PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 16, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001321

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 16, 2009

Summary: Reports and photographs of Army Chief General Kayani's
inspection of military offensive zone onboard an F-16 dominated
headlines in all newspapers on Tuesday. His "vow to defend the
nation 'at all cost'" also received front page coverage. All
newspapers highlighted reports that "President Zardari to hold talks
with Indian Prime Minister Singh today (Tuesday)" on the sidelines
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Yekaterinburg
(Russia). Also garnering front page attention was news that the
"security forces claimed to have killed 50 Taliban in operations in
Mohmand, Bajaur, Malakand and Bannu." Foreign Minister Qureshi's
statement that the "Taliban could spread beyond its (Pakistan's)
borders to India and as far as the Persian Gulf, unless it receives
international aid to help battle militancy on its soil" received
prominent display. Several newspapers highlighted U.S. Embassy's
announcement to "host weekly live web chat series" to share
information about the U.S. on different themes.

Most major newspapers ran editorials weighing the pros and cons of
the impending military operation to eliminate TTP (Tehrik Taliban
Pakistan) chief Baitullah Mehsud and dismantle his network. The
center-right national English daily "The Nation," warned that
"compared to Swat, a military operation in South Waziristan could
turn out to be more expansive in both human and material terms."
Terming the "deals with Taliban" as "utter folly," the populist,
often sensational national English daily "The News" wrote: "The time
has come to go for the final kill, so we can all reclaim a country
that has, village by village, town by town, been stolen away from
us." Commenting on the growing terror incidents, the liberal Urdu
daily "Express," noted that "countering this (threat) is possible
only if the operation against militancy continues until militants
are completely defeated." End Summary.

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News Stories
--------------

"Kayani Inspects Operation Area Onboard F-16" "Daily Times" (06/16)

"Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani co-piloted an F-16 over Swat
on Monday, and vowed to defend the nation 'at all costs.' During a
visit to the PAF operational base, he told airmen Operation
Rah-e-Rast had been the last resort after all peaceful options had
been exhausted. He said the Pakistan Air Force and the Pakistan
Army were united, and were participating in Operation Rah-e-Rast
shoulder-to-shoulder."

"Zardari To Hold Talks With Singh Today" "Dawn" (06/16)

"Leaders of India and Pakistan will hold talks in Russia on Tuesday,
raising expectations their first meeting since the Mumbai attacks in
November last year will ease tension between the two country.
Russian officials said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
President Asif Ali Zardari would meet on the sidelines of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Hekaterinburg."

"50 Taliban Killed In Military Operations" "Daily Times" (06/16)

"Security forces personnel on Monday claimed to have killed 50
Taliban in operations in Mohmand, Bajaur, Malakand and Bannu during
the past 24 hours.... Security forces also consolidated their
positions and continued search operations in Godhand Banda and Arkot
in Swat, Matta and Aligrama."

"Taliban Can Spread To India, Persian Gulf: FM" "The Nation"
(06/16)

"Pakistan has warned that the Taliban could spread beyond its
borders to neighboring India and as far as the Persian Gulf, unless
it receives International aid to help battle militancy on its soil,
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the Financial Times on
Monday."

"U.S. Embassy Islamabad Hosts Live Web Chat Series to Discover 'US'"
"Pakistan Observer," "The Statesman," "Jang," "Express" (06/16)

"The U.S. Embassy Islamabad will host a series of weekly live web
chats with American diplomats to share information about the U.S. on
different themes and topics of interest to the people of Pakistan.
The web chats take place every Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm local
time."

"Offensive Against Baitullah Begins Today" "The News" (06/16)

"The government will launch a full-scale military offensive against
Baitullah Mahsud-led Taliban in South Waziristan today (Tuesday) in
which besides regular armed forces, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet
fighters would also be used in a decisive action. Sources told 'The
News' that the decision about military operation was taken at a
high-level meeting held with Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani on Monday."

"Mehsuds Hedge Their Bets As Game On To Isolate Baitullah" "Dawn"
(06/16)

"When jets of the Pakistan Air Force struck Makeen - a key trade
centre of Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan - last week, ostensibly
to avenge the suicide bombing in Lahore that killed religious
scholar Dr. Sarfaraz Naeemi, it was the culmination of a two-month
long in-house debate within the military establishment on how to
deal with Baitullah Mehsud. It was, perhaps, the first significant
indication that the military establishment - long derided for
avoiding taking the Chief of Pakistani Taliban head-on - had had
enough. 'He has a hand in virtually every terrorist attack in
Pakistan,' Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had said recently.
'We wanted to deliver a message to Baitullah. If he carries out a
suicide bombing, then there will be a response and that he can't get
away with these attacks. There will be a quid pro quo,' a senior
military officer said."

"Janikhel Area Of FR Bannu Cleared" "Dawn" (06/16)

"Security forces cleared FR Bannu's Janikhel tehsil, set up
checkpoints and started action against the Gorbaz tribe on the
Miramshah Road on Monday morning. Militants had used the area to
cross into Waziristan after kidnapping students of the Razmak Cadet
College early this month."

"Zardari Urge World To Support Pakistan In Anti-Terror War" "Dawn"
(06/16)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the international community to
fully support Pakistan's efforts in war against terrorism and help
it in overcoming the multitude of challenges, including winning
hearts and minds of people. 'This is a challenge of our times and a
challenge for the world. We have two wars. One is physical against
militants, other is to look after the internally displaced people.
World has to come forward to support us,' Mr. Zardari said in an
interview with Russia Today. The President Zardari, who is in
Russia to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
Summit."

"PM Urges U.S. To Waive Debts" "Pakistan Observer" (06/16)

The Prime Minister was talking to Pugwash Conference on Science and
World Affairs delegation headed by Prof. Paolo Cotta-Ramsunio,
Secretary General Pugwash Conferences which called on him at the
Prime Minister's House Monday morning.... The Prime Minister while
briefing the visitors over the success of ongoing military
operation, the relief efforts being undertaken to cater to the needs
of the influx of displaced persons and the ramification of the
situation on Pakistan's economy called upon the U.S. to write off
Pakistan's debt, fast track the Kerry Lugar and ROZ's bills' passage
through the Congress and to enhance the level of intelligence
sharing with Pakistan to help his government to bring the present
campaign against militants to its logical end."

"Extremists Buying Children To Use As Bombers: Malik" "The News"
(06/16)

"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the government is
determined to continue the war against terrorism till the Taliban
are flushed out of the country. He said that the terrorists were
using children for their barbarous terrorist activities, adding a
suicide bomber was paid Rupees 500,000 to Rupees 2.5 million from
terrorist outfits. He was speaking at an award distribution
ceremony for martyred and other police officials at the National
Library Auditorium in Islamabad on Monday."

"Terrorists Getting Arms From Afghanistan: Malik" "Pakistan
Observer" (06/16)

"Interior Minister Rehman Malik said here on Monday that terrorists
operating in Pakistan are being supplied sophisticated arms and
ammunition from neighboring Afghanistan and the matter has been
taken up with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. He was speaking at an
award distribution ceremony for martyred and other police officials
at the National Library Auditorium in Islamabad on Monday."

"U.S. Lawmaker For Quick Launch Of ROZs In Pakistan" "The News"
(06/16)

"Congressman Chris Van Hollen, a leading proponent of the just
passed reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) program in the U.S.
House of Representatives, has called on the Senate to approve the
plan urgently to help Pakistan secure its restive northwestern
regions. 'With this bill, we are taking steps to forge a true
strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, strengthen its
democratic government, and help Pakistan to be a force for stability
in this volatile region,' he said, appreciating Islamabad's military
offensive to oust the Taliban insurgents from Swat and tribal
areas."

"Pakistan, Russia Vow New Chapter In Ties" "The News" (06/16)

"Pakistan and Russia on Monday vowed to open a new chapter in their
relationships with joint efforts to boost their economic ties and
fight terrorism and extremism. This promise was made in
Yekaterinburg in a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and
his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the
six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit."

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

"A New Offensive," an editorial in the center-right national English
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/16)

"The announcement of the launching of a comprehensive and decisive
operation to eliminate TTP Chief Baitullah Mehsud and dismantle his
network, should come as no surprise.... Compared to Swat, a
military operation in South Waziristan could turn out to be more
expensive in both human and material terms. It is an area where
moving supplies and troops requires tying up thousands of troops to
picket hilltops and valleys to avoid ambushes.... One hopes the
government has weighed all the pros and cons of the operation.
Governor Owais Ghani's statement accusing the Mehsud tribe of
ignoring the repeated warnings to put an end to their 'miscreant'
activities indicates the government wants to take on the entire
tribe. Many would advise it to consider the dangers behind this."

"The Baitullah Mission," an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/16)

"There are many implications and many things that need to be
pondered carefully while devising a strategy. But the fact also is
that at the present, a very real momentum against terrorism has been
built. People everywhere are increasingly united in their stance
against militancy.... These factors mean it may therefore be wise
to carry through with the tide and finish of the work that has been
begun.... There seems to be little sense in allowing the Taliban
time to re-group and re-organize.... The time has come to go for
the final kill, so we can all reclaim a country that has, village by
village, town by town, been stolen away from us."

"Decision To Start Operation Against Baitullah Mehsud," an editorial
in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (06/16)

"Growing terrorist incidents are once again posing a challenge to
the writ of the state. Countering this is possible only if the
operation against militancy continues until militants are completely
defeated; the government should not succumb to any pressure at all.
It is encouraging that we are heading in the right direction and
that there is complete harmony between the army and the government
in this regard."

"Militancy's HQ," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (06/16)

"What is not clear though at the moment is what exactly the security
forces' plan is. Will they only go after Baitullah Mehsud and his
network or will they try and clean up both South and North
Waziristan Agency of all militants?... But remains to be seen how
far the state is willing to go, the losses it is willing to accept,
the cost it is ready to impose on the local populations and to what
extent it is ready to disrupt the various networks of militants that
are intertwined. Just as importantly, the state must be careful
about who it sees as its allies. Baitullah Mehsud has many rivals
and enemies among the Mehsud tribe, but defeating him with the help
of others only to see those others become the next menace - that
must not be allowed to happen."

"Attacking Baitullah's Den," an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/16)

"South Waziristan is a stronghold on many counts. Baitullah and his
friends of the FATA region in varying degrees of strength.... There
are reports not only that the Taliban are cornered but that Al Qaeda
too is squeezed for resources and is appealing internationally for
funds. This could be the time to strike.... There is no doubt that
the operation in South Waziristan, if it materializes, will have to
be well-coordinated at the international level. As for inside
Pakistan, the national consensus against the Taliban is intact and
will favor the war being taken to the enemy instead of waiting for
the enemy to continue to strike at will."

"Chasing Mehsud," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (06/16)

"Pakistan army is once again set to apply force to capture the
militants, especially Baitullah Mehsud, who is alleged of harboring
foreign troops on the Pakistani soil. The use of military force is
an important element in dealing with an insurgency. The government,
belatedly realizing the need to capture or kill Baitullah Mehsud and
other Taliban leaders after their activities against the peaceful
religious leaders, including Maulana Sarfaraz Naeemi. To cope with
a precarious internal and external situation, the government has
done well to make a coordinated effort to address this issue, which
surely is central to Pakistan's survival as an independent state.
This endeavor should be taken to its logical end, as leaving it
halfway could prove disastrous."

"Why Not Reflect, Consult Before Opening New Fronts?," an editorial
in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu
daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (06/16)

"NWFP Governor Awais Ghani has announced a decisive military
operation against TTP Chief Baitullah Mehsud and his associates....
Expanding the scope of the operation will lead to more death and
destruction and new problems for the government.... It is also
imperative that the government should take parliament's approval
before launching the operation. The discussion in the parliament
should be utilized to garner support of political parties.... We
want to say once again that only dialogue for the sake of national
interest and not the use of excessive force can bring a lasting
solution to the problem. Use of force never solved any problem."

"Announcement For Decisive Operation By NWFP Governor," an editorial
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (06/16)

"NWFP Governor Awais Ghani has announced decisive action against
banned TTP and militants.... As a reaction to the ongoing
operation, the entire country is in the grip of worst terrorism and
suicide attacks. If the military operation was expanded further the
possibility of more terrorism and more suicide attacks can't be
ruled out. Although the Frontier Governor talked of decisive
operation, immediate results of the operation are not in sight.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is now admitting that this is
guerilla warfare and the gun cannot solve every problem."

"Decisive Action Against Baitullah," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (06/16)

"No military operation against Taliban militants in NWFP could be
decisive without taking on and defeating the Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP) head, Baitullah Mehsud.... The major threat was none
else but the TTP founder and the main battlefield was always going
to be Waziristan.... Baitullah Mehsud is the most powerful Pakistan
Taliban commander. He is capable of carrying out suicide bombings
and terrorist attacks in all major cities of Pakistan, kidnapping
important people and using them as bargaining chip, and activating
fighters from TTP units all over NWFP and his Jihadi allies in
Punjab and Sindh to put pressure on the government to once again
seek peace with him. He has done this in the past and will try to
do so again."

"A Hand Moving Towards Nuclear Capability," an op-ed by Ayaz Khan in
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (06/16)

"Our security and intelligence agencies have often complained to the
U.S. that it has avoided taking any action against Baitullah Mehsud.
[U.S.] has made claims of having killed several persons linked to Al
Qaeda and terrorists in drone attacks -- one person who has not been
targeted is Baitullah Mehsud. In the past, Baitullah Mehsud was
also seen entering and exiting the U.S. Embassy.... Now that the
NWFP Governor has announced a military operation against Baitullah
Mehsud, the first voice raised in opposition has come from the U.S.
American scholar Nicholas Schmidle has said that the time is not
right for an operation in South Waziristan... The U.S. has also
announced a reward for help in capturing Mehsud, but it would not
want an important pawn like Mehsud to be targeted. Soon you will see
that the U.S. will oppose, at the official level, an operation in
South Waziristan. And then visitors from the U.S. will start
pouring in. An operation against Baitullah Mehsud during Pervez
Musharraf's time was stopped just when the noose was being tightened
around him. It now remains to be seen how our political and military
leadership will face up to U.S. pressure this time."

"Evaluating The Orders," an op-ed by Kamran Shafi in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (06/16)

"It has been decided that a comprehensive and decisive operation
will be launched to eliminate Baitullah Mehsud and dismantle his
network.... The conspiracies range from an American plot to push
more Taliban into Pakistan so as to tie up the army in FATA while
they 'take out' our nuclear weapons and missiles, and thence to
break up Pakistan. Here is one published in a daily on May 28,
2009, verbatim: 'Once Pakistan is denuclearized the U.S. would
encourage Pakistan's Balkanisation into a Baloch U.S. satellite, a
city state of MQM in Karachi, a Pakhtunistan badly bombed and in
tatters and a Punjab stripped of nuclear potential, kicked and
bullied by India. A Northern Area republic which is a U.S. lackey
unless China decides to call the U.S. bluff by occupying the
Northern Area. 'What is the answer to this: an immediate clean
break with U.S./NATO and closing all NATO/U.S. supply lines to
Afghanistan; mining and barbed wiring the Afghan Pakistan border;
allowing the Fata agencies to import goods for Afghanistan duty free
and scrapping the old Afghan Transit Trade Accord thus economically
boosting the FATA. A military alliance with China with a Chinese
naval base at Gwadar; rapprochement with Russia and offering the
Russians free port facilities at Gwadar; creation of a maritime
province in Gwadar and Lasbela districts insulating these areas from
the Baloch Sardars on payroll of U.S. intelligence; creation of a
Pashtun province in the Pashtun districts of Balochistan with Quetta
as its capital.' I ask you. These brilliant thoughts end thus:
Everything is not inevitable in history."

"Dilemmas Of Expanding The War," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (06/16)

"The decision to take the fight to Waziristan has come in the wake
of a mounting reign of terror unleashed by militants.... Improved
tactics, higher morale and greater confidence to fight insurgency
are all important elements of this military momentum. As important
is the momentum of public opinion. The public support that has been
building up for a decisive crackdown on militants provides a crucial
enabling political environment to expand the military operation....
Factoring into future strategy the lessons learned from past
mistakes is the only way to avoid repeating them."

"This Is A Long War," an op-ed by Raza Rumi in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/16)

"The military operation is just the beginning. It is going to be a
war, if the consensus is further deepened and nurtured, for the next
few years given the way it is spilling into big cities, engulfing
sectarian and ethnic tensions germane to Pakistan's society. It has
to be fought not just militarily either. It has to be waged within
the media, within the education system and above all with a credible
ideological alternative to suicidal anti-Americanism and vague
notions of tribal justice founded on misogyny.... But the
misleading currents of analyses that this is an American war, and
somehow the Taliban have public support in pockets of Pakistan, are
inherently dangerous propaganda tools deliberately cultivated to
suit certain interests."

"Anti-Terrorism Force," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(06/16)

"The methods pursued by the extremists at work in Pakistan resemble
a form of urban warfare where it is not easy to tell a terrorist
from a civilian. All a militant has to do to pass for a
non-combatant is to temporarily abandon his weapon. This allows
terrorists to melt at will into the civilian population, making the
countering of possible attacks doubly difficult.... There is,
therefore, a need to constitute a new security force trained
specifically to counter terrorism.... The ability to tell a
terrorist from a non-combatant will depend on local knowledge and
require an ear-to-the-ground approach."

"Ambassador Rebuts The FM," an editorial in the Islamabad-based
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (06/16)

"There was yet another drone attack by the United States killing at
least five people in Ladha region of South Waziristan Agency on
Sunday. Echoing feelings of the people, Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi has resented these attacks saying that the
Government has told Washington in clear terms that these were
counter-productive and must be stopped forthwith. However, the
country's representative in the U.S. capital Hussain Haqqani, who is
understandably very close to some of the policy-makers has claimed
that drone attacks were very much productive as many of the top
leaders of Al-Qaeda had been killed in these attacks. It seems that
during his intensive interaction, the Ambassador, instead of
influencing the thinking of the U.S. policy-makers, has himself
fallen victim to American point of view as his remarks give an
impression as if he was speaking for the U.S. and not for
Pakistan.... The entire nation is one in condemning the persistent
violation of the country's sovereignty by the arrogant
superpower.... A dispassionate assessment of what is happening in
FATA and Swat would reveal that each drone and missile attack has
contributed to increase in militancy."

"Hussain Haqqani: Whose Ambassador?," an editorial in the
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt"
(cir. 150,000) (06/16)

"Pakistan Ambassador in the U.S. Hussain Haqqani said that drone
attacks in tribal areas proved useful.... Our rulers do not have
the courage to condemn the drone attacks, but each one of them
expressed reservation on the attacks and asked for stopping them.
But Hussain Haqqani describes them as useful.... In view of his
statements people describe him as the American and not Pakistani
Ambassador. The government should appoint another ambassador to the
U.S. who should be patriotic and a Pakistani."

"Mere Eyewash," an editorial in the center-right national English
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/16)

"The Israeli Prime Minister has ruled out a complete halt to the
Jewish settlements. In reality, this shows that Israel is not at
all serious about the peace process. What Hamas calls the racist
and extremist ideology of Netanyahu, who has lived up to his
reputation of being a hawk, reflects the truth. The U.S., with
President Obama at the helm, would have to put more pressure on the
Jewish entity. A just settlement of the issue is central to winning
the hearts and minds of Muslims. Peace will remain elusive until the
formation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state."

"Peace Process Scuttled," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(06/16)

"The much-awaited speech went totally against President Barack
Obama's clear-cut stance that Israel must halt all settlement
activity and that his administration stood categorically for a
two-state solution. By insisting that Jerusalem would remain
Israel's capital, Mr. Netanyahu ruled out the final status
negotiations, and by demanding that Israel be recognized as a Jewish
state he made it clear Palestinian refugees would not be allowed to
return to their soil from where they were made to flee during the
1948-49 fighting. More astonishingly, he not only rejected President
Barack Obama's call for a settlements freeze, he said the
settlements should be allowed to grow, saying the settlers were 'not
the enemy of peace - they are our brothers and sisters.' The rebuff
to President Obama's peace efforts is obvious, for Mr. Netanyahu has
given the world an unabashed dose of his intransigence."

"A New Beginning," an op-ed by Dr. Ahmad Rashid Malik in the
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(06/16)

"The Palestinian Authority praised President Obama's remarks as
'nice beginning.'... A new chapter of U.S. Muslim world has been
heralded by President Obama. He went extra thousands of miles
bringing the United States and the Islamic world closer. There is
nothing wrong if Muslims put expectations too high on President
Obama's new diplomacy towards the Muslim world. Let's be
optimistic. A ray of hope is beaconing and changes will follow and
we expect that actions will be speaking louder than the words
expressed by President Obama at Cairo University."

"Uncalled For U.S. Concern Over Iran's Presidential Election," an
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (06/16)

"Statements from the U.S. like 'we will wait for a public verdict'
are tantamount to fanning unrest in Iran which could create a civil
war-like situation in that country. It is not necessary that a
candidate supported by the U.S. should have won the election; it is
the public that decides on who wins and that verdict should be
accepted. Moreover, this is Iran's internal matter and should be
resolved domestically."

"Iranian Polls: Ratification Of Ahmadinejad's Policies," an
editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir.
10,000) (06/16)

"International powers have made several attempts to create an
opposition in Iran that can act as a tool in their hands. Protests
by the reformists during the last several presidential elections in
Iran could be a result of this foreign interference....
Ahmadinejad's re-election is very encouraging for Pakistan. It is
due to his efforts that Pakistan and Iran have signed the gas
pipeline deal and cooperation in several other areas is also under
consideration. U.S. and western countries' concern at the elections
is of no importance to Iran. The U.S. and the west will come back on
the track as soon as the reformists' protest ends."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson