PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 14, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001574

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 14, 2009

Summary: Reports and photographs of the return of 195 families
"displaced by fighting in Swat" dominated front pages in all
newspapers on Tuesday. Pegged to it were President Zardari's
remarks declaring the rehabilitation process "a huge challenge."
Reports on the arrest of "13 suspected Al Qaeda militants" near Dera
Murad Jamali (Balochistan) also received prominent coverage. Also
highlighted were reports that "seven children among 12 were killed
in a seminary blast in the Punjab area of Mian Channu." Newspapers
gave prominent coverage to Interior Minister Rehman Malik's claim
that "militants in Swat have been defeated." Most dailies reported
the "visit of a UN expert prior to the arrival of a fact-finding
mission to start investigation into the assassination of former
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto."

Most major dailies ran critical editorials on the government's
latest decision to make "ill-motivated and concocted stories against
the civilian leadership and the security force" via cell phone text
messaging and emails punishable offence carrying up to 14 years of
imprisonment. The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "this borders
on officially sanctioned censorship of the free flow of ideas and
the people's right to engage in debate over the actions of the
government and its institutions." Another English daily, "The
Nation," observed that "the campaign launched by (the government)
against the emails and SMSs considered anti-government is in
violation of the freedom of expression. It runs counter to the
spirit of the Constitution." The second largest Urdu daily,
"Nawa-i-Waqt" wrote: "Instead of scaring the people on
anti-government messaging and emails, the government should improve
its working and give relief to the people.... Even otherwise,
computer technology cannot be blocked." End Summary.

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

"Journey Back Home Begins" "Dawn" (07/14)

"People displaced by fighting in Swat began returning to their homes
on Monday under a government repatriation program. About 195
families left the Jalozai camp by buses escorted by police. The
Emergency Response Unit (REU) had made arrangements for over 2,000
families to leave the camp on Monday, but a large number of them did
not leave. The (REU) spokesman Adnan Khan said that the government
would not force anyone to leave camps."

"Rehabilitation A Huge Challenge: Zardari" "Dawn" (07/14)

"The government would now focus on rehabilitating the displaced
people and rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in Malakand
Division, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday. He was
addressing representatives of international donors, NGOs and members
of the civil society who have been helping the displaced people.
President said that rehabilitation of the displaced people was a
huge challenge which required collective national efforts and help
of the international community."

"12 Foreigners, One Local Al Qaeda Suspects Held; Arms Seized"
"Dawn" (07/14)

"Security agencies arrested on Monday at least 13 suspected Al Qaeda
militants from a place near Dera Murad Jamali. Security personnel
intercepted a bus going to Multan from Quetta after receiving
information about the movement of militants and found three Turks,
two Saudis, two Kuwaitis and five Afghan nationals and a Pakistani
in the vehicle. The suspects were carrying five suicide vests and
an 11-kilogramme bomb in their baggage."

"Seven Children Among 12 Killed In Seminary Blast" "Dawn" (07/14)

"At least 12 people, seven children among them, were killed and over
50 injured when a large quantity of explosives stored in a house
which also had a seminary exploded in a village near Mian Channu,
about 45km from Khanewal, on Monday morning, Khanewal DPO Mohammad
Kamran Khan told 'Dawn.'"

"Six Suicide Attacks Foiled By Islamabad Police: Taliban Defeated In
Swat, Claims Interior Minister" "Dawn" (07/14)

"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that militants in Swat have
been defeated and security forces were in control of the region.
Several militant commanders had been killed and Swat Taliban chief
Maulana Fazlullah injured, he said while talking to reporters in
Islamabad."

"Benazir Probe: UN Official Visits Liaquat Bagh" "Dawn" (07/14)

"A UN expert visited Liaquat Bagh on Monday - prior to the arrival
of a fact-finding mission to start an investigation into the
assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The
three-member UN commission is expected in Islamabad on July 16."

"S. Waziristan Peace Deal Ineffective: Militant" "Dawn" (07/14)

"A militant leader in South Waziristan, who is said to be in the
good books of the government, said on Monday that the peace
agreement in the agency had been 'ineffective'. Abdul Haq, a
spokesman for 'Maulvi' Nazir said that security forces were
attacking the Taliban despite the fact that they had 'maintained
peace in the agency during the past two years.'"

"8 Militants Killed" "Dawn" (07/14)

"Eight militants were killed and three others injured in a clash
with a lashkar in the Mohmand tribal region on Monday. Two
militants were captured, Assistant political agent Rasool Khan
said."

"Taliban Behead Tribal Elder In Orkazai" "Dawn" (07/14)

"Taliban militants beheaded a prominent pro-government tribal elder
in Dabori area of Upper Orakzai Agency on Monday. Sources told
'Dawn' that Taliban had been warning the elder, Habibullah, against
supporting government for some time."

"Two 'Militants' Found Hanging" "Dawn" (07/14)

"Two suspected militants were found hanged at two main squares of
the Malakand division as a convoy of about 200 vehicles carrying
back displaced persons from Swat crossed Batkhela on Monday. A
banner found with the body read: 'Those found to have links with
militants will meet the same fate.'"

"Taliban Commander Mullah Ubaid Arrested With 20 Aides" "The News"
(07/14)

"Taliban commander Mullah Ubaidully alias Baidoo has been captured
along his 20 aides by the Quetta police and a large number of
weapons were recovered from their possession, DIG operations Shahid
Nizam Durrani said."

"Mysterious Fire Destroys NATO Tanker" "Dawn" (07/14)

"An oil tanker supplying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan caught
fire in the Hayatabad township in Peshawar on Monday morning. The
tanker (TKV-763) was going from Rawalpindi to Kabul, police said.
The fire also damaged a house and a power transformer in the area."

"Obama Orders Inquiry Into Taliban Massacre" "Dawn" (07/14)

"President Obama has ordered U.S. security officials to look into
allegations that the Bush administration resisted efforts to
investigate a CIA-backed Afghan warlord over the killings of
hundreds of pro-Taliban prisoners in 2001. The victims included
hundreds of Pakistani citizens whose killings contributed to the
emergence of Maulana Fazlullah as a militant leader in Swat. 'The
indication that this had not been properly investigated just
recently was brought to my attention,' President Obama told CNN's
Anderson Cooper in an exclusive interview during the president's
visit to Ghana."

"Taliban Reject U.S. Probe Into 2001 Mass-Killing As Ploy" "The
News" (07/14)

"Talking to the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP),Qari Muhammad Yousaf
Ahmad, spokesman for Taliban, on Monday, rejected the U.S. President
Barack Obama directives to probe mass killing of the Taliban
prisoners in 2001 as U.S. ploy to absolve it of any involvement."

"Hillary Clinton To Land With New Approach" "The News" (07/14)
"The U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is expected to visit
Pakistan also as she descends in the region on her official visit to
India later this month, it was learned reliably. According to
sources, 'U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghan
Richard Holbrooke is paying a very important visit to Afghanistan
this week before coming to Pakistan to finalize agenda of the
expected visit of Hillary Clinton and for the purpose he will hold
meetings with members of diplomatic corps in Islamabad.'"

"World Must Do More To Assist Pak Reconstruction Efforts: U.S." "The
news" (07/14)

"Pakistan has successfully rolled back the Taliban gains in Swat and
the international community needs to do more to assist Islamabad in
rebuilding lives and damaged areas in Malakand, a senior US diplomat
Paul Jones, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan, at the State Department told a Congressional hearing."

"Pakistan Being Blamed For U.S. Failures: Mushahid" "The News"
(07/14)

"The distrust in Pakistan-U.S. relations stem from the self-serving
U.S. foreign policy objectives as well as the failure of most
Pakistani leaders to secure good bargains for the state beyond
pleasing Washington. Both countries need to move from their
disagreement over the definition of 'good and bad Taliban' into a
long-term strategic and purposeful relationship. This advice
resonated several times during a seminar 'Pakistan-American
Relations - the Element of Mistrust' arranged by the Centre for
Research and Security Studies (CRSS),says a press release."

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

"Bordering On Censorship," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(07/14)

"According to the interior ministry, the government is initiating a
campaign against 'ill-motivated and concocted stories against the
civilian leadership and the security forces.' This borders on
officially sanctioned censorship of the free flow of ideas and the
people's right to engage in debate over the actions of the
government and its institutions. Indeed, the decision carries
disturbing echoes of past attempts at censorship, for email and SMS
messages are now an important means through which the voice of the
people makes itself heard.... By criminalizing what is essentially
the people's freedom to debate and comment, the government exposes
itself to the charge of stifling political opposition rather than
changing or reconsidering policy."

"Shameful Act," an editorial in the center-right national English
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (07/14)

"The campaign launched by Interior Minister Rehman Malik against the
emails and SMSs considered anti-government is in violation of the
freedom of expression. It runs counter to the spirit of the
Constitution, which entitles the people to express their opinions in
a peaceful way.... This amounts to invading people's privacy. It
would provoke popular resentment against the PPP-led set-up."

"Decision To Enforce Strict Penalties On Anti-Government Messaging,"
an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (07/14)

"Instead of scaring the people on anti-government messaging and
emails, the government should improve its working and give relief to
the people.... Even otherwise, computer technology cannot be
blocked."

"No Need To Be Afraid Of Emails And SMS," an editorial in the
leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily
"Jang" (cir. 300,000) (07/15)

"... In these circumstances if the government diverts the energies
of one of its law enforcement agencies towards checking obnoxious
e-mails and SMS, it will not only open another front but would also
shaken people's confidence over the government. If the government
could respond to the public criticism over its policies on
electronic and print media then it should not face any difficulty in
responding to it on internet as well. If the government policy is
good, it is in line with public interest and also conforms to the
electoral pledges of the rulers then definitely this SMS messaging
would also highlight that aspect. The government is well advised to
pay attention to the actual reasons of terrorism and try to
eliminate it instead of such type of unjustified reservations."

"We're Watching!," an editorial in the populist, often sensational
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/14)

"Ours is an increasingly 'watched' society, and the means of
watching is changing and advancing all the time. Some have the
misfortune to be watched by drones, with disaggregation a
consequence.... There are undoubtedly illegal and
dangerous-to-the-state activities involving the mobile phone network
and the internet. They need to be stopped, fast, and the
perpetrators brought to book; but we do wonder precisely what level
of threat is perceived in a cheeky SMS or email - so remember;
they're watching."

"Make Text Messaging Investigation Transparent," an editorial in the
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (07/14)

"Those emails and messages should be punishable which come under the
purview of Anti-Pakistan propaganda.... FIA and the Interior
Minister should take action against obscene and anti-Pakistan
communication."

"Interior Ministry's Appreciable Step," an editorial in the
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir.
50,000) (07/14)

"This is appreciable that the government has taken note of
anti-Pakistan propaganda.... This propaganda with global outreach
was activated against Pakistan after May, 1998 nuclear tests....
The government should take stricter measures in this respect."

"Mian Channu Blast: A Moment Of Reflection," an editorial in the
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt"
(cir. 150,000) (07/14)

"The real picture will emerge after completion of investigation, but
according to some eye-witnesses something coming from the sky fell
on Madarassa owner Riaz's house.... Jamaat-i-Islami Ameer Syed
Munnawar Hassan, addressing a public meeting in Karachi, alleged
that under the 'do more policy' America is trying to bring so-called
war on terror to Punjab province. Mian Channu blast gives credence
to the allegation.... If it really was a missile then it could be
the doing of a drone."

"Mian Channu Blast," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (07/14)

"The neglect of the law and order agencies towards these banned
organizations, throws up a big challenge to the government and it
has so far unsuccessfully tried to extinguish the fire of sectarian
hatred. Operating under the religious garb, those behind these
organizations are self-seeking persons who want to achieve their
objectives. The government must take step to stop their activities
of having stored explosive material for achieving their activities
and launch a crackdown against these organizations."

"The Pakhtun Conundrum," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(07/14)

"The Pakhtun conundrum that need to be addressed in order to bring
peace to this area. The first is to recognize that there are many
genuine grievances felt by this community concerning the way power
has been apportioned by the Karzai regime among different segments
of the Afghan society. Second, Pakistan has to show resolve that it
will not allow those now generally referred to as stateless actors
to pursue their own agendas against the country's neighbors. Third,
it also needs to make sure that the law of the land is respected by
all segments of society. Finally, there must be a clear
understanding with India on what are its legitimate interests in
Afghanistan. Pakistan has to recognize that India is a regional
power with regional interests. At the same time India has to pay
heed to Pakistan's security interests."

"Turning Of Tables On American Forces In Afghanistan?," an editorial
in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir.
15,000) (07/15)

"After the signing of an agreement between the U.S. and Russia for
the provision of supply route to NATO forces in Afghanistan through
Russian territory, Taliban and Hizb-e-Islami and other Afghan
resistance forces have started strengthening their networks in
Baghlan, Qandooz, and Parwan besides Helmand. Not only that they
are also preparing to drag the war with the U.S. from South Eastern
and Eastern Afghanistan to North because the suggested supply route
from Russia passes from Tajikistan to Hizbe Islami's Gulbadeen
Hikmatyar's ancestral province of Qandooz. The Afghan Mujahideen
are not only very well aware of this supply route but they have a
25-year experience of destroying and stopping arms and supplies
coming through this route."

"Claiming 'Victory' Too Early," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (07/14)

"In fact, greater media access to the conflict zones would provide a
credible portrayal of the situation and help remove the cloud of
doubts regarding the military operations and the claims about the
army's battleground achievements. Instead of declaring premature
victory, the ANP leadership should admit that the war is not over
yet and that it is going to be long and bitter. There is no harm in
conceding that the situation is still precarious, that the Taliban
leadership in Swat and the rest of Malakand region has largely
survived the military action.... Those pronouncing the start of the
repatriation process of the IDPs as a signal of victory would be
well-advised to keep their celebrations on hold, as it isn't over
yet."

"Af-Pak Strategy And Pakistan," an op-ed by Gen. (R) Mirza Aslam Beg
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir.
20,000) (07/14)

"After the declaration of the Af-Pak strategy, very different trends
have emerged and Pakistan now finds itself facing serious challenges
to its security.... The Pakistani government, despite being a
'Compliant State' is under pressure to concede more and allow the
Americans to establish a 'spy-network within the premises of
Islamabad diplomatic enclave.'... The facilities and the personnel
belonging to CIA, FBI, the Marines as well as the Blackwater
Security Consultants (BSC) will be housed there.... Their target is
not only Pakistan, but all the neighbors, particularly Iran and
China.... And the new partnership, now developing between U.S. and
Russia, will cause greater instability in South Asia in particular."


"New Road To Kabul," an op-ed by Dr. Rashid Ahmad Khan in the
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(07/14)

"In the view of many an observer, the decision to send troops and
military supplies through the route passing through the Russian
territory is fraught with dangerous implications for the long-term
strategic interests of the U.S. not only in Afghanistan but also in
Central Asia. It may lead to an increased U.S. dependence on Russia
for fighting the war in Afghanistan, and ultimately, may enable the
Russians to stage a comeback in the region from where they were
forcibly ousted two decades ago."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson