PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 17, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001613 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 17, 2009 Summary: Reports and photographs of the meeting of Prime Minister Gilani with his India counterpart on the sidelines of the NAM summit in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) dominated front pages on Friday. Newspapers reported that "India agreed to delink talks from terror fight" and termed it as a "major (Indian) retreat from its hard-line position on resumption of peace talks." Pegged to it were reports that "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took U-turn on talks" by declaring that "peace talks would remain on hold until Islamabad took action against the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks." Newspapers also highlighted reports on a "likely meeting" between President Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday "after months of an acrimonious relationship." Reports on the Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen's, meeting with the Pakistani military leadership and his visit to an IDPs camp in the NWFP, also garnered prominent coverage. All dailies front-paged reports that "an official of the UNHCR along with his guard were gunned down "after a failed kidnapping bid" in Peshawar. Most major dailies ran editorials on the meeting of Pakistani and Indian prime ministers in Egypt and the joint communiqu issued after their parleys. The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "instead of describing this development as some kind of victory for Pakistan, we would do well to hail India's timely recognition that terrorism and militancy should not be allowed to come in the way of improved relations." Another English newspaper, "Daily Times," observed that "it is no use talking to India if the two countries retain their hostile stances and keep on regurgitating their old positions." The Urdu daily, "Pakistan," wrote: "This is a reality that resumption of Pak-India composite dialogue is not easy, but America and some other countries are pressing India to hold talks with Pakistan." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "India Agrees To Delink Talks From Terror Fight" "Dawn" (07/17) "In a major retreat from its hard-line position on resumption of peace talks, India on Thursday agreed to de-link 'Composite Dialogue' from action against terrorism and hold talks with Pakistan on all outstanding issues. The breakthrough at this Egyptian resort was achieved during a meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of NAM summit." "Singh Takes U-Turn On Talks" "The News" (07/17) "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday that peace talks with Pakistan would remain on hold until Islamabad took action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. He was speaking to reporters after talks with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement's summit in Egypt..." "Singh Moves To Pacify Indian Opposition" "Dawn" (07/17) "In what appeared to be a move to neutralize criticism by some opposition circles in his country to the agreement with Pakistan to resume talks and rebuild ties damaged after the Mumbai attacks, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh appeared to contradict what he had committed in the joint statement he had signed in Sharm El-Sheikh earlier on Thursday with his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani." "Talks Resumption To Promote Peace, Says Experts" "Daily Times" (07/17) "Foreign affairs experts have welcomed Indo-Pak agreement on restoring the stalled peace process for conflict resolution. They say it's important that Islamabad and New Delhi continue talking to each other until the resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir conflict." "Zardari Likely To Visit Raiwind Today" "Dawn" (07/17) "A new and crucial phase of political reconciliation between the PPP and PML-N is on the cards as President Asif Ali Zardari plans to visit former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's palatial farm outside Lahore for a meeting on Friday. After months of acrimonious relationship following Mr. Sharif's decision to pull out his party from the federal cabinet over the issue of restoration of the judiciary, President Zardari earlier this week extended the olive branch by calling the PML-N leader on phone to discuss the prospects of a rapprochement." "Mullen Meets Kayani" "Dawn" (07/17) "Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen held meetings with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq Majid and Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here on Thursday and exchanged views with them on the situation in areas along the Pakistan-Afghan border, war on terror and the military operation in the NWFP." "Mullen Praises Handling Of IDP Crisis" "Dawn" (07/17) "Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen visited the internally displaced persons at Jalozai camp as IDPs continued to return to their hometowns on Thursday. Mr. Mullen praised the Pakistan government for its handling of the IDPs issue to avert a humanitarian crisis." "Mullen All Praise For Pak Army Operation" "The Nation" (07/17) "Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen has expressed his satisfaction over the way the security forces of Pakistan were trying to dismantle terror networks of the outlawed TTP Chief Baitullah Mehsud and mounting pressure on him soon. The United States' top military officer made these remarks during his meetings with Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Thursday." "U.S. Should Not Add To Our Difficulties: Gen. Kiyani Tells To Mullen" "Ummat" (07/17) "Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani in a meeting with visiting American military chief Mike Mullen has urged on U.S. not to add to the difficulties of Pakistan. Sources said Gen. Kiyani registered protest with American military chief over the continued U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan." "UNHCR Official, Guard Shot Dead" "Dawn" (07/17) "UNHCR official and a security guard of the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees were shot dead at the Kacha Ghari camp for internally displaced persons in Peshawar on Thursday. According to a UNHCR spokesperson, senior national staffer Zill-e-Usman was on a routine visit to the camp when some people in an apparent kidnapping attempt opened fire on him. He died on the spot." "UN Urges Sustained Help For Pakistan" "Dawn" (07/17) "United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes has asked the international community to bolster aid to the more than two million people who had fled the conflict between the armed forces and insurgents in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province. However, he pointed out that money would only cover food and other basic emergency needs for a few weeks. Much more would be needed to sustain relief efforts through year's end." "Hillary Phones Zardari" "The Nation," "Daily Times" (07/17) "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday night called President Asif Ali Zardari and reiterated U.S. support for the rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). According to presidential spokesman, American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also welcomed the launch of UN probe into Benazir Bhutto's assassination." "UN Probe Team Calls On Zardari" "Dawn" (07/17) "A three-member UN commission assigned to probe the assassination of Benazir Bhutto called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday. The President expressed fears that some PPP men and outsiders could obstruct the UN investigation...." "Qureshi-Clinton Meeting Likely on ARF Sidelines" "The Nation" (07/17) "Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is likely to meet the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Thailand scheduled for 17-23 July, said a diplomatic source in Islamabad on Thursday desiring not to be named." "Operation Only against Terrorists, Wazirs Assured" "Daily Times" (07/17) "NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani visited Wana on Thursday to seek the support of Ahmedzai Wazir tribes against Baitullah Mehsud, the chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. 'No action is being taken against Mehsud tribes. Instead certain steps are underway against those elements who have not only been openly challenging the writ of the government but also have accepted the responsibility of terrorist activities in various parts of the country,' the governor told a Jirga of Ahmedzai Wazirs." "Eight Militants Killed In Swat: ISPR" "Dawn" (07/17) "The army claimed that eight terrorists, including local commander Bilal, had been killed during an operation in Loe Namal and Pansarat areas of Swat on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the ISPR, 20 hideouts of militants were destroyed, 15 terrorists captured and a large quantity of arms and ammunition seized." "Three Tribesmen Die In Waziristan Mine Blast" "Dawn" (07/17) "Three tribesmen were killed and three others injured when their vehicle hit a landmine on Miramshah-Ghulam Khan road in North Waziristan on Thursday. According to sources, the landmine was planted by militants on the road near Darga Mandi to target military vehicles." "Tribesmen Storm Militant Hideout In Kala Dhaka" "The News" (07/17) "An alleged militant and his accomplices on Thursday took positions on a hilltop after his own tribe stormed his hideout in Kala Dhaka, official sources said." "Militants Kill abducted Lashkar Man" "The News" (07/17) "One of the three Lashkar men, who were kidnapped by militants after a fierce clash, was found dead in Ambar tehsil of Mohmand Agency on Thursday, while the two others are still in the captivity of insurgents." "Six Held In Bara Raid" "The News" (07/17) "Security forces arrested six suspected militants in Sepa area in Bara tehsil on Thursday, sources said." "Explosive-Laden Car Seized In Peshawar" "Dawn" (07/17) "Police claimed to have foiled a sabotage attempt by seizing an explosive-laden car on the Shahabkhel Road in the suburbs of Peshawar on Thursday, an official of the Badbher Police Station told 'Dawn.'" "Child Killed In Buner Shelling" "Dawn" (07/17) "A child was killed and 14 persons sustained injuries when security forces and militants exchanged fire after the latter attacked a security post at Tangoo Pul near Bajkatta village in Buner in the small hours of Thursday." "ISI Inspector shot Dead In Timergara" "Dawn" (07/17) "Inspector Rahim Gul, an official of the Inter Services Intelligence was shot dead by unidentified people in a busy market area of this main town of Lower Dir on Thursday morning, eyewitnesses told 'Dawn.'" "Pakistan Madarassa Reforms In Tatters" "Daily Times" (07/17) "The government has virtually shelved a US-aided, multi-million dollar plan to reform Madarassas considered nurseries of terrorism, as it has failed to garner the support of clerics.... 'The Interior Ministry held talks with various Madarassas ... but many of them refused to accept the government's intervention,' said Mufti Gulzar Ahmed Naeemi, a senior official of the mainstream Sunni clerics alliance, Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat." "U.S. To Sign $20 Billion Accords With India" "Dawn" (07/17) "India may award more than $20 billion in contracts to American companies building nuclear power plants and selling defence technology, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hopes to unveil the two agreements when she visits India next week." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "A Step Forward," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/17) "Whether the latest round of talks between PMs Yousuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh will alter ground realities is immaterial at this stage. Equally irrelevant at this point is the role, if any, played by the U.S. in convincing India to take a more flexible stand. Major powers almost invariably find a say in issues of major geopolitical import, and a continued stand-off between Pakistan and India is to no one's benefit. What matters most is that the two neighbors appear to have found the middle ground and acknowledged that dialogue is the only way forward on the road to peace.... Instead of describing this development as some kind of victory for Pakistan, we would do well to hail India's timely recognition that terrorism and militancy should not be allowed to come in the way of improved relations.... Considerable give and take will be required in the days to come." "Indo-Pak Dialogue: Not Yet In Sight?," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (07/17) "The world wants both sides to talk. But while it favors India, it has also shown some weariness regarding India's position that terrorism must first come to an end before anything meaningful can be done. The problem is that terrorism in today's world is not a phenomenon that can be toggle-switched by any state. Neither can it be seen sans any context in which inter-state conflicts in this region have unfolded. What Pakistan is doing now is quite correct: it is fighting the non state actors and trying quite honestly to get its internal sovereignty back. What India wants from it will be possible only if New Delhi begins to understand that contexts cannot be set aside, not least because nothing takes place in a vacuum.... For instance, the U.S. can talk to it (India) effectively to soften its approach in return for what Pakistan can 'realistically' deliver.... Finally it is no use talking to India if the two countries retain their hostile stances and keep on regurgitating their old positions." "Meeting Of Pak-India Premiers," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (07/17) "This is a reality that resumption of Paki-India composite dialogue is not easy, but America and some other countries are pressing India to hold talks with Pakistan.... It is hoped that the Foreign Ministers of both the countries will meet in New York on the occasion of UN General Assembly meeting in September, 2009." "Resumption Of Pak-India Talks: Hopes Of Easing Tensions," an editorial in Hyderabad based liberal and independent Sindhi Daily "Kawish" (Cir. 105,000) (07/17) "Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt has paved way for easing the tensions between India and Pakistan whose history of rivalry spreads over six decades. Meeting between Indian and Pakistan's Prime Ministers does give a hope that both have pledged not to allow terrorists to hijack peace talks. The fact is that people of both the countries want peaceful relations but then whose agenda is to bring both countries on verge of war? We believe talks could lead to peace and stability in the region." "Once Again Pledge To Continue Talks," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 33,000) (07/17) "Surprisingly joint declaration, issued after meeting of Pakistan and Indian Prime Ministers, does not even mention Kashmir and water issues, which from Pakistan's point of view are very important issues. It is a worrying factor to notice that an elected government holds so called "composite dialogue" without talking on Kashmir and water." "Use Force To Take Kashmir, There Is No Other Resolution," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (07/17) "Prime Minister said in Sharm El-Sheikh that durable peace in South Asia is possible only after Kashmir issue resolution.... America has one again made it clear the other day that neither it is playing a role to resolve Kashmir dispute nor it intended to appoint a special envoy for the resolution of the dispute. So, we will have to rely on our military strength and backing of the people. India has provided the opportunity on the water issue. We should tell India in categorical terms that now we will speak in the language of missiles, for India understands this language very well." "Move Ahead Of Joint Communiqus," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (07/17) "Pak-India Premiers meeting is a welcome development. We hope that the process of dialogue will continue and both the countries will implement their resolve to solve problems." "Positive Step Forward," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (07/17) "Talks between Pakistan and India have ended on a positive note as the two countries have agreed to resume the process of composite dialogue.... Now the only option left with the two major countries of South Asia is to build on the resolve to take this process forward in the face of the challenge that is terrorism. Once terrorism is rooted out from the region, issues resolved through mutual consultations, and trade carried out between the two countries, the benefits will be obvious for the poverty-stricken people of the region." "The Peace Puzzle," an op-ed by Ayesha Siddiqa in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/17) "At this point in time, Indo-Pakistan ties can hope to make little movement. Given the highs and lows of our bilateral engagement, there is little that the two establishments expect from each other. They can only try and convince the international community of their eagerness to have a debate and ensure the absence of military conflict.... However, what appears more likely at this stage is that India and Pakistan will muddle through the present times and continue with relations that are not normal until a point of greater destruction is reached. This would then teach us a lesson in peace." "Ties With U.S. Prove Injurious," an op-ed by Asif Haroon Raja in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (07/17) "The army is fully engaged in defeating the militants on multiple fronts at the cost of losses in men and material. Our strategic reserves are depleting and wear and tear of our weapons and equipment is also taking place. India and the U.S. want Pak army to get overstretched and over committed in north-western regions, get fatigued and demoralized. It wants its weapons to get eroded and reserve stocks of spare parts and ammunition to get depleted. It wants that army and air force war stamina should dwindle so that when the crunch time comes the two services are incapable of defending international borders and the sky. In conclusion one can say that friendship with U.S. instead of proving beneficial has always been injurious and costly." "U.S. Thirst For Blood," an op-ed by Dr. Muzaffar Iqbal in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/17) "The insatiable American thirst for blood is now in full bloom in this killing season as its drones continue to take the lives of men, women, and children in various parts of Pakistani FATA and its soldiers continue to dig deeper and deeper into Afghanistan. This continuous lust for blood is something that now defines America. Its war machine has become so bloodthirsty that there is no end in sight of American occupation of Afghanistan, even though there is absolutely no moral or legal justification for its continuous operations in that war-ravaged land.... If history can be any guide, one can say with certainty that sooner or later the foreign troops will have to leave Afghanistan. Yet, this will not happen until the Americans find another place to send their soldiers so that their insatiable thirst for blood has new killing fields." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson