve face and fight the threat that looms over all of us.
Anything less and we all lose." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"Nation Speaks With One Voice: Crush 'Em!" "The News" (50/19)

"The all parties conference (APC) on Monday unanimously backed the
government's counter-insurgency operation 'Rah-e-Rast' by adopting a
16-point resolution with the resolve to make efforts to unite the
nation in the face of insurgency in Swat and the Malakand Division."


"U.S. Playing Double Game, Says Gilani" "The News" (05/19)

"Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani made a startling statement
when he told the APC that the United States was 'playing a double
game with Pakistan as we have never extended any secret cooperation
to the U.S. for Drone attacks.'"

"APC Support With Lots Of Ifs And Buts" "The News" (05/19)

"The All Parties Conference (APC),held in Islamabad on Monday,
remained divided on the issue of endorsing the ongoing military
operation in Swat, but was unanimous in condemning the U.S. drone
attacks. Those opposing the military operation were of the view
that the military option should be used as a last resort, which was
not done in case of Swat."

"TNSM Says It Will Fight Next Election" "The News" (05/19)

"Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) has expressed its
disappointment on the outcome of the APC but has promised to show
its strength and response in the next general election, said TNSM
spokesman Ameer Izzat while talking to 'The News.'"

"Troops Locked In Street Battles; 27 Militants, Three Soldiers
Killed In Swat" "The Nation" (05/19)

"Security forces have killed another 27 militants including three
top militant commanders in Malakand division where ground offensive
has been launched to target important hideouts of the militants.
Three security forces personnel including an officer embraced
martyrdom and 17 soldiers got injured, Director General ISPR Major
General Ather Abbas told a press briefing in Islamabad on Monday."

"Taliban Vow To Fight Until 'Last Breath' "The Nation" (05/19)

"The Pakistani Taliban are vowing to resist military advances in the
Swat Valley until their 'last breath.' A Swat Taliban spokesman,
speaking with an American news agency by phone from an undisclosed
location on Monday, said the Taliban are prepared for any
onslaught."

"Operation In Decisive Phase: Official" "Dawn" (05/19)

"The displaced people from Swat, Dir and Buner would soon return to
their native towns as military operation entered its decisive phase,
said Malakand Commissioner Fazal Karim Khattak, while talking to
'Dawn' during his visit to relief camps on Monday."

"Weary Families On Way Back Home" "Dawn" (05/19)

"Weary families on Monday began trickling back into parts of
North-Western Pakistan where fighting between government troops and
Taliban has sent more than one million people fleeing, said Adnan
Khan, a spokesman for the government's emergency response unit in
Peshawar."

"IDPs Fear Taliban Spies In Camps, Reprisals In Hills, And Killer
Mosquitoes" "The News" (05/19)

"The fear is so real that one can actually feel it. It is the feat
of the Taliban returning, once the army 'concludes its operation in
Swat and leaves.' It is fear you can read in the eyes of the Swat
refugees. Talking to 'The News,' virtually every single refugee
requested not to be named for the fear of the fatal consequences of
the Taliban finding out the identity of their critics."

"Fleeing Civilians Attacked" "The News" (05/19)

"Several persons, including women and children, were killed and a
number of others sustained injuries when families fleeing the
military operation in Swat's Matta town were shelled while crossing
a mountainous path to reach Karo Darra in Dir Upper on Monday,
eyewitnesses and official sources said."

"Taliban Execute Soldiers" "The News" (05/19)

"Local Taliban in Mohmand Agency on Monday announced that they had
killed two soldiers of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC),who
were in their custody, and threatened to shoot dead four others if
the government failed to meet their demand for exchange of
prisoners."

"Taliban Seek Rupees 25 Million For Farahi" "The News" (05/19)

"Tehrik-e-Taliban has demanded Rupees 25 Million and release of its
men in exchange for kidnapped afghan Ambassador-designate Abdul
Khaliq Farahi."

"Concern in U.S. Over Reports Of N-Arsenal's Expansion" "Dawn"
(05/19)

"... In a report on Monday, the New York Times quoted some Obama
administration officials as saying: 'Pakistan's drive to spend
heavily on new nuclear arms has been a source of growing concern,
because the country is producing more nuclear material at a time
when Washington is increasingly focused on trying to assure the
security of an arsenal of 80 to 100 weapons so that they will never
fall into the hands of Islamic insurgents.'"

"Pakistan Has Not Diverted U.S. Aid To N-Weapons: Mullen" "The News"
(05/19)

"Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen on Monday
said Pakistan had not diverted any U.S. assistance to advance its
nuclear program. His remarks quashed the apprehensions cited in an
American newspaper report."

"Pakistan Not Using Aid To Expand N-Arsenal: U.S." "Dawn" (05/19)

"The U.S. State Department indirectly confirmed on Monday that it
too believed Pakistan was expanding its nuclear arsenal but said
Islamabad was not using American aid to do so. 'I'm not going to
address the issue of whether or not the Pakistanis are increasing
their nuclear capability,' Acting Assistant Secretary Of State for
Public Affairs Ian C. Kelly told a briefing in Washington. 'I think
Admiral Mullen addressed that, and so I'll defer to the Pentagon and
to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.'"

"Capturing Pak Nukes Impossible, Officials Confident" "The News"
(05/19)

"Pakistan's military establishment and the Foreign Ministry
confidently describe the reports about the possible capture of
nuclear arsenals by U.S. forces as an impossibility, notwithstanding
any international conspiracy against the country's nuclear program.
ISPR Director General Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas does see the Jewish and
the Indian lobby behind the internal propaganda unleashed against
Pakistan's nuclear program. He, however, insisted that Washington
knows that these are non issues and that the Pakistan's nuclear
program is secure."

"U.S. Prepares To Ferry Aid To Malakand IDPs" "Dawn" (05/19)

"The U.S. military is preparing to fly in humanitarian aid to
Pakistan to help the nearly 1.5 million people forced to flee
fighting in the country's northwest, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The Defense Department was drawing up preliminary plans to ferry
food, water and tents to help those displaced by the Pakistani
army's offensive against Taliban militants, spokesman Bryan Whitman
said."

"UN Says Over 2 Million IDPs In Pakistan" "Dawn" (05/19)

"Describing the situation in Pakistan as 'volatile' and 'confusing,'
the United Nations' top humanitarian relief official said that so
far almost 2.2 million people had been displaced as a consequence of
the recent upheaval in the country."

"$600-800 Million Needed To Cope With IDP Crisis" "Dawn" (05/19)

"Pakistan needs about $600-800 million to cope with the influx of
internally displaced people, Adviser to Prime Minister Shaukat Tarin
said on Monday. Talking to a group of G-8 diplomats who had called
on him on Monday, Mr. Tarin apprised them of the financial cost of
worst humanitarian crisis faced by the country."

"Squad Run By Dick Cheney Assassinated Benazir: Hersh" "Dawn"
(05/19)

"A special death squad assassinated Pakistan's former Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto on the orders of former U.S. vice-president Dick
Cheney, claims an American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.
Mr. Hersh, a Washington-based journalist who writes for the New
Yorker magazine and other prominent media outlets, also claims that
the former vice-president was running an 'executive assassination
ring' throughout the Bush years."

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Editorials/Op-eds
--------------

"Call For Consensus," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/19)

"While it would be hard to avoid the impression that the present
military campaign has been conducted under pressure of the U.S., the
frustrating situation that the open and outright violations of the
Swat peace deal by the militants had created for the government
finally tilted the balance in favor of armed action....
Nevertheless, there is need for a careful assessment of the scenario
to see that the military withdraws on the completion of its mission
and in line with the policy of three D's (dialogue, deterrence and
development) announced by the Prime Minister."

"Expediency Of Being Ignorant," an editorial in the Peshawar-based
Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (05/19)

"The militants' actions in the garb of Taliban, their suicide
attacks and technological expertise demonstrate that some big powers
in connivance with the enemies of Pakistan are hatching a conspiracy
to strike at the foundations of Pakistan from within. And their
evil intentions are no secret. Their attempts to declare Pakistan a
failed state, and particularly their propaganda against the security
of Pakistani nuclear and strategic facilities are a part of this
scheme."

"Hard Talk," an editorial in the centrist national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/19)

"Sadly, it seems to be impossible to achieve a durable peace without
fighting the war that inevitably precedes it. Those we are fighting
have proved themselves duplicitous to a fault, using 'peace deals'
as the flimsiest of covers for their regrouping and re-arming and as
a Trojan Horse for their real purpose - the setting up of a
state-within-a-state governed by their own twisted values. The
president's hard words, if translated into hard reality, may just be
the turning of a new leaf. We have to honestly and with steely
resolve face and fight the threat that looms over all of us.
Anything less and we all lose."

"A Broader Front Against Taliban," an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/19)

"The way the people at large have reacted to the savagery of the
Taliban against the people of Swat is sure to make the resolve to
fight the terrorists more firm. The resolve to take on the Taliban
in FATA clearly demonstrates this new confidence. The Taliban must
be stopped from coming to the help of warlord Fazlullah, and that
can be done only by engaging the other warlord Baitullah Mehsud.
Swat can be 'conquered' and the refugees could start returning, only
to find that Baitullah has sent in his people from South Waziristan
to start the massacre all over again.... Therefore, for now at
least, Pakistan is well set to face up to the menace of the Taliban
without taking an economic nosedive. It now depends on our
internecine politicians to keep the national consensus against
terrorism intact and bite the bullet of some collateral damage in
the coming days."

"Fighting To The End," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/19)

"The war against the Taliban is Pakistan's own war but it is also in
the interest of the region and the world at large that Pakistan
remains stable and peaceful. The Western government should
understand that if we do not get their financial support at this
critical hour 'we will lose the impetus we've managed to create ...
against the Taliban,' especially at a time when all access to Swat
has been banned."

"The Thought Of A Military Operation In Waziristan And Adam Khel,"
an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/19)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has disclosed the Pakistan Army is
getting ready to open up new war fronts in Waziristan and Dara Adam
Khel, following the operation in Swat.... Zardari has given this
'good' news to the nation in celebration of getting one billion
dollars from America and Europe. This also means that Zardari has
assured Obama administration of waging a war inside Pakistan in
return to $1.5 billion annual assistance.... It is imprudent to
compare Waziristan and Dara Adam Khel with Swat. The people of
Waziristan and Dara Adam Khel are valiant fighters.... Zardari is
President of Pakistan and he should think of its future and interest
instead of being bothered about the entire world."

"Vow To Fight A Long Battle Against Militants," an editorial in
Lahore-based populist Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 10,000) (05/19)

"We hope that the international community will consider Pakistan's
war against terrorist as its own war and will lend all possible
support to it. This is imperative as Pakistan's victory would mean
the world's victory."

"And Now Waziristan," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing
pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (05/19)

"President Zardari has perhaps forgotten that Waziristan Agency
would prove to be more difficult than the area of Malakand Division.
On the other hand, an impression is growing that the ongoing
military operation in Swat is being conducted in order to appease
Americans."
"Ulema Against Taliban," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(05/19)

"The outcome of the conference is positive, for the Taliban should
note that they cannot fool the people any more in the name of the
Sharia and that their barbarism and bloodletting in the name of
religion have forced large sections of society to unite against
them.... We hope the government will build on the consensus that
now seems to be developing in the country and act with resolve to
crush the insurgency. The Taliban are responsible for the deaths of
thousands of Pakistani civilians and soldiers; they have used
civilians as a shield, and they have brought misery to more than a
million people by making them flee their homes."

"Ulema Rightly Reactivate Themselves," an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (05/19)

"Religious sensitivities and moorings are deep rooted in our veins
and only religious scholars can motivate the masses to rise against
un-Islamic acts of militants in Swat and FATA.... Enlightened
Ulema, Mashaikh and religious scholars did not pay any heed to
misinterpretation of Islam by these illiterate and self-proclaimed
religious leaders.... It is still not too late for the Ulema and
Islamic scholars to play their role."

"Stop Nonsense On Pakistan Nukes," an editorial note in the popular
rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (05/19)

"Whenever any Pakistani official says that Taliban are eyeing
Pakistan's nuclear assets, he or she is, in a way, expressing doubts
the capabilities and prowess of the Pakistan Army. The loyalty and
allegiance with Pakistan requires that such statements must not be
issued rather the world should be enlightened about Pakistan's
military might."

"Pak Nukes Are Safe," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/19)

"There is no ground for painting a doomsday scenario. Perhaps,
those who are so paranoid are more concerned over the fact that
Pakistan was the only Muslim country of the nuclear club. Federal
Interior Minister Rehman Malik rightly pointed out that if Pakistan
could acquire nuclear weapons, it also knew how to protect them."

"Pakistan Is Besieged," an editorial in the Karachi-based,
pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (05/19)

"U.S. President Obama has said that the U.S. can consider all
options, if Pakistan got less stable.... U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen
has also leveled a charge that Pakistan is adding to its nuclear
arsenal. We think this latest accusation is a part of the
disinformation drive to besiege Pakistan, and to take control of its
nuclear weapons. Attempts are being made to destabilize Pakistan
for the last seven years, and now it seems that the final round is
being played."

"American Troops On Our Eastern Borders," an editorial in the
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir.
33,000) (05/19)

"With the victory of Congress Party in the Indian parliamentary
elections, the U.S. has decided to implement its plans to dominate
South Asia. The possibility of a new war in this region cannot be
ruled out altogether. Now there is no doubt anymore that the
objective of the U.S. foreign and defense policies is to take
Pakistan's nuclear weapons in their control, and that is the reason
of besieging Pakistan from all of its borders."

"Benazir Bhutto's Martyrdom; U.S. Journalist's Revelation," an
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/19)

"With the American journalist's disclosure about Benazir Bhutto's
assassination no justification is left to have the murder
investigated by UN by paying the organization huge sum of money. If
American journalist is accusing Dick Cheney's death squad of the
murder citing solid evidence then this tragedy should be
investigated on these lines. President Zardari should get a police
case registered against Dick Cheney and demand his custody from
America.... Stories about American hand in the death of President
Ziaul Haq in plane crash had repeatedly been brought to fore in the
past, in which American Ambassador Raphael was sacrificed."

"Tamil Tigers' Defeat In Sri Lanka," an editorial in liberal Urdu
daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/19)

"The defeat of Tamil Tigers has also become a source of
encouragement for the Pakistani government and people. It is quite
likely that [like Sri Lanka] Pakistan would also have to wage a long
struggle against extremists and militants. The government needs to
continue its operation against those who challenge its writ.... At
the same time, the government should hold talks with Baloch
separatists and inform the world about Indian role in this dangerous
game. If the government launches a campaign against [Indian role
in Balochistan] the day is not far when India gives up supporting
Baloch separatists just as it has given up supporting the Tamil
Tigers"

"Elimination Of Tamil Tigers," an editorial in the Lahore-based
independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (05/19)

"Those who analyze the reason for the defeat of the Tamil rebel
movement are interested in learning whether Pakistan would also deal
successfully with the armed resistance known as the Taliban. They
also wonder whether Pakistan would also have to wage such a long
war... On the one hand, Pakistan is encouraged that the unrest in
Sri Lanka has come to an end, yet on the other it has concerns that
India and other powerful countries that spread unrest might
strengthen non-state actors in Pakistan to create a civil war- like
situation here."

"Consensus Against Violent Groups," an op-ed by Rasul Bakhsh Rais in
the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (05/19)

"As we have seen, it can be more divisive than uniting when the
violent groups have a strong ethnic social support base and are
plugged into nationwide religious networks. The second important
reason for our failure is a lack of clarity among our political
elites on the identity of the enemy.... The picture becomes more
confusing when there is more than one enemy, internal and external,
and prevents the formation of a national consensus both on the
identification of threat and how to deal with them.... We need to
have clarity on these threats and how best to use our social,
political and military resources to counter them, and to bring
violent groups into mainstream politics and society."

"Army Action - Short And Effective," an op-ed by Tasneem Noorani in
the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000)
(05/19)

"The outcome of prolonged stay of Malakand displaced persons could
even lead to Talibanization amongst them, given their frustrations
combined with the time at their disposal. It could be criminalizing
a perfectly law abiding population, in the face of lack of income
and ample spare time. It would be a traumatized new generation of
children, who would grew up in squalid conditions, rather than the
secure environs of their lush green habitats. So a prolonged army
action until all Talibans of Swat are decimated is not an option.
Apart from loosing its awe, if prolonged, it would loose its impact,
as most militants disappear. The most effective objective, which I
am sure is being perused by the army, is to eliminate the
leadership, destroy headquarters, the command and control structure,
training camps, ammunition dumps and then to declare a halt to the
operation, perhaps in a maximum of a total of four to six weeks."

"Well Said, General," an op-ed by Kamran Shafi in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(05/19)

"For the very first time, a clear and unambiguous statement from Gen
Ashfaq Kayani: that the army was capable of fighting an insurgency.
And that all it needed was specialized equipment and weaponry....
Kudos to you, general, if you really mean what you say.... To the
Americans I say: instead of toys for the boys such as the F-16s
which are not allowed by you to be used in an offensive role anyway,
please immediately supply our army with night-vision equipment,
attack helicopters, and close-support aircraft such as the A-10
Warthog."
Patterson