PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 26, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001138

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 26, 2009

SUMMARY: Reports on North Korea's second nuclear test dominated
headlines in all newspapers on Tuesday. Also front-paged were
reports that "Pakistani security forces captured Maalam Jabba, a
stronghold of militants, after heavy clashes." All newspapers
highlighted a statement by the militants' spokesman that "Taliban
have asked their men to stop battling government troops in Mingora."
Reports and photographs of visiting U.S. Congressional delegation
also garnered wide coverage. Newspapers quoted the President and
Prime Minister as telling the U.S. senators that "Pakistan is
committed to wiping out militants from its soil." Most major
dailies also reproduced a report by "The Los Angeles Times" noting
that the "U.S. urged China to help Pakistan in terror war."

Most major dailies ran editorials on the recent signing of a deal
between Pakistan and Iran to construct a gas pipeline. Commenting
on the issue, the national English daily, "Dawn," noted that
"Pakistan has displayed a measure of independence vis-`-vis
Washington which has been a persistent opponent of the pipeline
deal." Another English newspaper, "Daily Times," observed that
"the changing of the name of the pipeline to 'peace pipeline' is not
without significance. The signatories, Iran and Pakistan, cannot
avoid the innuendo that 'peace' has prevailed after a period of
'non-peace' between the two." The second largest Urdu daily,
"Nawa-i-Waqt," wrote: "Pakistan and Iran are the direct targets of
American conspiracies and ill intentions and both the countries
should combat the situation jointly. Pakistan and Iran should
complete the project as soon as possible despite efforts by America
to halt the project." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"N. Korea Stuns World With Nuclear Test" "Dawn" (05/26)

"North Korea conducted its second nuclear test on Monday that was
far more powerful than its first one, triggering an emergency UN
Security council meeting and drawing condemnation from around the
globe."

"Troops Take Over Maalam Jabba" "Dawn" (05/26)

"The army claimed on Monday that security forces had captured Maalam
Jabba, a stronghold of militants, after heavy clashes. It said
troops were facing 'stiff resistance' to wrest the control of Swat
from the Taliban."

"Fazlullah Asks His Men To Stop Fighting" "Dawn" (05/26)

"Taliban's Swat chieftain Maulana Fazlullah has asked his men to
stop battling government troops in Mingora, a stronghold of the
militants. 'Maulana Fazlullah has directed all his Mujahideen to
stop resistance in Mingora and its surroundings to avoid hardships
to the people and losses to the civilian population,' Taliban
spokesman Muslim Khan told AFP on Monday."

"Army Dismisses Taliban 'Ploy'" "The News" (05/26)

"The Taliban on Monday urged civilians to return to the Swat
Valley's main city, promising they would not attack security forces
battling for control out of concern for the safety of trapped
residents. Pakistan's military dismissed the gesture as a ploy that
would allow the militants to blend in with the residents of Mingora,
and said it had no intention of halting its offensive in the
valley."

"Pakistan To Wipe Out Militants, U.S. Senators Assured" "Dawn"
(05/26)

"The President and the Prime Minister assured a delegation of U.S.
Senators on Monday that Pakistan was committed to wiping out
militants from its soil and expressed hopes that success in the
fight against terrorism would ultimately benefit the entire world.
Talking to the U.S. delegation at the Presidency, President Asif Ali
Zardari said Pakistan was fighting against militants not only for
its own survival but for the peace of the whole world. In his
meeting with the senators, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani
resented insinuations about Pakistan's sincerity in the war on
terror and said the entire nation and all institutions were
supporting the military operation which would be taken to its
logical end."

"Nation Stands United Against Taliban: Taseer" The News" (05/26)

"An 11-member American parliamentary delegation led by Senator
Thomas Carper called on Punjab Governor Salman Taseer on Monday in
Lahore at the Governor House. Governor Taseer apprised the
delegation of the political situation in Pakistan and the war on
terror. Senator Thomas Carper assured that the U.S. stood behind
the political leadership and armed forces of Pakistan in curbing
terrorism."

"U.S. Senators' Visit PML-N, PML-Q Unanimous Against Drone Attacks"
"Dawn," "The New," "The Nation" (05/26)

"Both the 'N' and 'Q' factions of the Pakistan Muslim League are
unanimous in opposing violation of Pakistan's airspace by U.S.
drones resulting in civilian casualties in the tribal areas and in
reminding Washington of its promise to help solve Kashmir issue.
The unanimous views on the issue were expressed when a five member
American senators' delegation called on PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif and
PML-Q provincial leader Pervaiz Elahi, separately, in Lahore on
Monday."

"U.S. Urges China To Help Pakistan In Terror War; Officials
Concerned Over Tide Of Displaced Persons" "Dawn" (05/26)

"The Obama administration has appealed to China to provide training
and military equipment to Pakistan amid signs that the offensive
against the extremists may turn out to be a long and bloody fight,
the U.S. media reported on Monday. 'The proposal is part of a push
to enlist key allies of Pakistan to stabilize the country,' The Los
Angeles Times reported."

"Pakistan Seeks OIC Support To Stem Terror" "Dawn" (05/26)

"Pakistan on Monday urged the OIC member states to support its
efforts aimed at eradicating the menace of terror while reiterating
its commitment to fight against extremism and radicalism."

"Govt., Army Under U.S. Pressure: Fazl" "The News" (05/26)

"Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on
Monday said that the government and the Army were helpless in the
face of the 'unreasonable pressure' from the United States. Talking
to the media in Bannu, the JUI-F Chief said the problem of militancy
could not be resolved through the military means alone."

"UN To Seek Pause For Access To Conflict Zones" "The News" (05/26)

"The United Nations is considering asking Pakistan to pause its
military offensive against the Taliban insurgents in Malakand
Division in order to provide aid to hundreds of thousands trapped by
the conflict, Manuel Bessler, Head of the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Pakistan, told
AlertNet in an interview."

"Advocacy Group Urges U.S. To Expand IDPs Aid To $1 Billion" "The
News" (05/26)

"An advocacy group working on the Capitol Hill has urged the United
States to expand its assistance for more than two million displaced
Pakistanis of Malakand region to $1 billion to help meet their
escalating needs, the Pakistani American leadership Center said in
Washington."

"Camps Set Up For IDPs Dismantled; Partial Strike In Sindh Against
Influx" "The Nation" (05/26)

"Strike call given by Jeay Singh Qaumi Mahaz (Areesar) against the
entry of Internally Displace People (IDPs) of Swat and Malakand,
backed by nationalist parties got mixed reaction in Karachi on
Monday. Partial strike was observed in the Karachi city while
routine business activities remained completely suspended in
different towns and districts of the interior Sindh."

"Taliban Seeking Money, Men And Weapons" "Daily Times" (05/26)

"The Taliban are seeking money, men and weapons from the residents
of the conflict-hit areas, urging them to 'live and die together'
fighting against the security forces, a resident of Kanju town in
Swat district said Monday."

"Three Militants Posing As IDPs Arrested In Talash" "Dawn" (05/26)

"The security forces on Monday arrested three militants of Maidan
from a house in Ajo Talash village where they had taken refuge as
internally displaced persons, official sources said."

"Showdown Looms In South Waziristan" "Dawn" (05/26)

"Security forces are reported to have moved tanks and heavy
artillery into the Frontier Region of Jandola for a possible
showdown with militants in the adjacent South Waziristan agency.
According to sources, sporadic clashes between militants and troops
continued in South Waziristan for the fourth day on Monday."

"Taliban agree to stand down in Mamond" "Dawn" (05/26)

"Taliban in Bajaur tribal region assured a Jirga of Mamond tribe
that they would not display arms publicly and end checking of
weapons in bazaars, sources said on Sunday. Sources added that
talks between Taliban leaders and a 30-member Jirga of Mamond tribe
agreed to continue dialogue to find out viable solution to
controversial issues."

"CD Shop Blown Up In Peshawar" "Dawn" (05/26)

"Suspected militants blew up a CD centre in Bahadur Kilay in the
suburbs of Peshawar early Monday morning, an official of the Bana
Manai Police Station, Peshawar said."

"U.S. Choppers Enter Pak Airspace" "The News" (05/26)

"Seven gunship helicopters of the United States violated Pakistan's
airspace and kept hovering over the area of Landi Kotal for four
minutes on Monday. The flights of U.S. choppers created panic among
the local people."

"N-Smuggling Probe In U.S. Angers Switzerland" "Dawn" (05/26)

"Switzerland has warned a U.S. Senate investigator not to interview
a Swiss lawyer suspected of association with nuclear scientist Dr.
Abdul Qadeer Khan, a spokesman for the Swiss justice department said
on Monday."

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Editorials/Op-eds
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"Peace Pipeline At Last," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(05/26)

"Iran and Pakistan have signed a deal to construct a gas pipeline
that had been on the cards since 1995, notwithstanding the numerous
turns and twists in negotiations.... The international implications
of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline accord also have great
significance.... Very importantly, Pakistan has displayed a measure
of independence vis-`-vis Washington which has been a persistent
opponent of the pipeline deal. With changes in the global equations
in the offing and there being a possibility of a U.S.-Iran dialogue,
one can only say that Pakistan stands vindicated."

"IPI Becomes 'Peace Pipeline'," an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/26)

"It seems that the dream of Pakistan becoming a transit country for
gas supply to India and China is on hold for some time. But the
destiny of Pakistan as a transit hub will not be negated by war
forever. The changing of the name of the pipeline to 'peace
pipeline' is not without significance. The signatories, Iran and
Pakistan, cannot avoid the innuendo that 'peace' has prevailed after
a period of 'non-peace' between the two."

"Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Deal: Encouraging Move To Exclude India," an
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/26)

"Noteworthy progress in this tripartite conference (Pakistan, Iran
Afghanistan) is the exclusion of India from the gas pipeline project
by Pakistan and Iran. However, the agreement still has room for
Indian inclusion in the project at a later stage.... The security
of the pipeline will become an issue with the inclusion of India in
the project, for Indian intelligence RAW agents will be there to
undermine it and all Pakistan resources will be spent for the
pipeline security.... Pakistan and Iran are the direct targets of
American conspiracies and ill intentions and both the countries
should combat the situation jointly. Pakistan and Iran should
complete the project as soon as possible despite efforts by America
to halt the project."

"Peace And Power," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/26)

"The issue of terrorism is also significant in the context of the
pipeline, which is to run in equal parts between both Iran and
Pakistan. Issues of security will need to be tackled given the
terrorist threat posed to the line, a major portion of which in
Pakistan will run through the restive province of Balochistan."

"Peace Pipeline," an editorial in the center-right national English
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/26)

"Hopefully, the deal, which President Zardari and President
Ahmedinejad inked at Tehran on Sunday, would finally put an end to
the dithering that has for so many years marked the project under
which Pakistan would get natural gas from Iran to help meet its
growing energy needs.... It seems that Washington has also relented
in its pressure on Islamabad against striking the deal, which it had
been opposing because of the substantial economic benefit that would
accrue to Tehran.... The new U.S. administration, which has
realized that development of the country (Pakistan) holds the key to
defeating the forces of extremism, appears to have softened its
stance on this issue."

"Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline: Don't Break Pakistanis' Back While
Setting The Price," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily
"Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (05/26)

"We hope that the agreement on gas pipeline project between Iran and
Pakistan, when implemented, will be helpful in minimizing shortage
of energy in Pakistan and will also strengthen the brotherhood
between the two countries. We hope that while deciding the price of
the imported gas, efforts would not be made to break the back of
Pakistani people."

"Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan Issues And Trilateral Conference," an
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/26)

"The trilateral [Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan] conference can be
termed a positive development in promoting ties and economic
relations among these countries... Being in the same region, these
countries have several common issues and being Islamic states, they
share common interests as well. Hence it is not possible that
events in one country would not have an impact on the other two....
The biggest achievement of President Zardari's trip to Iran has been
the signing of the gas pipeline deal...."

"Pak-Iran Gas Deal," an editorial in Lahore-based populist Urdu
daily "Waqt" (cir. 10,000) (05/26)

"The need is for these three brotherly states [Iran, Pakistan and
Afghanistan] to sincerely implement the Tehran declaration and to
jointly counter our common enemy, keeping in mind the root causes
for terrorism."

"Mere Resolve Wouldn't Eradicate terrorism," an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (05/26)

"The trilateral Summit of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan held in
Tehran in a joint communiqu has resolved to make every effort to
eliminate extremism, militancy and terrorism from the region....
Therefore instead of issuing hollow statements, Pakistan, Iran and
Afghanistan need to handle the issue on a broader front through
practical steps to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the region
as the problem has regional and international dimensions because
when terrorist feel the heat, they move from one place to the other
to avoid total annihilation."

"U.S. Should Not Tilt The Balance Of Power," an editorial in the
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir.
50,000) (05/26)

"U.S. dual policy towards South Asia has once again come to the
fore. According to Israeli magazine 'National News,' Israel has
handed over 3 AWACS to India.... No one can deny that there is U.S.
support behind every Israeli action, whether that relates to trade,
defense or even to the extent of actions against Palestinians....
The strategic balance of power in South Asia was tilted the moment
India and the U.S. signed the civil nuclear energy deal; to add to
it the U.S. has now provided AWACS to India through Israel.... In
view of this situation, the Pakistan government should also strive
to bring the Pakistan Air Force at par with India."

"1500 Missing Women," an editorial in the second-largest,
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000)
(05/26)

"According to media reports, 1500 women went missing during the rule
of previous government (Musharraf's).... No one knows whether they
are kept at Guantanamo Bay or are undergoing torture at Bagram
Airbase, Afghanistan.... If these women were sold to America like
Afia Siddiqui then this money should be paid back to America to get
the custody of the women. This payment should be deducted from
former President Pervez Musharraf's account and a police case should
also be lodged against him."

"For IDPs," an editorial in the center-right national English daily
"The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/26)

"While there are no two opinions that the military should flush out
the militants from the Malakand region, the sooner the operation
achieves its objectives, the better for the country and the IDPs....
As soon as the army action comes to an end in Mingora and other
parts, the government should help the IDPs' return to their
homes...."

"Unwelcome Guests," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/26)

"The IDPs now travelling in all directions did not have their
current misfortune as a part of their life-plan.... They are on the
road or in camps or enjoying the hospitality of friends and extended
family is not a situation they have themselves sought in any way;
and they are entirely the victims of circumstance. As such they are
entitled to a good deal of latitude and the support of all of us....
They have a constitutional right to travel and settle freely in
their own country. They are displaced because of the actions of
their own government in Islamabad...."

The Swat Operation: Peril And Possibility," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha
Lodhi in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (05/26)

"Of all the challenges posed by the Swat operation, the most urgent
is the displacement crisis, which has acquired dire proportions.
The point has been widely made and merits reiteration: managing the
humanitarian crisis is paramount to winning hearts and minds.
Public and political support for the military operation can
evaporate if the plight of the two million displaced people is not
adequately addressed.... Until a secure environment, local law
enforcement arrangements and an adequately resourced and managed
rehabilitation plan is in place, sending refugees back will be a
high-risk endeavor. This should be avoided unless the IDPs can be
amply enabled to rebuild their lives and homes and of course live
without fear."

"Have We Turned The Corner?," an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (05/26)

"The decision by the elected government in Pakistan to send the
military to chase out Islamic militants from Malakand in the
north-eastern part of the country may have ushered in a process that
could bring the country back towards religious moderation and
political modernization."

"The Quest For Pakistan," an op-ed by Tariq Islam in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (05/26)

"We have done well to acknowledge that this is now our war as much
as America's. But the Americans need a few lessons of their own.
They went into Baghdad, a seat of ancient civilization, and
destroyed it. They went into Afghanistan, a veritable wasteland with
an opportunity to build, and squandered that opportunity. They come
to us now but they must come bearing the right gifts. They have to
win the hearts and minds of the Pakistani people. The din of their
drones must be replaced by container-loads of consumables."

"Talibanization," an op-ed by Mohammad Jamil in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/26)

"There is no doubt that Maulana Fazlullah is in league with
Baitullah Mehsud who is being accused of carrying out his criminal
and anti-Pakistan activities with the backing and funding of the
U.S. and India.... Anyhow, before opposing the military action
against Taliban, one should see the course of events that forced the
government to establish the writ of the state."

"Begging For Change," an op-ed by Ahmed Quraishi in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/26)

"Our American allies continue to create worldwide confusion about
Pakistan's strategic weapons programs. And our silence on
Washington's Afghan blunders has been purchased for a few billion
dollars in U.S. aid pledges on humiliating terms.... Then there's
the statement by our Ambassador to the U.S. informing the world that
we are ready to 'phase out' our nuclear capability if India does the
same. While Mr. Haqqani's statement may have some diplomatic value,
its damage far outweighs its benefit."

"A Nuclear Deal That Isn't," an op-ed by Asif Ezdi in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/26)

"The Zardari government has continued the policy of putting the
nuclear issue in cold storage because he too, like Musharraf, is not
prepared to risk losing Washington's support.... The government's
claim that it has won French agreement to supply nuclear technology
is either knowingly false propaganda to boost its sinking popularity
or sheer misunderstanding arising from diplomatic inexperience.
Either way, it reflects poorly. If the government is really serious
about the matter, it will have to make the issue of civilian nuclear
cooperation a central item on our bilateral agenda with the supplier
countries and do some heavy lifting in the key capitals, first and
foremost in Washington."
Patterson