PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 26, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000161 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 26, 2009 Summary: Reports that the government of Punjab "took control of the headquarters of the banned Jamaatud Daawa" dominated headlines in all newspapers on Monday. Also front-paged were reports from New Delhi that "anti-terror police killed two suspected members of Lashkar-e-Taiba near the Indian capital." Prime Minister's Gilani's assertion that "Pakistan will share finding of its investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks with other countries" received prominent coverage. Reports on the "government's shoot at sight order for curfew violators in restive Swat area" also was highlighted. The summoning of "47 most wanted dignitaries" by the Taliban in Swat valley garnered prominent display in all newspapers. Most major dailies ran critical editorials on the continued U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistani territory. The leading mass circulation Urdu daily, "Jang," noted that "the recent missile attack in FATA has added to the concerns that perhaps the U.S. policy pertaining to Pakistan is not going to change." The rightist Urdu daily, "Ausaf" stated that the "drone attacks will not only damage the Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, but also thwart the ongoing global war on terror." The second-largest Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" wrote: "President of Pakistan summoned the American Ambassador and protested over the drone attack.... President should have protested with his counterpart, if he had to protest at all." The liberal Urdu daily "Express" urged that "sooner President Barrack Obama orders cessation of the drone attacks the better for the relations of the two countries." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Govt. Takes Over Daawa Offices In Muridke" "Dawn" (01/26) "The government of Punjab took control of the headquarters of the banned Jamaatud Daawa on Sunday and appointed an administrator, who would also oversee its various organizations, including charity hospitals, seminaries and other educational institutions, and agricultural projects." "Qazi Blasts Govt. For Taking Control Of JuD Office" "The News" (01/26) "Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Sunday said the government's move, to take control of Jamaatud Daawa (JuD) headquarters in Muridke, was taken at the behest of foreign masters, Qazi told reporters in Charsadda." "Country Must Be Relieved Of 'Slave' Leadership: Qazi" "The News" (01/26) "Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad said in an interview to 'The News,' Pakistan urgently needs to replace the 'U.S.-slave' leadership with honest and patriotic people in order to survive the internal strife and external conspiracies threatening its very existence." "Daawa Urges UN To Lift Ban" "Dawn" (01/26) "The proscribed Jamaatud Daawa urged the United Nations on Sunday to lift the sanctions which it said had been imposed 'without any justification' and merely on allegations leveled by India." "India Claims Killing Two LeT Men Near Delhi" "Dawn" (01/26) "Anti-terror police killed two suspected members of Lashkar-e-Taiba near the Indian capital on Sunday and said they might be linked with the gunmen in Mumbai and were planning to attack the Republic Day military parade in New Delhi on Monday." "Probe Finding Will Be Shared With Other Countries" "Dawn" (01/26) "Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan will share finding of its investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks with other countries. Addressing a public meeting he said the country would not allow anybody to use its soil for terrorist activities." "Pak HC To India Receives Death Threats; Pakistan Asks India To Ensure Envoy's Security" "The Post" (01/26) "Pakistan on Sunday asked India to ensure security of its envoy who received threats from an Indian extremist group via e-mail, Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said." "India Preparing Afghan Army Against Pakistan: Gen. (R) Hamid Nawaz "Ummat" (01/26) "Former senior army officer Gen. (R) Hamid Nawaz Khan has said that India is preparing Afghan army against Pakistan. He claimed that American Defense Secretary Rumsfeld had informed him that after 9/11 the situation was so sensitive that U.S. wanted to fire first and then look for target. Talking to 'Ummat' he said supporting America after 9/11 was a right decision." "Shoot At Sight Orders For curfew Violation In Swat" "Dawn" (01/26) "Army troops were authorized on Sunday to shoot at sight curfew violators in Kuza Bandai, Bara Bandai, Ningolai, Chota Kalam and Shakardarra areas of Swat in the wake of reports that Maulana Fazlullah had 'summoned' 50 influential people to 'appear' before a Taliban 'court' within a week." "Taliban Summon 47 'Most Wanted' Dignitaries" "The Nation" (01/26) "Taliban militants, while announcing 'general amnesty' for workers of different political forces, have urged 47 persons to produce themselves before their self-styled Islamic court." "Militants' Funding Source Being Probed: ISPR" "The News" (01/26) "Director General Inter-Services Public relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has said intelligence operations are underway to determine who is funding the militants from abroad. In an interview with Voice of America, he said 'we are hopeful for establishing durable peace in Swat." "Taliban Threats: Offices Of FATA Development Program Closed Down "Ummat" (01/26) "After threats from Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud USAID has closed down its offices in Peshawar for FATA development program. The offices would remained closed till further orders." "15 Militants Surrender In Mohmand" "The News" (01/26) "A local militant commander and his 14 associates surrendered to the political administration in Yakaghund Tehsil of lower Mohmand Agency on Sunday." "Military Option Key To Obama's Strategy" "Dawn" (01/26) "The military option remains key to U.S. President Barack Obama's strategy for dealing with insurgency in Pakistan and Afghanistan, diplomatic observers in Washington say. Mr. Obama's special representative for the region, Richard Holbrooke, also emphasized the importance of the military option in his first statement since his appointment on Thursday." "Drone Attacks In Line With Obama's Policy: Biden" "The Nation" (01/26) "U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden on Sunday declined to comment on last week's drone attacks inside Pakistan's tribal areas, but appeared to make it clear that the action was in line with President Barack Obama's declared policy on dealing with militants along the Pak-Afghan border region." "U.S. Missiles 'Don't Help' Pakistan War Effort: Babar" "Daily Times" (01/26) "United States missile attacks on militants in Pakistan do not help its efforts in the U.S.-led campaign against militancy, President Asif Ali Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Sunday. U.S. drones fired missiles into Pakistan late on Friday killing 17 people, intelligence officials and residents said, in the first such strike since Barack Obama became U.S. President. President Asif Ali Zardari discussed the attacks with U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson at a lunch on Saturday, the spokesman said." "Obama's Decision To Continue Drone Strikes Condemned" "Daily Times" (01/26) "Civil society representatives and human rights activists on Sunday condemned U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to continue drone strikes into Pakistan." "Zardari Asks U.S. To End Drone Attacks" "The News" (01/25) "President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday conveyed Islamabad's concerns to U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson over the continuing drone attacks and asked for halting the air strikes to respect the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan. Ambassador Patterson called on President Zardari here at the Presidency on Saturday and held a luncheon meeting with him." "Dialogue Not War To Resolve Terror: Zardari" "The News" (01/26) "President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday announced to send a delegation comprising tribal elders to hold dialogue with international community and apprise them of the problems in the tribal areas of Pakistan." "Pakistan Protests To U.S. Over Air Strikes" "Dawn" (01/25) "Pakistan on Saturday lodged a strong protest with the new U.S. administration over continuing drone attacks, terming them an infringement of the country's sovereignty and calling for a review of the policy. 'Yesterday's attacks in the Waziristan area which caused civilian causalities are a matter of great concern. These concerns have been conveyed to the U.S.,' a Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement. Although, the Foreign Office was reluctant to reveal the name of the person who made the protest, sources said the outrage was communicated by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson." "U.S. Drone Attacks Kill 14 In Waziristan: First Obama-Era Strikes In Tribal Areas" "Dawn" (01/24) "Missiles fired by suspected US drones killed at least 14 people, including some Arabs, in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan on Friday. The attacks came three days after US President Barack Obama took office and a day after he had appointed a veteran diplomat as his special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan." "FATA Toughest Challenge For Obama, Says Holbrooke" "The News" (01/25) "The newly-appointed U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, has said that the Obama administration had to face many tough challenges with regard to the war in Afghanistan and global peace but the toughest was the insurgent sanctuaries in the tribal areas of Pakistan." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Pakistan's Reaction Over Missile Attack At FATA," an editorial note in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (01/26) "The inaugural address of U.S. President Obama created an impression that the United States was ready to explore new vistas to advance relations with the Muslim world. As such it was expected that it would certainly cease drone attacks on the Pakistani tribal areas. But the recent missile attack at FATA has added to concerns that perhaps the U.S. policy pertaining to Pakistan is not going to change." "Mr. Obama Should Fulfill His Promises About Global Peace," an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (01/26) "The Government of Pakistan must persuade the new U.S. administration that the drone attacks will not only damage the Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, but also thwart the ongoing global war on terrorism. On the other hand, these strikes will also create problems for the democratic government of Pakistan as well, and will deepen hatred against the United States among Pakistani people." "Protest On Drone Attacks Is Not Enough," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (01/26) "Western media consistently claims that America and Pakistan have a secret agreement vis-`-vis drone attacks.... "Guardian" reported that government of Pakistan might be happy over the attacks.... President of Pakistan summoned the American Ambassador and protested over the Drone attack. President should have protested with his American counterpart, if he had to protest at all.... Pakistan government should order downing of any violator of our air space; this is the only option to stop these attacks." "Drone Attacks: There Should Be A Dialogue With America," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/26) "Sooner President Barrack Obama orders cessation of the drone attacks the better for the relations of the two countries. Pakistan will have to make a new strategy about its relations with America and reinitiate dialogue process with the country, in order to resolve the drone attack issue." "President Zardari! Mere Protest And Promises Aren't Enough," an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (01/26) "The new U.S. Administration must be told that if it did not uphold Pakistan's sovereignty and national security, then Pakistan would resort to several other options to deal with this kind of sticky situation such as gradual reduction in cooperation with the U.S. in war on terror, and complete withdrawal of logistic support for the allied forces in Afghanistan. The deteriorating security situation necessitates immediate and desperate measures as mere protest and complain won't work any longer." "President's Protest With American Ambassador," an editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (01/26) "If the drone attacks continued then Pakistanis would be forced to accept the opposition's point of view that allied forces military action in tribal areas has clandestine support of the Government of Pakistan. These violations of Pakistan territory are not mistakes, but are part of a conspiracy." "Issue Of Missile Attacks," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (01/26) "It has now been established that Obama administration's standpoint on the drone attacks is not different from that of the Bush administration.... The success in the war against terror is tied with the cessation of these air attacks so that Pakistan continues to cooperate with the world in the war on terror." "American Attacks: People Should Be Given Factual Information," an editorial in the Lahore-based Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 5,000) (01/26) "The continuation of the U.S. Drone attacks on Pakistan tribal areas despite repeated protests by the Government of Pakistan and American assurances on respecting Pakistan sovereignty, strengthen the suspicion that America has some justification for launching these attacks. We don't know whether this justification is in the shape of Pakistan government's approval or intelligence sharing.... We know that drone attacks have killed quite a few important militants alongside killing innocent people. The government should explain the actual situation to the people." "Our 'Drone Attack' Problem," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/26) "These attacks may be targeting terrorists whose elimination goes in Pakistan's favor, but its side-effects are not good for Pakistan. The Pakistan army thinks it curtails the effect of its own efforts to pacify the Tribal Areas.... There are two kinds of 'do more' pressures on the PPP government. The U.S. asks it to do more while knowing the limits of Pakistan's response to global terrorism. The opposition in Pakistan also asks it to 'do more' in the way of getting the Americans to stop the drones. Both policies of 'do more' are unrealistic." "Drone Attacks Again," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (01/26) "The U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan territory continue unabated even after the change of government in America.... Militants take advantage of the situation and are able to lure more recruits to their cause.... Drone attacks put the Government of Pakistan in an awkward position, which has been accused of having compromised its national sovereignty. The latest attacks came three days after President Obama took office and a day after he had appointed a veteran diplomat as his special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The drone attacks show that there has been no change in the U.S. policy on Afghanistan." "Move Ahead For Dialogue With Taliban," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (01/26) "Induction of additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan as stated by new administration could have a spill-over on our side of the border. We would therefore stress that instead of mere rhetoric and wasting time, the Government must initiate immediate dialogue by involving notables, politicians and religious leaders to listen to representatives of Taliban and find a way out based on trust. Local Taliban are not against Pakistan and they need to be persuaded not to take such an extreme line that could endanger the very existence of the country." "A Good Step," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/26) "Strangely, though the militants are supposed to be fighting for the cause of Islam, they act to deny its adherents the pursuit of education that it enjoins upon every man and woman, irrespective of the odds. In this backdrop it seems quite difficult to fathom the motives of those who brainwash young men to sacrifice their lives to eliminate the very source that helps fulfill that sacred obligation.... The upsurge of anti-American sentiments and Pakistan's support to the War On Terror has provided them a cause to get rid of all signs of modern life, of which the West is a symbol. Under these circumstances, the use of mere force would not make for a change of heart." Patterson