PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 23, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000153 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 23, 2009 Summary: Washington reports: `orders for closure of Guantanamo Bay' and the 'nomination of Special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan,' dominated headlines in all newspapers on Wednesday. Also front-paged were President Zardari's remarks that the government would hold "dialogue only with those [militants] who don't challenge the writ of the government." Reports and photographs of Secretary Clinton's address to State Department employees also figured prominently. In the Secretary's address she was quoted as stating, "development and diplomacy were the best tools for securing America's future." Her phone call to President Zardari "discussing bilateral ties" was also prominently reported by several dailies. Newspapers also highlighted the visit of NATO Secretary General Scheffer to Islamabad and reported him "backing Pakistan's stand on Mumbai attacks." Most major Urdu language dailies ran editorials on the tying in of "non-military assistance to Pakistan with the situation on Afghan borders". The majority of editorials criticized this decision made by President Obama. The second-largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt," noted that "making assistance to Pakistan conditional with its performance against terrorism is objectionable. The danger of aid suspension on the pretext of bad performance would always persist while we go-ahead with the role of a mercenary." Another Urdu daily, "Mashriq," observed that "as the priorities of the Obama Administration about Pakistan are now made clear, Islamabad must take urgent steps to secure its national interests instead of becoming dependent on the United States. There is no need to make hell of our own territories for a fistful of dollars." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Obama Orders Closure Of Guantanamo" "Dawn" (01/23) "President Barack Obama signed executive orders on Thursday to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and directed the Central Intelligence Agency to shut its network of secret prisons. The orders rewrite rules for the detention of terrorism suspects, and require all U.S. personnel to follow the U.S. Army Field Manual while interrogating detainees. The orders also require an immediate review of the 245 detainees still held at the naval base in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, to determine if they should be transferred, released or prosecuted." "Pakistan Seeks Repatriation Of Its Nationals From Gitmo Jail" "The Nation" (01/23) "Pakistan on Thursday demanded repatriation of its five citizens being held in detention at Guantanamo Bay as the new U.S. President Barak Obama order to close the notorious military prison, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said." "Too Little, Too Late, Says Ex-Inmate On Gitmo Closure" "The News" (01/23) "The closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison will do little to erase the blot on the U.S. rights record unless other U.S. detention centers are also shut and inmates compensated, Afghan and Pakistani campaigners said on Thursday." "Special Envoy For Afghanistan, Pakistan Named: Hillary Clinton Calls Zardari" "Dawn" (01/23) "Hillary Clinton, on her first day as the Secretary of State, telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari and told him that the Obama administration was appointing a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 'It was a touch-base meeting,' said a senior diplomat aware of the conversation. 'She felt it's necessary to speak to the leader of a country that will continue to play a key role in the war against terror." "Pakistan Central In War On Terror; Obama Names Holbrooke Envoy To Pakistan, Afghanistan" "The Nation" (01/23) "U.S. President Barack Obama named special envoys for two of the world's hot spots: Afghanistan-Pakistan region and the Middle East. Obama chose former Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy for Afghanistan, Pakistan and related issues.... In his brief remarks, Holbrooke said he will coordinate foreign assistance program in the two countries to bring coherence to the U.S. efforts in the region and advance the American goals." "Obama Pledges To Work Closely With Pakistan" "Daily Times" (01/23) "U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday vowed to work closely with Pakistan and deepen engagement with the people of the South Asian country as part of efforts to overcome security challenges along the Pak-Afghan border through a regional approach that will also focus on the creation of economic opportunities for the people of two countries. 'We will seek stronger partnerships with the governments of the region, sustain cooperation with our NATO allies, deepen engagement with the Afghan and Pakistani people and a comprehensive strategy to combat terror and extremism,' said Obama while naming former diplomat Richard Holbrooke as America's special representative for the two countries." "Dialogue Only With Those Who Don't Challenge Writ: Zardari" "Dawn" (01/23) "President Asif Ali Zardari held a series of meetings on Thursday with top security officials and POLITICAL leaders from the NWFP on growing militancy in settled areas where militants are trying to enforce their 'self-styled' Sharia. Two briefings on security issues were given by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha and Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik. The President was apprised of the situation in Swat and other troubled areas and there was a realization that the government should initiate dialogue with militants who were ready to cooperate and would not challenge the write of the government in future." "Securing America's Future - Development, Diplomacy Best Tools, Says Hillary" "Dawn" (01/23) "Hillary Clinton took charge on Thursday of U.S. foreign policy proclaiming a 'new era for America' based on robust diplomacy and a fresh unity of purpose, a beaming Clinton told a welcoming party of hundreds at the State Department following her Senate confirmation on Wednesday as the 67th Secretary of State." "Hillary Discusses Bilateral Ties With Zardari" "Daily Times" (01/23) "New U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a brief conversation on telephone with President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday, and discussed with him bilateral ties and the regional situation, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said." "NATO Chief Backs Pak Stand On Mumbai Attacks" "The News" (01/23) "NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Thursday expressed his understanding of Pakistan's stand on the Mumbai incident and urged both the countries to cooperate closely in the investigations. The NATO Secretary General, who was on a two-day visit to Pakistan, called on President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on Thursday and deeply appreciated Pakistan's stand against terrorism and extremism and the farsighted policy adopted by the present government. He expressed NATO's keen desire to augment RELATIONS with Pakistan in the interest of peace and stability of the region." "Drone Attacks Generating Sympathies For Terrorists: Ahmad Mukhtar" "The Nation" (01/23) "Pakistan's Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar on Thursday said that drone attacks from across the western borders were generating sympathies for terrorists. He said this while talking to the visiting NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who called on him on Thursday." "Miliband's Kashmir Remarks Reflect Obama's Plan: Report" "Dawn" (01/23) "Foreign Secretary David Miliband's suggestion during his recent visit to India that Mumbai attacks were rooted in the Kashmir dispute reflected the thinking of US President Barack Obama who plans to appoint a special envoy on South Asia, claims a report in 'The Times' on Thursday." "U.S. Sleuths Took Part In Bara Swoop" "The News" (01/23) "For the first time since the so-called war on terror was launched in this part of the world, the U.S. intelligence officials personally participated in a raid conducted by Pakistan security personnel inside the lawless Khyber tribal region, said senior security officials on Thursday. The raid was conducted on Wednesday, in which seven militants, including Saudi national and senior al-Qaeda operative Zabiul Taifi were arrested. However, the spokesmen for the ISPR expressed ignorance about the participation of the American CIA operatives in the operation." "Russia And American Could Not Defeat Taliban, How Can We Do That: ANP Leader Bilour" "Jasarat" (01/23) "Federal Minister for Railways and senior ANP leader Ghulam Mohammad Bilour has said that Russia and America could not defeat Taliban, how can provincial government defeat Taliban, he also said that judiciary is more free in Pakistan than in other Muslim countries." "21 More Killed In Swat Violence" "The News" (01/23) "Twenty-one persons, including 11 militants, were killed and scores of others injured in the ongoing military operation and fresh incidents of violence while the militants blew up another school in the volatile Swat valley on Thursday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations-run Swat Media Centre (SMC)." "Taliban Sharia Is Terrorism, Says DG ISPR" "Daily Times" (01/23) "The peace deal signed with the Taliban in Swat has provided them an opportunity to re-emerge in the area, and the Sharia imposed by them is terrorism, Inter Services Public RELATIONS (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Athar Abbas said on Thursday." "Afghanistan, India Open Strategic Road To Iran" "Dawn" (01/23) "Afghan President Hamid Karzai and India's Foreign Minister opened a new road on Thursday that would help link Afghanistan with a port in Iran and challenge Pakistani dominance of trade routes into the landlocked country." "Plea For More Access To EU Markets Turned Down" "The News" (01/23) "While Pakistan is benefiting from important preferential access to the market of 27 member states of the European Union (EU),its application for even better preferential market access in hindered due to non-ratification of various international conventions and some other factors. This was stated by the office of the delegation of the European Commission to Pakistan on Thursday." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Non-Military Assistance To Pakistan; Withdrawal From Afghanistan - The Real Solution," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (01/23) "President Obama identified his priorities on the first day of his presidency when he decided about the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison. Certainly, he would not defer withdrawal of troops from Iraq. He should not wait to change Bush's policies on Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Palestine.... Peace could only return to Afghanistan after American troops' withdrawal from that country.... Making assistance to Pakistan conditional with its performance against terrorism is objectionable. Who will decide whether we deserve the assistance or not? The danger of aid suspension on the pretext of bad performance would always persist while we go-ahead with the role of a mercenary." "U.S. Non-Military Assistance; Where Are We Standing?," an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) "As the priorities of the Obama Administration about Pakistan is now made clear, Islamabad must take urgent steps to secure its national interests instead of becoming a dependent of the United States. There is no need to make hell of our own territories for a fistful of dollars. Time has come to abandon the policy of apologetic statements, so that we may dispel the perception that Pakistanis are mercenaries." "Coordinated Steps Should Be Taken To Bring FATA In Mainstream," an editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (01/23) "The U.S. Administration has indicated to enhance the non-military assistance for Pakistan, so we must avail this opportunity to bring the disorderly tribal areas in the mainstream life. It is the responsibility of the government, the politicians and other social quarters to focus on these backward and impoverished areas. The volatile security situation of FATA is effecting the entire social and economic fabric of the country. If we provide essential services to the tribal areas, and inculcate a sense of national pride among the tribesmen, we will beyond doubt eliminate the menace of extremism and fanaticism in those areas." "Obama Administration's Decision To Give Conditional Aid To Pakistan, And The Ground Reality," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/23) "The decisions President Obama has taken on Guantanamo Bay, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and suspension of Bush orders would undoubtedly produce positive results when implemented. As promised during the election campaign, President Obama must also make the resolution of Kashmir issue part of his foreign policy agenda." "Obama Policy Statement And Expected Changes," an editorial in the Lahore-based Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 5,000) (01/23) "The fact is that due to the global unrest created by former President Bush, all eyes are now on President Obama to end that unrest. Even if no major foreign policy changes take place, most countries expect that the situation will stabilize with small changes.... We hope that the new U.S. President will not neglect Pakistan's sacrifices in the war on terror and will not make aid for Pakistan conditional." "Obama's Foreign Policy And Pakistan," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (01/23) "In the foreign policy statement of President Obama and Vice President Biden the assistance to Pakistan was given priority, but there was no mention of the Kashmir dispute. However, it is good that Pakistan's non-military aid has been increased.... America will impose conditions if it provides billions of dollars in aid." "Separating Strategy From Politics," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/23) "The United States will 'increase non-military aid to Pakistan and hold it accountable for security in the border region with Afghanistan.' This has been interpreted by a section in the press in Pakistan as 'linking' an increase in aid to Pakistan to American security along the Afghan border. But surely the agenda does not deviate from the principle of a change of policy that favors strengthening Pakistan's economy as it functions as an ally of the United States, does it?" "Obama-Biden Foreign Policy Priorities," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (01/23) "Afghanistan and Pakistan stand on top of the priority list of Obama-Biden foreign policy as they took oath in Washington. Under this decision, though U.S. government would add to non-military assistance to Pakistan but would make it conditional to security situation in tribal areas of the Pakistan. To see Pakistan and Afghanistan in America's top priority list is not unexpected because every member of Bush administration was repeatedly that American policy towards Pakistan would not change, from Ambassador Anne Patterson to Richard Boucher, all have been reiterated this position." "Guarding The Marches," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/23) "There is a need on the part of President Obama to realize the damage done by the anti-terror policies of his predecessor. The crux of the failure of these policies lay in an inability to comprehend the complexity of the phenomenon and the intermingling of a number of separate issues.... It was a major fault under the circumstances to bracket then together under Al Qaeda or Taliban and administer to them one-size-suits-all treatment. What is needed is to address some of the unresolved regional issues unconnected with the global agenda of Al Qaeda." "FATA Issue And Expectations From President Obama," an editorial note in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/23) "Pakistan must not fail to remember that the U.S. policies are worked out after long and extensive deliberations on permanent basis, and cannot be altered so quickly. Hence, we will not see any substantial change in the U.S. policy on Pakistan and its tribal areas. However, there is a likelihood that we may perhaps hear the mantra of 'do more' more vehemently in the coming days." "Has America Really Entered Into A New Era?," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (01/23) "President Obama's decision on Guantanamo bay is being greeted worldwide as there were tales of torture and cruelty linked with the detention center. The important thing to note is that this is President Obama's first directive. This means that he was conscious of the cruelty being perpetrated there. This decision would undoubtedly enhance his stature worldwide." "Gitmo Closure," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) "The swift moves by the new U.S. President, immediately after assuming charge of the top POLITICAL job in Washington, have gone down well in the world. The UN special rapporteur on torture has welcomed the decision and it will undoubtedly be as warmly received in the rest of the world as a definite break from the past years under Bush.... The definite move to shut it down will help create at least some wave of goodwill. One of the challenges for Obama will be to carry forward the momentum he has now put into motion. We must hope that the dramatic decision he has announced is the first rung in a taller ladder that will reach upwards towards a more harmonious and peaceful world." "A Time Of Opportunity, A Time Of Challenge," an op-ed by Shafqat Mahmood in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) "It would indeed be the worst case scenario if RELATIONS between Pakistan and the U.S. deteriorate to a point where they have to seek alternative supply routes and come into the tribal area themselves. It would pitch the Pakistani army in the difficult position of deciding whether to take on the Americans or not. The romantic dream of the Pakistani Taliban joining the army to fight India and America is nothing more than an untenable fantasy. An important decision thus facing the Pakistani government and its defence establishment is what level of support it will provide to the Obama administration in the Afghan war. Will it be without prevarication and wholehearted, or will it continue with the Musharraf policy of doing a little but not doing enough?" "Opportunity To Rewrite The Script: Are We Up To It?," an op-ed by Ayaz Amir in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) "Pakistan can no longer postpone bidding farewell to the siren calls of 'jihad.' The world won't stand for this activity any more. The sooner our security establishment understands this, the better for Pakistan.... Pakistan's soul is troubled but this is not an incurable condition. The advent of the Obama administration provides us an opportunity to turn a new leaf and discard the baggage of the past. Provided the leadership we have -- and no one is about to send us a leadership from Mars -- somehow, through some miracle yet unknown, starts giving a better account of itself." "Obama's Speech: Anything New?," an op-ed by Dr. Masooda Bano in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) "How things will develop under Obama's regime only time will tell. However, what is clear right now is that Obama has taken over the U.S. presidency at a point in history where he has the opportunity to make a real difference to world politics and reduce the increasing polarization of the world on religious lines, provided he has the courage to take some tough decisions." "Local Militancy," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) "Does Pakistan face a threat from militants and terrorists because of the American presence in Afghanistan or is it the result of the long-standing tolerance of non-state actors on our soil? One could argue that terrorism in Pakistan, even in Afghanistan, preceded the presence of western troops in that country.... Major fallout of the failed Bush-Musharraf partnership has been the fact that seven years after 9/11, many Pakistanis refuse to accept the roots of terrorism here. The Americans' and the international community's ham-fisted nation-building project in Afghanistan certainly added to a climate that has allowed the Taliban to make a comeback there." Patterson