PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 29, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001177 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 29, 2009 Summary: Reports and photographs of three "successive blasts," including a suicide attack, in different parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) "killing 13 people" dominated front pages in all national dailies on Friday. "Desperate terrorist backlash begins," read the lead story in the English daily, "The News." All newspapers highlighted Chief of Army Staff General Kayani's resolve that "army will defeat the elements which were out to destabilize and harm the country." Also front-paged was "UN's renewed appeal for IDP assistance." Ambassador Patterson's visit to a local IDP camp in Swabi (NWFP) and announcement of "$26.6 million donation to World Food Program" received wide coverage. Pakistan Foreign Office's statement "rejecting Indian terms for resuming the composite dialogue process" garnered prominent coverage. National Security Adviser General Jones remarks "expressing U.S. satisfaction over Pakistan's efforts to fight the Taliban" also figured prominently. Most major dailies continued to run editorials on the current law and order situation in the country in the wake of ongoing military operation against terrorists in the NWFP. The English daily, "Dawn," while underlining the need for "more information" for "evaluating the success or otherwise of the military operation in Malakand division" noted that "there is a need to verify the government's and the army's claims and that will only be possible if reporters are given more access to Malakand." Criticizing what it termed the "head-hunting list" of terrorists published by the government, the English daily, "The News," observed that "the money set aside for 'bounty' would be better spent in developing human intelligence networks and investing in state-of-the-art electronic surveillance equipment." An editorial in the liberal Sindhi language daily, "Kawish," noted that "there seems now a possibility that terrorism could go to other cities of the country as a reaction to Malakand's military operation." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Blasts, Suicide Attacks In Peshawar, D.I. Khan - Terrorists On The Rampage" "Dawn" (05/29) "A succession of blasts rocked the NWFP on Thursday, killing 13 people, including five policemen, and injuring over 90 others. Three blasts, one of them a suicide attack targeting a police post, took place in Peshawar and one suicide bombing at a security check-post in Dera Ismail Khan, killing two policemen and a civilian and injuring 11 others." "Desperate Terrorist Backlash Begins" "The News" (05/29) "Within 24 hours of the devastating bombing in Lahore, terrorists have struck another provincial capital and a smaller city within hours of each other." "Suicide Bomber Kills 3 Policemen Near Peshawar" "Daily Times" (05/29) "Three policemen were killed and three others injured when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a police van on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Thursday, according to hospital sources and police." "Kayani Vows To Crush Militancy" "Dawn" (05/29) "Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Thursday that over 90 soldiers had lost their lives and 279 suffered injuries during the operation Rah-i-Raast in Swat and adjoining districts of the Malakand division and reiterated army's resolve to defeat the elements which were out to destabilize and harm the country." "UN Renews Appeal For IDP Assistance" "Dawn" (05/29) "The top United Nations humanitarian official made another impassioned flash appeal on Thursday for additional $455 million for three million internally displaced Pakistanis, since its earlier appeal received only $88 million." "U.S. Ambassador Patterson Announces $26.6 Million Donation To U.N. World Food Program (WFP) During IDP Camp Visit" "Dawn," "The News," "The Nation," "Aaj-Kal," "Jang," "Din," and "Ausaf" (05/29) "During a visit to the Yar Hussain internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson announced a $26.6 million award to the UN's World Food Program funding urgent humanitarian relief efforts." "India's Terms For Dialogue Rejected" "Dawn" (05/29) "The Foreign Office rejected on Thursday India's conditions for resuming the 'composite dialogue process' and said only constructive engagement could produce tangible results for the resolution of all outstanding issues, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said." "Two Terrorists Killed In Peshawar Shootout" "The News" (05/29) "Peshawar police killed two terrorists and nabbed two others in a shootout during a 'cordon and search' operation was underway in the Kissa Khawani Bazaar on Thursday, Inspector General of Police, NWFP Naveed Khan told reporters." "Taliban Warn Of Attacks On Four Cities" "Dawn" (05/29) "Hakimullah Mehsud, a Deputy to Chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Baitullah Mehsud, told 'The Associated Press' in a telephone call that the attack in Lahore was in response to the military's ongoing offensive to end the militants' control of the Swat valley. Talking to Reuters, Hakimullah Mehsud also warned of more violence." "U.S. Satisfied With Action" "Dawn" (05/29) "The United States is so far satisfied with Pakistan's efforts to fight the Taliban and strongly supports the military offensive in Swat, says a top White House official. White House National Security Adviser Gen James Jones told a Washington think-tank on Wednesday evening that he was heartened also by the 'receptiveness' of the Pakistani people to the military offensive." "Petraeus Paid Secret Visit To Islamabad" "Dawn" (05/29) "U.S. Central Command Chief Gen. David Petraeus paid a secret visit to Islamabad on Tuesday to allay Pakistan's concerns that the military build-up in Afghanistan by the United States would add to its woes. 'Gen Petraeus told his interlocutors that the U.S. had very few options other than to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan and that all possible efforts would be made to minimize its fallout on Pakistan,' a diplomatic source told 'Dawn.' U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor confirmed the visit. He said Gen. Petraeus had held 'productive meetings with civilian and military leaders.'" "Ex-Army Men Can Be Hired For Law, Order: PM" "The Nation" (05/29) "Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that the government could hire services of retired army personnel as a stopgap arrangement till the training of law enforcement agencies, particularly of police, to maintain law and order situation in Malakand after completing the military operation." "Militants' Attempt To Loot Relief Convoy Foiled: ISPR" "Dawn" (05/29) "Security forces on Thursday foiled an attempt by terrorists to loot a convoy of army trucks carrying relief and food items for people stranded in areas affected by the military operation, military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told 'Dawn' on Thursday." "Forces Enter Bahrain As Seven Militants Killed" "The News" (05/29) "Security forces on Thursday entered Bahrain, while seven more militants were killed and four others, including an important commander, were arrested during the last 24 hours in the ongoing operation in the Swat Valley, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said." "Foreigner Among Six Taliban Held In Landi Kotal" "Daily Times" (05/29) "The security forces claimed to have arrested six Taliban, including a foreigner, and seized a huge cache of arms from them on Thursday, Frontier Corps (FC) Commander Colonel Asif told a press conference." "Rupees 46 Million Bounty For Capturing 21 TTP Leaders" "Dawn" (05/29) "The government of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has announced a bounty of Rs46 million for the capture of 21 terrorist commanders of Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat (TTS),including its chief Maulana Fazlullah, dead or alive or for information about their whereabouts." "Eight Militants Arrested In Frontier Region Of Kohat" "Dawn" (05/29) "Security forces arrested eight militants in Shindand and blew up their three hideouts in Jawaki area during a search operation in Frontier Region of Kohat on Thursday." "Military Isolating Mehsud Before Final Showdown" "The Nation" (05/29) "Pakistani security forces are trying to corner the Pakistani Taliban Chief, Baitullah Mehsud before a final showdown with him and for that 'crucial talks' are underway with two other Waziristan-based militant Commanders, Maulvi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur." "Pakistan Urges World To Fulfill Aid Pledges" "Dawn" (05/29) "The government appealed to the international community on Thursday to provide more assistance for relief and rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons. At a meeting held to review relief work for the IDPs, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged donor countries to fulfill pledges of assistance they had made for the affected people." "Hundreds Leave As Troops Deployed In Kurram Agency" "The News" (05/29) "The government for the first time has deployed troops in remote mountainous places of Kurram Agency, scene of bloody sectarian clashes in the past, for a possible military operation against militants. Also, hundreds of families were seen on Thursday fleeing their homes in the troubled remote villages after deployment of the security forces." "Suspected Militants, Financiers Held In Khyber Agency" "The News" (05/29) "More than 20 suspected militants and their financiers have been arrested in separate operations in Jamrud and Bara areas of Khyber Agency on Wednesday night, sources told 'The News.'" "Pakistan, India Nuclear Aims Prompt U.S. Concern" "The News" (05/29) "Sometime next year, at a tightly guarded site south of its capital, Pakistan will be ready to start churning out a new stream of plutonium for its nuclear arsenal, which will eventually include warheads for ballistic missiles and cruise missiles capable of being launched from ships, submarines or aircraft. About 1,000 miles to the southwest, engineers in India are designing cruise missiles to carry nuclear warheads, relying partly on Russian missile-design assistance, said a report published in Washington Post on Thursday." "Pakistan To Get AWACS By October This Year: Air Chief" "The News" (05/29) "Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said Pakistan would get Air Warning And Control System (AWACS) by October this year. Talking to media on Thursday, the Air Chief said that acquiring of spying satellite and AWACS by India has imbalanced the power in the region." "Builders Know How To Protect Nukes: A.Q. Khan" "The Nation" (05/29) "Renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has said that the countries that are making nuclear weapons know how to protect them. Talking to a private TV channel in Islamabad on Thursday, he said, 'West and U.S. do not want Pakistan have nuclear weapons, therefore, they were deceiving the world by making baseless propaganda.'" -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "More Information Needed," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/29) "Evaluating the success or otherwise of Operation Rah-i-Raast in Malakand division up to now has been difficult because of the lack of independent reports from the area.... There is a need to verify the government's and the army's claims and that will only be possible if reporters are given more access to Malakand.... Without independent verification such reports, the issue becomes one of the state's word against the militants' and in such circumstances disproving such rumors becomes impossible, with damaging consequences for public support for the military operation." "Head-Hunting," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/29) "We now have our very own list of 'most wanted' - 21 men whose names and photos were published by the NWFP government in the English and Urdu press this week.... Simply, the cultural imperatives that overlay Pashtun culture make it well-nigh impossible that Mehsud or any other of those included in the 'wanted 21' list will be captured as a result of treachery by anybody within their own culture.... The money set aside for 'bounty' would be better spent on developing human intelligence networks and investing in state-of-the-art electronic surveillance equipment." "Blasts After A Brief Lull," an editorial in the Hyderabad based independent and liberal Sindhi Daily "Kawish" (cir 105,000) (05/29) "Cleary the terrorist activities in country's major cities are aimed to put pressure on government to halt its ongoing operation against terrorists. There now seems a possibility that terrorism could go to other cities of the country as a reaction to Malakand operation. We urge the government to put up effective security steps to ensure safety of the people." "Terrorism And Poor Performance Of Institutions," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 33,000) (05/29) "Those who are terming Lahore blasts as a reaction to Malakand operation are foreseeing more such attacks in other parts of the country. Terrorism is a big problem but much bigger issue is the poor performance of our institutions in handling such incident. If the government could focus more on this aspect, we may see terrorism subsiding in the country." "New Determination?," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/29) "Hitherto there has been an obvious reticence to take on some of the terrorist and extremists that threaten all of us. The reasons for this are - were - many and complex; ranging from those who saw the terrorists as somehow 'on our side' to those who understood them only in the context of them being a tool in the hand of external forces.... Such men are not strangers come amongst us to fight some proxy battle on behalf of foreign powers. They are our own people who, for whatever reason, have gone down a path that leads them away from the principles that our state was founded upon. Now is the time for us all, every man woman and child who has an investment in the stability and prosperity of Pakistan, to stand four-square against them, for they are the evil that darkens all our lives." "Baitullah Retaliates In Lahore," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/29) "The Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief 'Amir' Baitullah Mehsud believes in retaliation, and this time he was reacting to the beating his men in Swat are receiving from the Pakistan Army. There is news about the besieged 4,000 militants there, which must have upset him a great deal.... As the army finally takes on the terrorists, more and more evidence of the 'international' nature of this evil enterprise are coming to the fore." "Terrorists Hit Lahore Again," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (05/29) "There could be many reasons for turning Lahore into an epicenter by militants. Experts believe Lahore is considered as a heart of Pakistan and may be militant organizations have managed some safe havens in the city where suicide bombers are provided temporary stay and explosive materials. Local support makes the job of the terrorists easy to hit at their targets. We hope that the arrest of six to eight suspects after the bombing would enable the investigation agencies to unearth those behind the incident." "Terrorism Questions," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/29) "Seen in the context of the past such attacks, the situation seems to be going out of control of the security personnel. And that certainly raises a number of questions. Do the security personnel have the required equipment and training to come up to the level of preparedness and readiness of the terrorists to stop them?... Another question that irks the thinking minds is that why the security agencies fail to prevent a suicide attack from taking place despite having information that such an attack is likely? It is now common knowledge that not more than a few banned militant organizations could be behind." "The Blast In Lahore," an op-ed by M.A. Niazi in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/29) "The bombing on Wednesday appears targeted at the ISI, whose Lahore office was across the road from the actual target.... It may well be too much of a price to pay, what with a senior ISI official dying in the blast, but this blast should prove groundless all the USA's suspicions of ISI backing of the militants. However, that is unlikely." "Vibrations After The Blast," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/29) "There is little doubt that the bombing was connected to the military operation in Malakand. It hardly takes genius to work that out. As the fighting continues in the north, with the Taliban under more and more pressure, it is safe to predict that there will be more attempts at such carnage in our towns and cities.... The fact that those involved in executing and planning these attacks often go scot-free is obviously a factor that encourages others to engage in similar actions." "Stand Up In The Name Of God," an op-ed by Qazi Hussain Ahmed in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu dailies "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) "Khabrain," (cir. 50,000) and "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/29) "The country needs an honest leadership - a brave leadership that could tell the United States that it is not ready to impose American war upon its nation. It is not possible to fight your own nation. Before this country starts disintegrating this leadership ought to retire. All the political parties of the country including the civil and military bureaucracy have failed to keep the country united. People working under the U.S. policy would ultimately lead us to an end where there would be semi-independent states of Balochs, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Punjabis under the control of India, and not Pakistan." "The Enemy Is Us," an op-ed by Ayaz Amir in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/29) "We are in a state of war, no doubt about it, and the enemy is as much the likes of Baitullah Mehsud and Maulana Fazlullah as our penchant for loose thinking. For thirty years the army chased shadows in Afghanistan and the nation is paying the price of that folly now. One can only hope that the army has finally exorcised those shadows and ghosts and given up on such priceless notions as 'strategic depth' and 'strategic assets.' If the Taliban were ever a strategic asset, what would be the definition of a strategic liability?" "Support The Army," an op-ed by Dr. Ijaz Ahsan in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/29) "While calling for steps to ensure that there are a minimum number of civilian casualties, we should fully support our Army and its operation.... Whatever else we do or not do, we have to get rid of the militancy and regain sovereignty over the whole of our country; it is as simple as that.... Some people suspect that the Taliban, or at least some of their leaders, are the agents of America. You see, whether they are anyone's agents or are acting on their own, we have to get rid of them. We should not be double-minded about that." "Imperative Need," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/29) "Pakistan's nuclear status, while it is a thorn in the side of its enemies and so called friends, has enabled the country to get a respectable place in the comity of nations.... A sinister campaign to deprive Pakistan of its nuclear muscle is underway.... Concurrently, there are fears in Western political circles that the country is expanding its nuclear capability. The reality is that Pakistan's nuclear doctrine contains no ambitions to enter into an arms race with anyone, but simply to have a minimum deterrent capability for its defence. That also ensures a strategic balance in the region." "India's Nuclear Stance," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/29) "Mixed messages do not aid dialogue. If anything they serve to obfuscate issues or harden black-and-white notions of who is right and who is wrong. India needs to make up its mind on where it stands vis-`-vis Pakistan. Are we or are we not partners in the battle against militancy and terrorism? Or are we to remain perennial adversaries locked in a no-win situation that can benefit neither country?... Coordination is needed in the sphere of counter-insurgency, the Kashmir dispute needs to be resolved, Siachen discussed and Sir Creek taken to its fair and logical conclusion. A single point agenda hinging on the Mumbai attacks will simply not deliver. A holistic approach is in order." "Secret Talks On Kashmir," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/29) "Now with the renewed American interest that Pakistan should wholeheartedly focus on the militants in the north, undisturbed by any concern about the eastern border with India, the need to resolve Kashmir has been felt once again by influential political circles in the world.... It seems that covert pressure from outside is working and New Delhi has decided to initiate secret diplomacy with the aim of resolving the dispute. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope that India does not find another excuse to halt the process." "In The Guise Of Suggestions," an op-ed by Tanweer Qaisar Shahid in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/29) "Admittedly, our establishment has made mistakes in the past. All the Mujahid-making factories our intelligence agency set up to counter the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and Kashmir in India have now become a menace for us.... However, now that crushing the Taliban successfully has become our goal, voices are being raised from certain quarters that the military operation should be stopped as such operations are never guarantees of success. It is also being said that every war ends on the negotiation table, so why not hold talks with the warring groups in Swat? Both these statements are not true: did the Second World War end on the negotiation table; or did the Tamil Tigers' terrorism end there?... It is also being suggested that this fire [in Swat] can be put out if the government gets mediation support from Maulana Masood Azhar (of Jaish-i-Muhammad) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil (of Harkatul Mujahideen). Do those who make such suggestions not know that Maulana Masood Azhar is wanted by India for the Mumbai blasts; or that the Pakistan government is on the record as having said that Masood Azhar is not in Pakistan? Do these people not know what the UN decided on December 10, 2008 with regards to Masood Azhar, Fazlur Rehman Khalil, Al Rasheed Trust, Al Akhtar Trust and their patron Mufti Rasheed Ahmad. Will Pakistan not be embarrassed at all forums and at all levels if it makes the unwise move of producing Masood Azhar now?" Patterson