PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 25, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002025 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 25, 2009 Summary: Reports and photographs of "arrest of six suspected terrorists, including Tehrik Taliban Punjab's chief from Sargodha" dominated headlines in all major newspapers on Tuesday. Newspapers also highlighted report that President "Obama has set up a new team of elite interrogators to grill terror suspects under White House supervision." In a Washington datelined story, the English language daily, "Dawn" reported that the "U.S. and its allies are drafting a $5 billion 'Marshall Plan for Pakistan' to help rebuild its shattered economy." All major dailies reported that an "Afghan journalist was shot dead in Khyber Agency." The Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) group's assurance to help Malakand development project also received prominent display. Editorializing the recent remarks of U.S. Admiral Mullen on Afghanistan, the Lahore-based liberal English newspaper, "Daily Times," advocated that "Pakistan must quickly evolve a new strategy for the situation that might arise in the event the Americans lose their will to fight. And the new strategy should not be pavlovian reflex called 'strategic depth'." The liberal Urdu daily "Express" observed that "if the U.S. and its allies want to improve the domestic situation in Afghanistan, they need to carry out a full-fledged operation against Al Qaeda that must continue until all terrorists are eliminated or they surrender." Whereas, the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn," noted that "the more foreign troops stay in Afghanistan and the more their numbers increase, the more they provoke the Afghan nation's traditionally zero tolerance for foreign soldiers on its soil." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Punjab TTP Chief Among Six Terrorists Arrested in Sargodha" "The News" (08/25) "Intelligence officials and the Punjab Police in their joint operation have arrested six terrorists, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Punjab chief, from Satellite Town and Saddar police stations limits." "TTP Denies Killing Mehsud's In-laws" "The News" (08/25) "Taliban have rejected Interior Minister Rehman Malik's claim that Taliban have killed father-in-law of Baitullah Mehsud and his relatives." "Attacks In Pakistan Will Continue: Waliur Rehman" "Daliy Times" (08/25) "The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is committed to helping the fight in Afghanistan and consider US President Barack Obama the group's "No 1 enemy," but this does not mean an end to attacks in Pakistan, said a top commander amid uncertainty over whether a new leader has been appointed to head the movement. Waliur Rehman made the comments in an interview on Sunday with The Associated Press at a time of intense speculation over the next leader of the group." "Obama Forms New Team To Grill Terror Suspects" "The Nation" (08/25) "President Barack Obama has set up a new team of elite interrogators to grill terror suspects under White House supervision, in a fresh repudiation of Bush-era anti-terror tactics. The White House said Monday that the move would absolve the CIA of the duty of questioning high-value terror suspects. The team will be based at the FBI but under the direct oversight of the National Security Council." "US Initiates $5bn Plan For Pakistan" "Dawn" (08/25) "The United States and its allies are drafting a $5 billion 'Marshall Plan for Pakistan' to help rebuild the shattered economy of a key ally in the war against extremists. Officials at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington told 'Dawn' that more than $5 billion has already been pledged. Most of the pledges come from America's western allies but Washington also is encouraging oil rich countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, to contribute generously." "US To Open Intelligence Training Centre" "Daily Times" (08/25) "General David Petraeus plans to open an intelligence organization at US Central Command this week to train military officers, covert agents and analysts who are willing to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan for up to a decade, The Washington Times reported on Monday." "Plan Ready To Convert PC Hotel Into US Consulate" "Dawn" (08/25) "A plan to turn the city's (Peshawar's)lone five-star hotel, which faced a terrorist attack in June, into the US consulate has almost been finalized as the hotel management has packed up its many things and sent some 300 employees home, sources said. "U.S. May Guarantee Investments In Pakistan Energy Sector" "Dawn" (08/25) "The US administration is willing to offer guarantees to private investors keen to invest in Pakistan's energy sector to help overcome a crisis that threatens to destabilize the energy-starved country. Official sources told 'Dawn' in Washington about two semi-government US organizations Export and Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation will play a major role in encouraging private sector investments in Pakistan." "Afghan Journalist Shot Dead In Khyber" "The News" (08/25) "Unidentified gunmen shot dead Afghan journalist Janullah Hashimzada in the Jamrud area in Khyber Agency on Monday when he was on his way to Peshawar from Afghanistan." "Friends Assure Pakistan Of Help On Malakand Project" "Dawn" (08/25) "The Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) group has praised the Malakand development strategy presented by Pakistan at a meeting here on Monday and offered its support for its implementation." "38 Terrorists Held In Malakand" "Dawn" (08/25) "Security forces claimed on Monday to have arrested 38 terrorists in Swat and other areas of Malakand division. According to an ISPR press release on the Rahe Raast operation, 26 suspects were arrested in Shingarai, Sabgar Shah and Tiligram areas. Six terrorists surrendered in Fatehpur." "Four Militants Killed; 11 Bodies Found In Swat" "The News" (08/25) "Security forces killed four militants during a search operation while 11 bullet-riddled bodies of the militants were found in Sar Tiligram area in the Swat Valley on Monday." "UN team Visits Benazir Hospital, Liaquat Bagh" "Daliy Times" (08/25) "A two-member team of the UN inquiry commission probing the murder of former premier Benazir Bhutto visited the Benazir Bhutto Hospital on Monday and interrogated Dr Mussadiq Hussain, paramedical staff and examined the hospital's emergency ward." "Govt Sets Up New Team For Benazir Murder Probe" "Dawn" (08/25) "The government has formed a new, but high-level team, to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir, a senior official of the interior ministry told 'Dawn' on Monday." "Delhi Links Talks With Action Against Terrorists" "Dawn" (08/25) "India wants to address its differences with Pakistan through dialogue, and Islamabad would help the quest by taking specific steps against terrorists targeting India, Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said on Monday." "India To Approach Interpol For Hafiz Saeed's Arrest" "Daily Times" (08/25) "The Indian government plans to approach Interpol and urge it to issue a Red Notice for the arrest of Jamaatud Dawa (JD) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed for allegedly masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is sending a non-bailable arrest warrant for Saeed and 22 others, including Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) commander Zakirur Rehman Lakhwi and Col (r) Saadatullah, to Interpol." "Security Fear Impacts Relief Activities" "Dawn" (08/25) "Aid workers in Pakistan face serious risks to their lives as they attempt to respond to the needs of over two million people who have been affected by the war against Taliban militants, relief agencies said on Monday." "Ripert To Head UN Relief Efforts In Pakistan" "Dawn" (08/25) "UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed French Ambassador to UN Jean-Maurice Ripert as his special envoy in charge of humanitarian affairs for Pakistan." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Afghan War Getting Worse," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (08/25) "Pakistanis have seen relief from their army's resolute confrontation with the Taliban, subduing them in Malakand and reducing the pressure of terrorist activities in the rest of the country. America and its NATO allies too have to hold on to the belief that getting rid of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the region will ensure global security.... Pakistan must quickly evolve a new strategy for the situation that might arise in the event the Americans lose their will to fight. And the new strategy should not be a pavlovian reflex called "strategic depth". .... Pakistan must retain the will to fight the Taliban and other elements called the 'non-state actors' who are determined to destroy the country's culture and economy." "Who Is Responsible For The Worsening Situation In Afghanistan," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (08/25) "If the U.S. and its allies want to improve the domestic situation in Afghanistan, they need to carry out a full-fledged operation against Al Qaeda that must continue until all terrorists are eliminated or they surrender. It can be said with certainty that if no attention is paid to improving the internal situation in Afghanistan, years from now another American General would be expressing the same concerns that Admiral Mullen has expressed recently." "No Exit Strategy," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (08/25) ". . . Frankly, America doesn't have a credible exit strategy. The more foreign troops stay in Afghanistan and the more their numbers increase, the more they provoke the Afghan nations traditionally zero tolerance for foreign soldiers on its soil. In the ultimate analysis, there has to be a negotiated end to the war. But there is very little evidence that Washington is trying vigorously to formulate a sound exit strategy." "Patient Capital' And Power," an op-ed by Bina Shah in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (08/25) it is quite obvious why 51 per cent of the respond- ents in an american opin- ion poll said the war in afghanistan was not worth fighting - the con- flict is going badly. the militants have not only not been defeated, the taliban insurgency, ac- cording to admiral mullen, chairman of the us joint chiefs of staff, has become "better, more sophisticated". in july, the americans launched a major offensive in the helmand province, which is a taliban bastion. but barring limited successes in the initial stages, the of- fensive has not served to destroy the taliban's pow- er. in fact, as reports con- firm, the taliban feel themselves strong enough to move out to the coun- try's north and northeast. no wonder the casualties suffered by the us-led al- lies this year are higher than those in the corre- sponding period in any previous year. unfortunately, the or- ganisation of the afghan national army has not kept pace with the consis- tent increase in the strength of us-isaf forces, now estimated at 100,000. the ana is officered heavily by tajiks, and that is one reason why the pakhtuns have shied away from joining it in numbers that should re- flect afghanistan's ethnic reality. washington has also placed too much reli- ance on hamid karzai, whose record in power does not inspire much confidence in his ability to deliver, for he has re- aligned himself with pow- erful corrupt warlords like qassim fahim and abdul rashid dostum. frankly, america doesn't have a credible exit strat- egy. the more foreign troops stay in afghanistan and the more their num- bers increase, the more they provoke the afghan nation's traditionally zero tolerance for foreign sol- diers on its soil. in the ul- timate analysis, there has to be a negotiated end to the war. but there is very little evidence that washington is trying vigo- rously to formulate a sound exit strategy. ". . . Will we ever be able to move beyond what they want from us or what we want from them? Recognizing our interdependence, and working with mutual respect to achieve goals that have nothing to do with strategic power or influence, can we come up with a relationship that benefits us without making us post-colonial slaves to the western power dynamic?. . . Perhaps the answer lies in the concept of patient capital. . . The hallmark of patient capital is that the investor makes a long-term investment in a business with no expectation of turning a quick profit. . . It's primarily a business term, but think about the implications of applying it to US-Pakistan relations. The US invests in our education, health or power crisis, but with no short-term expectations, no pressure, and no demands. They act as a friend helping out another friend in need. They wait, patiently, for the long-term dividends of this investment: an improved opinion of the US and the elimination of resentment and suspicion between the two countries. This kind of patient capital will pay off in ways that will benefit us both for generations to come." "U.S. Strategy After Afghan Presidential Elections," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (08/25) "American war preparation and increase in number of troops in Afghanistan show that next one and a half year will be important vis-`-vis politics of the region. Intensification of the resistance could force America to send more troops to Afghanistan. On the contrary it is also possible that America decides to withdraw troops in the face of public pressure.... Anyway, America will have to get out of Afghanistan one day. The political and religious leaders and scholars of Afghanistan are duty bound to hold consultation on transfer of power in the event of the U.S. and Nato withdrawal from the country." "Peshawar Killings," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/25) "The suicide bombing that killed three people, including two women, in Peshawar breaks from past pattern. It appears to be the result of rivalry between two militant organizations. . . The gang war that has broken out involving the Taliban-backed Ansarul Islam and the Lashkar-i-Islam led by the Bara-based Mangal Bagh, which is believed to be behind the latest bombing, is a deadly development. It threatens to turn Peshawar and other places into areas where criminals run virtually amok with access to suicide bombers whom they can apparently unleash at will, creating much greater mayhem each time. . . We must prevent one of our biggest cities from turning into a theatre of war where two ruthless forces engage in a power tussle. The ban imposed on these groups must be enforced and their leaders apprehended under the law." "HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan)Tarnishing Army's Role In Swat," an op-ed by Sayed GB Shah Bokhari in the Peshawar-based independent regional daily "The Statesman" (cir. 3,000) (08/25) "Those terming the recently found dead bodies of 21 militants and discovery of mass graves as a handiwork of the armed forces and demanding inquiries are not only tarnishing the image of the army but putting a spanner in the wheel of operation Raah-e-Raast. Is HRCP not aware that Swat is experiencing a situation of insurgency i.e. rebellion against the state. . . It is unfair when Asma Jehangir in a statement on August 17 declares, "The Commission reiterates that it has come across credible accounts of extra-judicial killings and complaints of reprisal attacks by the security forces during the operation in Swat." She asked the government to conduct enquiry. Her demands pave way for three objectives: justify to the donor agencies to continue giving her setup fat funds, secondly to tarnish the armed forces popularly lauded achievements in the valley and thirdly to divert the attention of the soldiers from concentration in their ongoing action against the militants. It was not expected from the guardians of human rights to keep mum when Taliban were playing havoc with the people of Swat but when the messiah in the form of armed forces brought peace and tranquility to the district it has been maligned with extra-judicial killings. Where the writ of the government had become ineffective and lawlessness prevailed how extra-judicial killings can take place." "The TTP After Baitullah," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/25) "The situation will remain uncertain and confused until the TTP formally announces Baitullah's death. The acts reportedly being carried out to avenge his death continue. Also, the succession struggle has to be resolved and a unanimous decision taken to appoint the new TTP leader before Baitullah's death could be finally conceded. Or it is possible that the Taliban commanders would not do any such thing and keep their detractors guessing. Whatever they decide and whenever they make up their mind, it is obvious that certain TTP commanders are positioning to take over Baitullah's place, even if it is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world." "This Does Not Suit America," an editorial in the Karachi based pro-Jehadi right-wing daily "Ummat" (Cir. 33,000) (08/25) "Admiral Mike Mullen's analysis of Afghan situation is hypothetical and outcome of mere speculations that Al Qaeda is planning another attack on the United States from Afghanistan. There was no concrete evidence that can link the Taliban to the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. invaded Afghanistan on conjecture that the Taliban were involved in the attacks. This move did not suit America, and the strikes heightened sense of insecurity, and it suffered huge economic losses. The U.S. is not fighting a war against terror, in fact it is a war on Muslims and the Americans should say this without mincing their words." "Afghan Presidential Election: America Would Make The Decision," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (08/25) "Both main contenders of Afghan presidential election, the incumbent President Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah are claiming victory from very first day of polling, and Abdullah Abdullah has accused the government of rigging. Ambassador Holbrooke has been getting assurances from Abdullah Abdullah of accepting the election results, but still he is not ready to give any assurance. It is not up to the Afghan people to elect their President, this is going to be an American decision, and the Americans currently support Hamid Karzai. However, Karzai's election will not bring any significant change in Afghanistan." Patterson