PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 11, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001873

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 11, 2009

Summary: Reports that a local court "ordered the police to register
a criminal case against former President Musharraf for detaining the
judges and their families" dominated headlines in all newspapers on
Tuesday. Prime Minister Gilani's visit to the Swat valley and his
statement declaring that "terrorists were on the run" received
front-page coverage. Interior Minister Malik's remarks that "Al
Qaeda is trying to install a new 'chief terrorist' in the tribal
areas" following the reported killing of militant leader Baitullah
Mehsud received prominent display. A claim made by the banned
outfit, Baloch Republic Army, that it had "killed 10 more kidnapped
policemen in Balochistan" was also highlighted. Newspapers reported
that U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke would visit Islamabad on 15th of
this month.

Most major newspapers ran editorials on a variety of themes
including former President Musharraf's prosecution, the drone
attacks, the IMF loan, the fallouts of the Baitullah Mehsud's death,
the India-Israel collusion. Commenting on the recent remarks of the
Foreign Office spokesman about the India-Israel nexus, the
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt,"
noted that "now Pakistan has realized the conspiracies being hatched
by its cunning enemies, it must divert the direction of its foreign
policy from the U.S. to China." Toeing the line, the Lahore-based
populist Urdu daily "Waqt" also advised that "it is necessary that
Pakistan strengthen its ties with China and not let its soil be used
against China." Whereas the popular rightist Urdu-language daily
"Ausaf" claimed that "it is an undeniable fact that not only India
and Israel have formed a nexus to destabilize Pakistan, but the
United States is also patronizing them." End Summary.

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

"Court Orders Police To Register Case Against Musharraf" "Dawn"
(08/11)

"A Sessions Court ordered the Islamabad Police on Monday to register
a criminal case against former President Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf
for detaining superior court judges and their families in their
houses after proclaiming the November 3, 2007, emergency."

"Terrorists Defeated, Gilani Declares In Swat" "Dawn" (08/11)

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Swat on Monday that
terrorists were on the run and they would be eliminated soon.
Pakistan's existence and sovereignty are above everything and we
will never compromise on security and well-being of our people."

"Al Qaeda Can Install Its Own Man To Run TTP: Malik" "The News"
(08/11)

"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the al-Qaeda could install
its own man to run the banned organisation Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) with the consultation of those who were supplying weapons and
funds to the Taliban, after Taliban leaders were killed in a
shoot-out at their Shoora meeting."

"'Chief Terrorist,' Top Aides Killed, Insists Govt.; Opposition
Avoids Condemning Drone Attacks" "Dawn" (08/11)

"Interior Minister Rehman Malik insisted in the National Assembly on
Monday that Pakistan's top Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud was
killed in a U.S. missile strike last week and one of his close aides
in a subsequent power struggle, rejecting denials of their deaths,
as the opposition refrained from criticizing Washington for a drone
attack Islamabad believes eliminated its most wanted 'chief
terrorist.'"

"Kidnappers Claim Killing Another 10 Policemen" "Dawn" (08/11)

"Militant (Baloch Republican Army) who had kidnapped police
personnel and laborers on July 30 claimed on Monday to have killed
another 10 policemen and thrown their bodies in Chattar area of
Nasirabad district in Balochistan."

"Holbrooke Due On 15th" "The Nation," "Pakistan Observer," "The
Post," "The News" (08/11)

"Special Representative of U.S. President Obama for Pakistan and
Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, will arrive here on 15th of this
month on a three-day visit to discuss the anti-terrorism strategy
and other issues of bilateral interest with Pakistani leadership....
The special American envoy, who is arriving here in the wake of the
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Baitullah Mehsud's killing,
would also discuss the latest situation in Waziristan with the
Pakistani leaders, said an official in Islamabad on Monday
requesting anonymity."

"TTP Confirms Mehsud Dead, Announces 15-Day Mourning" "Daily Times"
08/11)

"The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) confirmed on Monday that the
group's chief, Baitullah Mehsud, had been killed in a U.S. drone
strike on Wednesday, and announced a 15-day mourning period,
reported a private TV channel. Newly-appointed TTP spokesman Azam
Tariq told the channel the TTP would observe a ceasefire during
mourning period. He said a successor to Baitullah had not been
chosen yet."

"Hakeemullah Asks Govt. To Prove Baitullah Is Dead" "Dawn" (08/11)

"A top militant commander challenged the government on Monday to
prove that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Chief Baitullah Mehsud was
dead, insisting that he was alive and denying reports of a deadly
shooting over succession. Hakeemullah Mehsud, a deputy of
Baitullah, made the comments in telephone calls to foreign news
agencies."

"Taliban Fight For Control Of Mehsud's Millions'" "The Nation"
(08/11)

"Taliban commanders are engaged in a bloody succession contest for
control of their late leader Baitullah Mehsud's 25 million pounds
fortune, Pakistani security sources have claimed, reported Telegraph
on Monday."

"Baitullah Killing Shows Closer Pak-U.S. Cooperation" "Daily Times"
(08/11)

"The reported death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah
Mehsud in a U.S. drone attack points to closer cooperation between
Pakistan and the U.S. in the covert war against the Taliban and Al
Qaeda, according to analysts."

"U.S. Rejects Claim That Baitullah Is Still Alive" "Dawn" (08/11)

"U.S. National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones has rejected claims
that Baitullah Mehsud is still alive. 'The Pakistani government
believes that he is (dead),and all evidence that we have suggests
that,' the general told 'Fox News.'"

"Eleven Militants Killed In N. Waziristan" "Dawn" (08/11)

"Security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery,
shelled hideouts of militants loyal to Hafiz Gul Bahadur after a
military convoy was attacked in North Waziristan on Monday.
According to officials, 11 militants were killed when troops
launched a counter-attack and fired heavy artillery and mortars to
dislodge the assailants from their positions."

"Four Die As Shell Hits House In Khyber; FC Camp Attacked" "The
News" 908/11)

"Two women and two children were killed and nine others sustained
injuries when a shell hit a house in Shalobar area of Bara, Khyber
Agency, during fighting between security forces and the
Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) activists on Monday."

"Two Soldiers Die In North Waziristan Agency (NWA) Blast" "The News"
(08/11)

"Two soldiers of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed and one
sustained injuries when a bomb planted by suspected militants near
the Banda check-post went off in North Waziristan Agency on
Monday."

"Government Welcomes Dialogue Proposal For Troubled Areas" "Daily
Times" (08/11)
"The government on Monday welcomed the Opposition's proposal to form
an all-parties Jirga to restore peace through dialogue with peaceful
elements of the militancy-hit areas."

"Afghanistan Closes Kabul Route For Kurram People" "Dawn" (08/11)

"The only road linking Kurram Agency with the outside world was
closed after the Afghan government told tribesmen that they could
not travel to Peshawar via Kabul because of the presidential
election to be held there on August 20."

"Pakistan Holds Up N-Arms Control Talks" "Dawn" (08/11)

"Pakistan on Monday held up the resumption of nuclear arms control
negotiations at the UN Conference on Disarmament as it asked to
reopen a work plan already agreed on by the main nuclear powers.
The Pakistan delegation, which on Friday asked for more time to
consult with Islamabad, on Monday said it wanted fresh discussions
on procedural questions in a draft text detailing the various heads
of negotiating groups and the timetable for the talks."

"Talks On With U.S. For Civilian N-Deal: Aseff" "Dawn" (08/11)

"Planning Commission's Deputy Chairman Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali has
said the government is holding talks with the United Sates for a
civilian nuclear deal similar to one the U.S. has reached with
India."

"U.S. Garrison In The Garb Of Embassy Is Not Acceptable: Munawar
Hassan, JI leader" "Express" (08/11)

"Munawar Hasan, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami has said that the
establishment of the U.S. garrison in Islamabad in the garb of the
expansion of the Embassy is not acceptable and the Jamaat-e-Islami
will hold a demonstration in Islamabad on August 18 against the
expansion of the U.S. Embassy, and the arrival of additional
Marines. He said that the government should open eyes, or else, the
U.S. would capture the Kahuta (Pakistan's prime nuclear facility)."


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

"Foreign Office's Expression Of Facts," an editorial in the
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt"
(cir. 150,000) (08/11)

"Pakistan [Foreign Office] has said that due to the Indo-U.S. civil
nuclear deal India might expand its nuclear program. India-Israel
collusion is a threat to regional peace... Now that Pakistan has
realized the conspiracies being hatched by its cunning enemies, it
must divert the direction of its foreign policy from the U.S. to
China. Pakistan should pay full attention to improving its ties
with China as it is only through Pak-China friendship that the
balance of power can be restored in the region."

"India-Israel Collusion And Regional Stability," an editorial in
Lahore-based populist Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 10,000) (08/11)

"It is not a secret that India cannot tolerate Pak-China friendship.
Moreover, U.S. pressure regarding the Pak-Iran gas pipeline also
shows that this project is under threat. Keeping
Indian-Israeli-U.S. collusion in view, it is necessary that Pakistan
strengthen its ties with China and not let its soil be used against
China."

"U.S.-India-Israel Nexus - A Threat To Global Peace," an editorial
note in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir.
10,000) (08/11)

"The Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit has recently said that the
India-Israel nexus is a threat to this region, and that Pakistan is
not in favor of presence of foreign troops in this part of the world
for a long period of time.... It is an undeniable fact that not
only India and Israel have formed a nexus to destabilize Pakistan,
but the United States is also patronizing them. The task that U.S.
has assigned to India in Afghanistan is intended to undermine
Pakistan, to create problems for China, and to make India the 'Asian
Tiger.'"

"Who Needs Drones?," an editorial in the populist, often sensational
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/11)

"Claim and counterclaim now swirl about in a confusing mix. None of
the claims are verifiable; all are made by people who have a long
track record of making unsubstantiated claims about any number of
matters often with a desire to confuse and deceive. Whatever the
truth of any of them - and there does seem to be an increasing body
of anecdotal evidence that Baitullah Mehsud is indeed dead - it is
clear that there is huge disarray among the ranks of the Taliban....
Whether Mehsud is alive or dead is practically immaterial, the
reality is that the mere rumor of him being dead has provoked
internal feuding and a power struggle for possession of the treasure
that the Taliban have accumulated. This will play out over the
coming days and weeks as a set of bloody encounters and yet more
denial and rebuttal. Drones? Who needs 'em? Let the beast that is
the Taliban consume itself."

"Amazing Discovery - A Question Mark On Performance Of Intelligence
Agencies," an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist,
often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (08/11)

"The reports about the clash among the different groups of Taliban
following death of Baitullah Mehsud over the funds worth Rupees 2
billion and a huge cache of weapons established that Pakistani
intelligence agencies were unaware of the network and financial
sources of Taliban militants. It is a long-established truth that
the anti-state individuals and groups always have their foreign
sponsors one way or the other. Our open enemies and opponents in
the garb of friends and allies want to deprive us of our
independence, security and sovereignty. They are not ready to
tolerate our very existence, and the disintegration of Pakistan is
perhaps their foremost priority."

"Bravo Supreme Commander," an op-ed by Syed Wasif Arshad in the
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(08/11)

"Most of the independent sources confirm his (Baitullah Mehsud)
killing. It is also being reported that there are signs of fissures
in the Tehrik-i-Taliban camp. No one should now give them any
opportunity to regroup and no group of this organisation be termed
as siding with the pro-Pakistani forces.... The guidance of the
political leadership, the resolve of military management and the
peoples' courage to fight this war provides an opportunity to weed
out even the shrubbery of terrorism from not only the country but
the entire region."

"Dense Smoke, Many Mirrors," an op-ed by Kamran Shafi in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (08/11)

"We need Gen. James Jones, the U.S. President's National Security
Adviser to tell us that Baitullah is dead? Given the attitudes they
strike - referring to themselves as the nation's first line of
defence; not caring a damn for the elected government's writ; and
demanding special status for themselves such as their operatives not
appearing in the highest court of the land - one must ask why they
don't know. Indeed, having been at the receiving end of their silly
(and very expensive!) shenanigans for decades now, ordinary
Pakistanis must ask why it took so long for Baitullah to be hunted
down and even then by the Americans, and why the other cold-blooded
murderers aren't in custody/dead yet."

"Survey Reveals Pakistanis' Threat Perception," an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (08/11)

"Contrary to general impression that India is being viewed as the
biggest threat in Pakistan, a survey commissioned by Al-Jazeera and
conducted by Gallup Pakistan, reveals that an overwhelming majority
of Pakistanis consider U.S. as the main security threat.... The
United States seems to be totally oblivious of its image problem and
continues with the same berserk policies that create more resentment
and hatred. It is an inherent problem with powers that are armed to
teeth as they do not bother about public opinion and continue their
headstrong policies even if they meant ultimate weakness of the
entire system. President Barack Obama was known for his humane
approach to all issues but unfortunately he too has not been able to
make a break with the past. We would urge them to take into account
the sensitivities of the public opinion in different countries and
regions of the world and adjust American policies accordingly."

"Bracing For The Fallout," an op-ed by Malik Muhammad Ashraf in the
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(08/11)

"The only way that Afghanistan and Pakistan can see peace and an end
to militancy and terrorism is U.S. and NATO forces leaving
Afghanistan at the earliest possible and the initiation of a process
of political reconciliation there in which all segments of the
society, more so the Taliban also participate. If that happens in
Afghanistan, only then we can hope an end to militancy within our
borders allowing us an opportunity to heal the wounds and begin the
process of reconciliation and reconstruction in our tribal areas and
Swat. There being no signs of that happening in the near future,
the Pakistani nation should therefore brace itself for the fallout
of this unimaginable strategy in the form of a long period of
instability, ever-growing problem of IDPs, militancy, religious
extremism and acts of terrorism as reprisals for military action in
Swat and the tribal region, particularly in South Waziristan."

"An Election In Afghanistan," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (08/11)

"Polls could take place in most Afghan cities and in much of
northern, central and western Afghanistan in relatively peaceful
conditions. The Taliban are certainly stronger now and in a much
better position to interfere with the polling process compared to
the 2004 presidential election when they couldn't do much to
obstruct the polls.... By describing the elections as a
U.S.-orchestrated sham, the Taliban were hoping to discredit the
process and question the legitimacy of the newly elected President.
The Taliban declaration pointed out that up to 10,000 U.S., British
and other NATO troops recently launched an operation in only one
province, Helmand, to clear it of the militants and create stable
conditions for holding the election there. It stressed that this
showed that it was an 'American process of elections' and not a free
and fair Afghan process as the polls were being held in presence of
western occupation forces."

"Iran's N-Talks," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (08/11)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Washington
has no illusions that Iran will accept overtures to return to
negotiations about its nuclear program and will not wait much longer
for Tehran to respond.... The West's concerns over Iran's nuclear
program are understandable. However, the double standards employed
by the international community on the issue needs to be taken up.
The United States' uneven approach in dealing with the issue of
nuclear proliferation in the region is amply reflected in its
turning a blind eye to Israel's nuclear program and its belligerent
posture vis-`-vis Iran.... As things stand, the energy-hungry
United States' strategy in respect of the Middle East region,
especially Iran, lends credence to the view that the United States'
ultimate aim is to capture the oil and gas reserves of the area.
President Obama should understand that if an attack on Iran takes
place, it will not only be disastrous for the region, but the world
at large."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Feierstein