PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 29, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001421 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 29, 2009 Summary: Reports of fierce clashes between security forces and militants in North Waziristan that resulted in the deaths of twelve Pakistani soldiers and ten militants dominated headlines in all newspapers on Monday. All major newspapers highlighted reports and photographs of U.S. CENTCOM Commander General Petraeus' meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief General Kayani. Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake's remarks that "U.S. will support dialogue between India and Pakistan to promote regional stability" received prominent display. Several newspapers published a report originally carried by the Foreign Policy Journal that "Pakistan remains among the top 10 failed states." In addition, a front page story in the English daily, "Dawn," reported that the "U.S. is helping Pakistan modernize its nuclear arsenal in hopes of making them safer." Prime Minister Gilani's statement that the "time for dialogue with militants was over, as a decisive action against them was under way" received extensive coverage. Weekend newspapers carried a short report that the "U.S. provided 600 digital English Language Teaching programs to Pakistani public schools." Reports of the appointment of Farah Pandith as U.S. Special Representative to the Muslim world also figured prominently. Most major newspapers ran editorials on a host of subjects that included the prevailing water and power crises in the country, national security situation, rebuilding lives of IDPs and post-election situation of Iran. Commenting on the scope of the military operation, the second-largest newspaper and center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" noted that the escape of up to 7,000 extremists towards South Punjab is setting off alarm bells. South Punjab has uranium reserves, "which have to be protected from Americans." Recounting the menace of sectarianism in Kurram Agency, the Lahore-based liberal English daily, "Daily Times," noted that "the local population (of Kurram Agency) has virtually given up on Pakistan during the two years that have seen all roads going to Pakistan cut off and the federal government ditching them after promising to come to their help 'within a fortnight.'" The prestigious English daily, "Dawn," observed that "one must welcome the realism shown by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia in recognizing drug trafficking as a major source of funding for terrorists." End Summary. -------------- News Stories 
 -------------- "Twelve soldiers killed in Waziristan attack; Gun-Battle Leaves 10 Militants Dead" "Dawn" (06/29) "Twelve soldiers were killed after militants reportedly aligned with the Baitullah Mehsud group ambushed a military convoy in North Waziristan on Sunday. Ten militants were killed in the ensuing gun-battle. Security forces and militants were engaged in fierce clashes till late night. According to local people, helicopters were bombing militants' positions." "Top U.S. Commander Petraeus Meets Gen. Kayani" "The News," (06/29) "David Petraeus, the Commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, who is on a daylong official visit to Pakistan, on Sunday, met Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the General Headquarters. According to ISPR, matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting. 'General Petraeus arrived in Islamabad today (Sunday) for scheduled meetings with senior Pakistani officials,' said U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor. 'He will discuss topics of mutual interest.' U.S. officials have voiced strong support for a current Pakistan military offensive to clear the Taliban militants from swathes of the northwest, with the military currently readying for an assault on the northwest border region." "U.S. To Support Indo-Pak Talks But Refuses To Mediate" "The News" (06/29) "The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O. Blake has said the U.S. will support dialogue between India and Pakistan to promote regional stability. Briefing the U.S. Congress he, however, made it clear that the U.S. will leave it to both the countries to chalk out their own course of action in this regard." "Pakistan Among Top 10 'Failed States': Report" "The News" (06/29) "Pakistan, split down the middle with terrorist attacks and facing an economic crisis, remains among the top 10 failed states, says an index prepared by the renowned Foreign Policy journal. IANS reports, the country, placed ninth among all countries last year in terms of its overall achievement, has improved its position only by a notch - it is placed 10th in the index for 2009 published in the July-August issue of the journal." "U.S. Helping Modernize Pakistan's N-Arsenal" "Dawn" (06/29) "The United States is helping Pakistan modernize its nuclear arsenal in hopes of making them safer, says a report released on Sunday. Andrew Cockburn, a renowned author who has written several books on security issues, says that the official aim of U.S. technical support, at an estimated cost of $100 million a year, is to prevent accidents and to ensure that they are out of the extremists' reach. But in pursuit of this objective, 'it is inevitable that the U.S. is not only rendering the warheads more operationally reliable, we are also transferring the technology required to design more sophisticated warheads without having to test them', the report adds." "Time For Dialogue With Militants Over: PM" "Dawn" (06/29) "Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Lahore on Sunday that a decisive action against terrorists in parts of the NWFP and FATA was under way and the time for dialogue with the militants was over now. 'The operation will reach its logical conclusion very soon,' the Prime Minister told journalists at Jamia Naeemia where he had gone to offer condolences over the death of Dr. Sarfaraz Naeemi." "U.S. Embassy Provides Digital English Language Digital Teaching Programs For Public Schools In Pakistan" "Daily Times, "The Nation," "Jang" (06/27) "The United States provided 600 digital English Language Teaching (ELT) programs for distribution to Pakistan's public schools during a ceremony hosted at the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). The digital programs, on CD-ROM, are funded through a $41,000 grant to AIOU by the U.S. Embassy Islamabad. The one-year digital course is designed for students in grades 6 to 10 and will be used in approximately 1600 public schools across Pakistan." "Baitullah Now Carries Head Money From Both U.S., Pakistan" "The News" (06/29) "Baitullah Mehsud has become the only Pakistani with a head-money separately announced by both the Pakistan government and the U.S. However, the head money placed on him by the U.S. is far larger than that announced by Pakistan. It is offering $5 million for his capture. In comparison, the Pakistan Government offer of rupees 50 million for credible information that could lead to his capture.... Requesting anonymity, one intelligence expert, said the two governments should pool their efforts not only in terms of the head money they are offering for Baitullah Mehsud, or BM as he is called by officials of the intelligence agencies, but also getting him killed or captured through a coordinated strategy. The belated announcement of head money by the Pakistan government for Baitullah Mahsud and 10 other Pakistani Taliban commanders was made through an advertisement carried by newspapers on Sunday. All 11 of them are affiliated to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and belong to FATA." "Two Commanders, Bombers' Trainer Arrested In Swat" "Dawn" (06/29) "Security forces on Sunday claimed arrested two local militant commanders and a suicide bombers' trainer in Swat Valley. Local militant commanders, identified as Akbar and Saleem and a suicide bombers' trainer Abdul Rehman." "8 More Die In Kurram Clashes" "The News" (06/29) "Eight more people were killed and several others injured during the ongoing clashes in various parts of the troubled Lower Kurram Agency on Sunday, sources said. The sources told 'The News' that armed men of the warring tribes were sporadically trading fire and targeting each other's positions in Balishkhel, Sangeena, Khar Killay, Sadda city and Mingak areas of the agency." "'Mastermind' Of Shrines Bombing Nabbed" "The News" (06/29) "The police on Sunday claimed to have arrested the mastermind of the bombing of shrines in the NWFP, along with his companion. The mastermind, identified as Qari Roohullah, a resident of Tarha village in Battagram." "It's A Long Battle: TTP" "The Nation" (06/29) "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has declared they would never give up their fight. 'We'll continue our fight until we achieve our goals, TTP spokesman, Muslim Khan, said by telephone. Muslim Khan, who said he was speaking from Swat, said Taliban leaders were alive and determined to fight on. 'We retreated according to our plan. We'll carry out guerrilla attacks ... It's a long battle,' he said." "Great Game Afoot In South Asia: Owais Ghani" "Daily Times" (06/29) "There is a 'great game' being played in the region, and Afghanistan, and to some extent Pakistan, are its victims, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani said on Sunday. He told a private TV channel Pakistan would emerge stronger than ever from the crises currently plaguing it. He said some world powers were trying to divide Pakistan, adding that if he were not a governor, he would have exposed them. Concerning his statement that NATO forces and Afghan militants were attempting to weaken Pakistan, he claimed there was a difference between their [NATO] stated objectives and their actions, which were undermining Pakistan. The governor said he had told several American officials, including General Petraeus, Richard Boucher and Richard Holbrooke, that they would have to talk to Afghan leaders such as Mullah Omer if they wanted to resolve the Afghan issue." "Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hold Anti-U.S. Rally" "Dawn" (06/29) "Members of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (Karachi chapter) lambasted the U.S. for 'interference in Pakistani affairs' during a rally on Sunday, and demanded that Pakistan's leaders 'shun the U.S. agenda. They said 'the root cause behind all of Pakistan's problems' was 'U.S. meddling.'" "Talks Without Kashmir Won't Bring Peace: Gilani" "Dawn" (06/29) "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that talks with India would not contribute to a durable peace in the region unless the issue of Kashmir was addressed. 'Kashmir is a core issue and its resolution is necessary for durable regional peace. Ignoring it in dialogue with India will not help to sustain the talks process,' the prime minister told journalists in Mansoora." "Pak Embassy In U.S. Clarifies Lobbying Report" "The News" (06/29) "The Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Sunday clarified a report on lobbying firms hired by Pakistan and other Pakistani organizations. It said: "Neither has Pakistan hired 11 lobbying firms and nor are the dollars flowing out on account of lobbying for Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan has hired only two firms - Locke Lord Strategies-LP and Cassidy & Associates. It's unfortunate that the write-up listed names of 11 companies and gave an impression as if all these companies have been hired by the current government." "Lobbying Dollars Flowing Out At Super Speed" "The News" (06/28) "At least 11 big and small, known and unknown, lobbying companies have been hired by Pakistan and state-owned Pakistani organizations in the U.S., paying them hundreds of thousands of dollars every month, some of them having mysterious names and almost dubious credentials. Although lobbying is a legal profession in Washington, the way it is conducted has earned it the nickname of 'officially certified corruption' and what the Pakistan government, Pakistan Embassy and Pakistani organizations are doing may come close to this unofficial definition, analysts say. The information about these lobbying firms is public record and is available on official websites of U.S. government agencies and organizations. But somehow Pakistani clients of these lobbying firms have tried to camouflage their widely spread activities under different names and different categories so that at one time not more than two or three companies could be officially acknowledged as government lobbyists." "Special U.S. Representative For Muslim World" "Dawn" (06/27) "The Obama administration has appointed a woman of Kashmiri origin, Farah Pandith, as America's special representative to the Muslim world. Her appointment, announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday afternoon, however, has raised eyebrows in India. Ms. Pandith's task will be to advise Secretary Clinton on dealing with Muslim communities around the world, in keeping with the Obama administration's efforts to improve relations with the Muslim world." "Stop Drone Attacks, Zardari Tells U.S. Envoy" "The Statesman" (06/27) "President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday again made it clear to United States to stop drone attack on Pakistan's soil, urging a negative impact is being created in the minds of the people. President Zardari expressed these views while talking to U.S. Ambassador in Pakistan Anne W. Patterson on Friday. President hosted a luncheon for the U.S. Ambassador. Host of issues came under discussion with special focus on war against terrorism and drone attacks, sources told Online." "U.S. Buildings, Envoys In Pak Under Threat" "Daily Times" (06/27) "Terrorists have plans to attack the American embassy, consulates and diplomats, according to an intelligence report. Sources told Urdu daily 'Aaj Kal' that the National Crisis Management Cell of the Interior Ministry had already notified all provincial home departments of the threat. According to the intelligence report, a target has been assigned to a man named Muhammad Ayub, a resident of Quetta. Also, law-enforcement agencies have been directed to put security on high alert in light of the threat. 'Aaj Kal' report." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "The Need To Limit The Duration And Scope Of The Military Operation" an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (06/29) "The escape of up to 7,000 extremists towards South Punjab is alarming. South Punjab has uranium reserves, which have to be protected from Americans.... The government should pay attention to limiting the scope of the operation and to eliminate the actual causes of the conflict.... Expansion of the military operation against on American pressure is not prudent. America, India and Israel are after our nuclear power and they want to steal the same." "Is South Punjab Next After Swat?," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (06/29) "Insurgents are making inroads into Punjab not only for safe havens but also to seek revenge against Islamabad for its operations in Swat and FATA, which led to the killing of over two thousand of their comrades.... The militants know that to remove pressures in Swat, Malakand and FATA, they need to hit back and Punjab could be their target.... Taliban in FATA and Malakand have money, training sites and suicide bombers and with availability of sanctuaries in southern parts of the country, they could play havoc." "The Long Wait In Kurram," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/29) "As Kurram Agency on the border with Afghanistan waits for the return of the writ of the Pakistani state for the past three years, the Taliban depredations in the guise of sectarianism continue around the headquarters of the Parachinar agency.... The local population has virtually given up on Pakistan during the two years that have seen all roads going to Pakistan cut off and the federal government ditching them after promising to come to their help 'within a fortnight.'... The people of Kurram have waited a long time for the state of Pakistan to rescue them. Now as the state asserts itself for sovereignty in South Waziristan and the TTP and Al Qaeda terrorists are on the run, the time may have come for the Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, to fulfill his pledge that Pakistan would come to the rescue of Kurram 'within a fortnight.'" "Money For The Taliban," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (06/29) "One must welcome the realism shown by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia in recognizing drug trafficking as a major source of funding for terrorists.... The various Taliban factions run billion-dollar empires. They need - and manage to get - big money for sustaining military operations, which require not only an uninterrupted supply of sophisticated weapons but also a modern logistics system, besides an underworld that runs recruitment, brainwashing and training centers. The point to note is that not all this money comes from the drug trade, for there are other sources of funding available to the Taliban, including from those who have misguided concepts of philanthropy.... While the tripartite cooperation is welcome, the onus perhaps is on us in Pakistan because of the subtlety of the challenge and its effect on the current military operations against the Taliban." "Kurram Killings," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/29) "Kurram Agency, which has seen sectarian strife in the past, has once again erupted into violence.... The situation has turned frightening for half a million people living in the region bordering Afghanistan.... Both sides are trying to consolidate their positions while accusing each other of seeking help from the outsiders.... The fact that the security forces have not so far acted to curb the violence is disconcerting.... Those in authority need to rise from slumber and take appropriate measures to curb violence in the region that is prone to sectarian strife, lest the worsening law and order situation there should turn into another humanitarian crisis." "A Welcome Prospect," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/29) "Mr. Holbrooke's anxiety for the IDPs is quite appreciable but one cannot accept the liberties he so often takes with matters that are purely of Pakistan's internal concern. As Pakistani authorities are expressing the view that the militants in Swat have been dealt a deadly blow, the operation is in the final stages and will soon be over, he tells Reuters that it is too soon to declare victory. His apprehension about the safety and security of these people against militants' inroads in the future is shared by Pakistanis and, indeed, by the world. The answer lies in using U.S. influence in securing assistance adequate enough to start their lives afresh and in the supply of military equipment to Pakistan army to meet the menace." "Need For Joint Efforts Against Terrorism," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (06/29) "G-8 countries' assurance of lending all-out support and cooperation to Pakistan in the war on terror shows that the western countries are slowly becoming aware of Pakistan's difficulties in this bloody war. How these countries actually help Pakistan in controlling these difficulties remains to be seen. For now, we will have to be satisfied with their statements." "A Successful March Against America," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (06/29) "By holding a massive rally in Karachi against Americans this Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami has proven that it truly represents people's aspirations. On the contrary, the pro-American forces are creating chaos and anarchy in the country, and support to these elements is coming from Afghanistan which is occupied by Americans along with troops of about 40 countries. The rally also demonstrates that the military operation in Swat is not supported by public in general, and the national resources are failed to influence the Pakistani nation." "Government's Concern To Introduce Contemporary Subjects In Madarassas," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (06/29) "The Interior Ministry's announcement of forming a regulatory authority for Madarassas and the Interior Minister's desire to add modern subjects to the curriculum is not only surprising but meaningful as well. It is either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Religious Affairs that could have taken up these matters; the Interior Ministry is not directly linked with these matters, especially regarding the curriculum.... If the teaching of engineering is not compulsory for a medical student, and if computer science students cannot be compelled to study medicine, how can Madarassa students be forced to study irrelevant subjects?" "Reporting War," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/29) "A balance has to be made between the public need to know, the military ability to provide enough detail to satisfy the public, and a better-developed awareness of the particular skills necessary for good war reporting by journalists in the field. It is time that we had a trained cadre of reporters who can do this difficult job, who have the skills to remain objective and fact-led under the most trying of circumstances. Until we do then the military are going to remain suspicious and keep the media at arms length. Our institutions of higher education which offer training in journalism are predominantly print oriented. If our 'new media' is to mature they need to be recruiting from a graduate pool that has the appropriate skills." "Restrictions On Movement," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (06/29) "Security and freedom are bad neighbors. To create a sense of safety and security, the authorities often put restrictions on people's movement.... Popular reaction to such security measures becomes all the more negative when they are meant to block access to the government itself.... The government's standpoint is that its offices and residential buildings are obvious targets for terrorists and, therefore, should be safeguarded no matter what. But the citizens might be forgiven for thinking that a government obsessed with its own security can do little to maintain public safety. People also fail to understand why one area needs more securing than all others and see it as an attempt to differentiate between the rulers and the ruled. That they should see their freedoms compromised thus, without raising an outcry, beats and imagination" "The Stakes In Waziristan," an op-ed by Syed Mohammad Ali in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (06/29) "Militancy in the NWFP is sustained by competing powers seeking to secure their strategic and energy interests in the complex milieu of South and Central Asia. The question arises that if this insurgency happens to survive a few more years, will Islamabad be able to keep the Pakhtun nationalist elements on its side against the religious militants.... The government will have to draw up a comprehensive political and economic strategy to isolate TTP leadership before it launches a military operation in Waziristan.... Taliban by engaging Pakistani military forces are diverting its resources into an internal war rather than let it be prepared against any potential external threat. Today the stakes of this conflict in FATA and the NWFP are higher for Pakistan's security than they have ever been before. This could be the decisive battle for the identity and future of our nation and like 1965 or 1971 we should not totally depend on the U.S. alone for winning it." "Karzai's Gimmick," an editorial in the Peshawar-based, independent regional daily "The Frontier Post" (cir. 7,000) (06/29) "The reports emanating from the world capitals in wide circulation that Americans, backed up by their western and Arab allies, are contemplating to install a chosen satrap to run the country with Karzai sitting atop as a mere figurehead. Given Afghanistan's dependence on foreign dole to subsist and survive, Karzai will perforce again be playing just a valet. Talking peace with Taliban will be none of his charge. Others will be in charge, if at all some such move is ever undertaken by the powers in control of the Afghans destiny. So if he goes down in the history not as a national hero but as a betrayer, he will have himself to blame." "India's Water Aggression Must Be Stopped," an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (06/29) "A few days ago, during his meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor James Jones, PM Gillani asked the U.S. to play a role in helping with the Kashmir and water disputes with India. This shows that our government has finally realized the importance of the water issue with India. However, if we do not take timely action and seek the international community's help in stopping India from its dangerous plan, we will regret it." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson