PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 13, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001884

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 13, 2009

Summary: Reports on "killing of 70 people in fierce clashes between
supporters of Baitullah Mehsud (TTP chief allegedly killed lately)
and rival Turkistan Bhittani in Jandola" dominated headlines in all
newspapers on Thursday. Several major newspapers highlighted the
U.S. Charge d'Affaires Feierstein's remarks that he made while
talking to a select group of journalists at the embassy that
"Islamabad has been fully taken on board on the expansion of U.S.
Embassy in Islamabad" and that he "categorically rejected" the media
reports regarding the addition of 1,000 U.S. Marines to the embassy
staff. The Pentagon Press Secretary's statement that "U.S. (will)
not abandon Pakistan" received prominent display. Newspapers also
reported that the "security forces arrested 46 suspected Taliban"
during the ongoing search and clearance operation in Swat valley.

Several major newspapers ran editorials on the incident of burning
down of seven schools by Taliban, the recent drone attack in
Waziristan, and the overall security situation in the country.
However, the center-right national English daily "The Nation," in
its editorial observed that the U.S. Special Envoy "Holbrooke's
agenda for his forthcoming visit to Islamabad would prominently
figure the demand for pressing ahead with the military campaign to
cover South Waziristan." Commenting on the schools burning
incident, the populist, often sensational national English daily
"The News," noted that "self-evidently the Taliban, at least in
Buner and Shangla, are not 'defeated' and neither the army nor the
government in any of their iterations are able to protect their most
valuable assets." The liberal Urdu daily "Express," maintained that
"it is now clear that the areas have not yet been fully cleansed of
the militants. However, the militants have been weakened greatly,
they are fighting amongst themselves and making false statements in
desperation." End Summary.

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

"Supporters Of Baitullah, Bhittani Clash; 70 Dead" "Dawn" (08/13)

"Fierce clashes broke out between supporters of Baitullah Mehsud and
rival Turkistan Bhittani in the Frontier Region of Jandola on
Wednesday and each side claimed inflicting heavy casualties on the
other. According to sources, at least 70 fighters were killed in
the clash."

"Mehsud's Death A Big Deal, Says Holbrooke" "Daily Times" (08/13)

"U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard
Holbrooke on Wednesday saw Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief
Baitullah Mehsud's elimination last week in the tribal areas as a
'very big deal' in terms of security efforts in Pakistan."

"Mehsud's Death Report Submitted" "The Post" (08/13)

"The intelligence departments concerned on Wednesday sent a detailed
report to the President and the prime minister regarding the death
of banned TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud which confirms his death along
with substantial evidence and information, sources told 'Online.'"

"Pakistan Taken On Board On U.S. Embassy Expansion" "The News,"
"Dawn," "The Nation," "Business Recorder," "Daily Times" (08/13)

"U.S. Embassy Charg d'Affaires Gerald Feierstein has said
government of Pakistan has been fully taken into confidence on the
expansion of U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. The Foreign Office is alive
to our compulsions and fully supports us on the matter of expansion
in the Embassy and increase in strength of the staff,' he said this
while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday."

"Marginal Increase In U.S. Marines: Embassy" "The Post" (08/13)

"Refuting the news items about arrival of 1000 U.S. marines to
Pakistan, the Deputy Chief of U.S. Mission in Islamabad has said
that about 20 U.S. Marines are in Pakistan to fulfill security
responsibilities of the Embassy and other installations and there
will be marginal increase in their strength after the expansion in
Embassy staff. Deputy Chief of U.S. Mission in Islamabad Gerald M.
Feierstein, talking to a group of newsmen in Islamabad at the U.S.
Embassy, said that upcoming large-scale programs needed more staff
but categorically rejected the induction of 1000 U.S. Marines in
this strength."

"Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) To Protest against U.S. Embassy's Expansion"
"The Frontier Post" (08/13)

"Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will hold a protest rally against the reported
expansion of the U.S. Embassy's sub offices in Pakistan. 'The
expansion of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan would certainly mean to
build cantonments for Americans in Pakistan,' said (JI) media
coordinator Syed Muhammad Bilal in Islamabad on Wednesday."

"Jumpy Jogger Jumps At Student" "Dawn" (08/13)

"The city police have started investigation into a brawl in which a
foreigner allegedly manhandled a student and damaged his vehicle in
the Diplomatic Enclave on Wednesday, sources told 'Dawn.' Shams
Khan, a resident of Nasir Apartments located in the Diplomatic
Enclave, lodged a complaint with the Secretariat Police Station,
claiming that a U.S. diplomat manhandled his son - Ibrahim Khan.
Richard Snelsire, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, when contacted
said: 'I cannot comment on the issue as I have no information about
the incident.'"

"U.S. Not To Abandon Pakistan: Pentagon" "The Nation" (08/13)

"Acknowledging positive results of the recent Pakistani
anti-terrorism efforts, the Pentagon has renewed the U.S. pledge to
provide security and economic assistance to the key regional ally
striving to overcome challenges in the two fields.... Press
Secretary Geoff Morrell said, 'We must manifest to the Pakistani
government and people that we are there for the long haul. We are
not going to abandon them again as we did years ago when the
Pressler Amendment froze us out of contacts with the Pakistani
government and military.'"

"Pak Aid Bill Put Off Till Congress Vacation Ends" "The News"
(08/13)

"Although the Pakistani officials insist that both the houses of
U.S. Congress have reached an agreement over the Kerry-Lugar Bill,
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee officials have said that the
matter was not settled and the reconciliation committee would begin
negotiations when the U.S. Congress resumes session in early
September. Frederick Jones, spokesman for the powerful U.S. Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, told 'The News.'"

"Security Forces Arrest 46 Suspected Taliban In Swat" "Daily Times"
(08/13)

"Security forces said on Wednesday they had arrested 46 suspected
Taliban during the ongoing search and clearance operation in various
parts of Swat."

"Afghan Govt. Acts On Pakistan Complaints; National Assembly
Informed" "Dawn" (08/13)

"Afghanistan has removed 'some' of the militants operating from its
border against Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the
National Assembly on Wednesday, in a rare compliment to Kabul for
what he saw as the start of implementation of its commitments to
Islamabad."

"Students Demand Military Operation In Khyber Agency" "The News"
(08/13)

"The students belonging to Khyber Agency Wednesday demanded of the
government to launch a full-fledged military operation to purge
their area of militants. The students said they were living in
their native town but compelled by cruelties of the militants to
migrate to Peshawar."

"Mine Kills Two Children In Bajaur" "Daily Times" 08/13)

"Two schoolboys were killed and another injured on Wednesday when a
mine exploded in Bajaur, local administration chief Adalat Khan
said."

"U.S. General Pushes For Unmanned Vehicles" "Daily Times" 08/13)

"As pilotless U.S. drones battle in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq
from the sky, a top U.S. Army general is urging the military to step
E
up the deployment of unmanned vehicles on the ground. 'It's all
about saving lives,' Lieutenant General Rick Lynch, the commander of
the III Armored Corps, said on Tuesday."

"Dr. Aafia Case - Govt. Told Not To Release $20 Million To U.S.
Lawyers" "Dawn" (08/13)

"The Lahore High Court on Wednesday restrained the federal
government from releasing $20 million to three U.S.-based lawyers
for pleading Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's case in American courts."

"FBI Agents Testify At Kasab's Trial" "Dawn" (08/13)

"Agents from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on
Wednesday gave evidence at the trial of the sole surviving gunman of
last year's Mumbai attacks. The first witness, an FBI electronics
engineer and forensic expert, told a special prison court that he
had examined one satellite phone and three hand-held global
positioning systems recovered after the attacks, the FBI agent told
the court under condition of anonymity."

"U.S. To Press Pakistan On Mumbai Plotters" "Daily Times" (08/13)

"The Al Qaeda, Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba are common enemies
of the U.S. and India and Washington is pressing Pakistan hard on
the Mumbai attacks suspects, Timothy Roemer, the new U.S. envoy to
India, said on Wednesday."

"Pak Intercontinental Missile Underway; Technology to Cover Range of
7,000 Kilometers" "The Post" (08/13)

"Pakistan, to increase its defensive capabilities, has started
preparing intercontinental missile with a range of 7000 kilometers,
according to sources."

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

"Incoherent U.S. Policy," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/13)

"going by the views that the various U.S. officials have been
expressing after Pakistan's successful operation in Swat,
President's Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke's agenda for his
forthcoming visit to Islamabad would prominently figure the demand
for pressing ahead with the military campaign to cover South
Waziristan. But, strangely at the same time, the U.S. shies away
from appreciating its implications for Pakistan and its own and its
Western allies' responsibilities to an extent that one gets the
impression that the U.S. is not quite clear about its strategic
objective concerning militancy. On the one hand, eliminating it is
characterized as a major initiative of Washington's policy; on the
other, it hums and haws at delivering on its commitments that should
help achieve that objective.... For Pakistan as well as the U.S.,
it is important that the varied consequences of stretching the
military operation to South Waziristan before consolidating the
gains in Malakand Division are thoroughly weighed."

"Burn Everything," an editorial in the populist, often sensational
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/13)

"One of the defining features of Taliban activity is their
progressive destruction of the education system in the areas where
they operate or have influence in Swat and Malakand.... In terms of
the fight they seek to win it makes sense for them to target schools
because education is the greatest threat that they face in the long
term. Educated minds are less pliable. For the provincial and
federal governments, the rebuilding of the education system in the
war-affected areas is one of the most pressing needs....
Self-evidently the Taliban, at least in Buner and Shangla, are not
'defeated' and neither the army nor the government in any of their
iterations is able to protect their most valuable assets. We are
learning a lesson, but not in school."

"A Shocking Incident," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (08/13)

"In a shocking development, Taliban burnt down seven primary schools
in Buner. The incident comes after the military claimed to have
wiped out militants from the area and declared the place safe for
people to return.... This and other incidents show that the
security forces have to attack the Taliban with full force so that
they are not able to regain their lost territory."

"Drone Attacks And Destruction Of Schools In Swat," an editorial in
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (08/13)

"As far as the drone attack in South Waziristan is concerned, it is
very difficult to condone it because such strikes constitute a
violation of our territories. Admittedly, these strikes killed
Baitullah Mehsud and other important Taliban leaders, and even the
latest strike must have targeted such elements; despite this, the
U.S. stance is irresponsible.... If the U.S. has evidence, it
should share this information with Pakistan so that if possible, a
joint operation could be conducted, but bypassing the other side
[Pakistan] when the aim is similar can lead to a perception that
there is lack of trust.... The fact that 13 schools in Shangla and
Buner were set on fire despite the presence of troops and tribal
lashkars in the area puts a big question mark on claims that all's
well. It is now clear that the areas have not yet been fully
cleansed of the militants. However, the militants have been
weakened greatly, they are fighting amongst themselves and making
false statements in desperation."

"Why Silence Over Drone Attacks?," an editorial in the
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000)
(08/13)

"No end is in sight as to when the U.S. drone attacks would be
stopped. Ironically the Pakistan government, 'as per instructions'
has even given up now the policy of the verbal protest on this
issue. On the killing of Baitullah Mehsud, a few days back, our
rulers expressed so much delight as if it was their own
'achievement.' If Baitullah was to blame for killing of innocent
Pakistanis in suicide attacks, then can the murderer of hundreds of
Pakistani citizens in drone attacks, while violating the territorial
frontiers of the country as well, be termed as the friend of
Pakistan. The U.S. drone attacks are an open challenge to the
sovereignty of Pakistan, as well as to our national honor. It is the
responsibility of our government and the security forces to
retaliate to this highhandedness in a befitting way."

"The Reality Of Drone Attacks," an editorial in Karachi based
Pro-Jihadi right-wing daily "Ummat" (Cir. 33,000) (08/13)

"Drone attacks are killing numerous innocent Pakistani children and
women. In a recent attack, fourteen people were killed, but nobody
knows whether the victims were locals, foreigners or militants.
There seems to be no end to these attacks which are gross violation
of Pakistan's sovereignty, no one knows that how long this would
continue? After fighting of years, the U.S. national security
advisor says that there were more than twenty thousand more Taliban
in Pakistan, but several years ago when the military action was
begun we were told that there were only a handful elements of
Taliban but now the story is quite different. The excuse to
continue these strikes inside Pakistan is not much different from
the pretext that the U.S. made to invade Afghanistan and Iraq."

"Claims Of Success In The War On Terror; President Should Get The
Drone Attacks Stopped Now," an editorial in the second-largest,
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000)
(08/13)

"If as the government claims, peace has been restored to Swat,
Malakand the operation must be stopped immediately; and the
residents should be helped in reconstruction and development.
Moreover, the President must make it clear to the U.S. that drone
strikes are tantamount to an attack on our sovereignty and must be
stopped immediately; the U.S. must also withdraw its troops from
Afghanistan. It should counter and eliminate those who threaten its
security on its own soil. We cannot be a partner in a war of its
[U.S.] interests."

"A Challenge To Integrity," an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/13)

"Through terrorist acts the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) wants to
make it known that despite the government's claim of having crushed
the militants they still remain a force to be dealt with. Meanwhile
there are reports of the TTP activists having assembled in the
strategic Chagharzai which connects Swat and Buner with Shangla,
Mansehra and Battagram districts. There is a need under the
circumstances to concentrate on consolidating the gains in Malakand
Division before undertaking any other venture as is being suggested
by President Zardari. The momentum gained in the region must not be
lost. For this the remaining pockets of the militants have to be
cleared and their leadership apprehended or neutralized. Any
perception of the initiative passing over to the militants is likely
to nullify the gains made at great price in human and material
terms."

"Trivializing The Issue," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(08/13)

"The government should not confound the issue further as this would
give the Taliban spokesmen a chance to keep spreading what could
well be disinformation. If Baitullah Mehsud is dead - and there is
a strong possibility that he is - the truth will come out sooner or
later, claims and counterclaims notwithstanding. Let the TTP choose
his successor. That will settle the issue. The least Mr. Malik can
do is to spare us his daily press talk that serves no purpose. The
media too should approach the issue with caution, for no newsperson
was around for miles when the drone did the job."

"America Should Stop These Gimmicks," an editorial in the popular
rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (08/13)

"The United States has said that the arrest of the former President
Musharraf is an internal matter of Pakistan.... Washington had
adopted the same policy regarding the military rule of General Ayub
Khan and General Ziaul Haq notwithstanding the fact that all martial
laws in Pakistan had been imposed in tacit support of the U.S.
Moreover, the U.S. was the main beneficiary of all the military
regimes of Pakistan. Now, when the people of Pakistan are preparing
to settle their scores with the recently-ousted dictator General
Musharraf, Washington has once again started harping the same mantra
of 'internal matter.' Nevertheless, not only Pakistan but the entire
world knows that, even today, the U.S. is providing full support to
General Musharraf. If the U.S. really respects Pakistan's
sovereignty, as the U.S. officials always claim in their statements,
then why does it (U.S.) not stop drone attacks? Why do important
U.S. officials visit Pakistan every other day? Why has the U.S.
Ambassador in Islamabad virtually been given the status of a Viceroy
(a term that illustrates the all-powerful representative of the
British crown during the colonial period)?"

"The Future After Baitullah," an op-ed by Kamila Hyat in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (08/13)

"There have been many who have celebrated the death of Baitullah
Mehsud - the man who had come to symbolize militancy and destruction
in Pakistan.... Several questions now arise. Is the death of
Baitullah Mehsud - the man code-named 'Nasrat' -- truly an immense
blow to militancy? Will it now simply shrivel away and die - or is
this an entirely unrealistic scenario? The events that have
immediately followed the death of Baitullah indicate that his TTP is
now a fractured body. It has been badly crippled by the loss of the
leader who glued it together. But the key still is whether this can
be capitalized on by authorities."

"Mehsud's Death," an op-ed by Ayaz Ahmed Khan in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/13)

"There is no doubt that Mehsud's death would represent a significant
victory in Pakistan's bid to eliminate terrorism. Well funded and
with over twenty thousand trained well equipped and motivated
militant fighters, his motive was to destabilize the Pakistani
polity and government. He was responsible for over one hundred
suicide bombings and scores of ambushes and attacks across
Pakistan.... Mehsud was a top priority to be eliminated for the
Pakistani and American establishments.... Although he was an
elusive fighter, when you kill men, women and children ruthlessly
and without mercy, you cannot escape Allah's punishment."

"U.S. Imperialism 2.0," an op-ed by Ahmed Quraishi in the populist,
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000)
(08/13)

"Pakistan's relationship with the U.S. remains rocky despite the
recent reported assassination of Baitullah Mehsud.... Whether
Baitullah Mehsud is dead or alive, there is little question that he
was someone's asset.... So should we in Pakistan be grateful to CIA
drones? Hardly. Our problems will persist as long as the unjust
and mismanaged Afghan occupation continues. What is stunning is how
the Pakistani government is sanctioning the construction of probably
the largest U.S. Embassy in the world in Islamabad. In the past
couple of weeks it has been reported that a security officer of the
U.S. Embassy had a run-in with a Pakistani police officer in
Islamabad. The diplomat reportedly cursed the country that is
hosting him. And this is before 1,000 U.S. marines reach Islamabad
to guard the new huge Embassy. Pakistan's core contention with the
U.S. persists: how the U.S. turned Afghanistan into a hub for
anti-Pakistan forces from within and outside the region.
U.S.-occupied Afghanistan is a source of destabilizing Pakistan,
China, Iran and Russia. We want excellent relations with the United
States but an imperial-size diplomatic mission in the Pakistani
capital is a wrong start."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Feierstein