PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 27, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002049 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 27, 2009 Summary: Reports on national political developments dominated headlines in all newspapers on Thursday. U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke's statement made during a CNN interview that the "deadly Taliban insurgency in both countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) relies heavily on funding from the Persian Gulf" received prominent display in all dailies. Some major newspapers highlighted the U.S. General Petraeus's statement that the "enormous amount of hard work and tough fighting lie ahead in Afghanistan." In other news, several newspapers highlighted reports that a "shutter-down strike was observed in Quetta and some other cities of Balochistan to mark the death anniversary of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti." The leading mass circulation Urdu daily, "Jang" highlighted Interior Minister Malik's remarks clarifying erroneous media reports that "U.S. Embassy (in Islamabad) has been provided land according to the appropriate rules." Most major dailies ran editorials on the expected disappointing outcome of the recently concluded Friends of Democratic Pakistan moot in Istanbul. In its editorial, the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang," noted that the "donor countries have some reservations due to the alleged large-scale corruption of our politicians and bureaucrats and the misuse of economic aid in the past." Likewise, the Karachi-based English daily "Dawn," wrote: "Fiscal prudence, or even propriety, has not been the hallmark of successive Pakistani governments. Bloated bureaucracies and poor planning have combined over the years to squander both taxpayer rupees as donor dollars." However the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt," advocated to "stop waiting for yet another donors conference, shun the role of frontline U.S. ally and start the reconstruction work in the country independently." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Gulf Oil Fuelling Taliban Wars: Holbrooke" "Daily Times" (08/27) "Richard Holbrooke, the top US diplomat for Afghanistan and Pakistan, told CNN on Tuesday the deadly Taliban insurgency in both countries relies heavily on funding from the Persian Gulf." "Tough Fighting, Hard Work Needed In Afghanistan: US" "Dawn" (08/27) "Two top US military commanders warned on Wednesday that the situation in Afghanistan was extremely challenging and they needed more than battlefield victories to succeed. 'Given the deterioration in the security situation, an enormous amount of hard work and tough fighting lie ahead in Afghanistan,' said General David H. Petraeus. 'The stakes are high, (and) the situation is extremely challenging,' said Admiral James G. Stavridis." "Pakistanis Suffered Most At The Hands Of Al Qaeda: US" "Daily Times" (08/27) "No nation has suffered at the hands of Al Qaeda the way Pakistanis have suffered after the 9/11 attacks, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Pakistan and Afghanistan, David Sedney, said on Wednesday, a private TV channel reported." "Mullen Says US Starting Over In Afghanistan" "The News" (08/27) "Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman Joint Chiefs Staff, has said due to years of neglect of Afghanistan war, the United States is basically 'starting over' in its battle against the radical Taliban movement and its al-Qaeda allies.The top US military officer acknowledged in an interview with the Boston Globe that public support for the Afghan war is waning and that the US operation needs 12 to 18 months to turn this thing around. 'It is doable, but it is going to take some time,' he said, urging Americans to be patient." "Complete Shut Down, Wheel Jam Observed" "The News" (08/27) "A shutter down and wheel jam strike was observed in Quetta and some other cities of Balochistan on the third death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti as bomb blasts, firing incidents and attacks on security forces in various parts of the province were reported on Wednesday." "NWFP Wants Terror War Compensation" "The News" (08/27) "The NWFP government and opposition political parties on Wednesday unanimously demanded an additional five per cent share for the province in the upcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) award to compensate for the losses suffered during the anti-terror war." "PHC Orders Release Of Sufi's Sons" "The News" (08/27) "The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday ordered the release of three sons of Maulana Sufi Muhammad, detained along with their father under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance." "Commander Among Eight Militants Killed In Swat" "The News" (08/27) "Three militants, including a commander, were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the Kokarai area in the Swat Valley on Wednesday." "4 Soldiers Killed In SWA Convoy Attack" "The News" (08/27) "Pakistani Jets and helicopter gunships pounded militant positions in South Waziristan on Wednesday, officials said, in a fresh assault on Taliban militants in the tribal belt. The bombardment in SWA comes after the death of Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud." "Hakimullah A Fiercely Ambitious Militant" "Dawn" (08/27) "With Hakimullah Mehsud having been formally appointed the amir (chief) of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),replacing the dreaded Baitullah, the powerstruggle is over (at least for the moment) and the first phase of transition in tribal areas' extremist Islamic militant movement is complete." "Taliban Seen As Regrouping: Report" "The News" (08/27) "An agreement by two top leaders of the Pakistani Taliban to share power following their chief's killing is a sign the al-Qaeda-allied movement is regrouping, but questions remain whether the network is as united as it seeks to appear. Two intelligence officers warned Wednesday that the group's new leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, may stage high-profile attacks in Pakistani cities to show it is still in business and avenge the death of his chief Baitullah Mehsud." "Oil Tanker Blown Up" "The Nation" (08/27) "A tanker carrying oil supplies for NATO forces was blown up in Torkham area on Wedneday." "India Refuses Jaswant Visit NOC" "Dawn" (08/27) "Jaswant Singh whose book on Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah has raked up a storm in India, resulting in his expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party, is not coming to Pakistan as announced earlier by local promoters of the book." "Indian Dossier Lacks Concrete Proof Against Saeed" "Dawn" (08/27) "India's only evidence against Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed is based on statements given by three accused detained in the Mumbai attack case, claiming that the banned outfit's leader had overseen their training and urged them in his sermons to carry out attacks." "India Hopes World Will Take Note Of Interpol Alert" "Dawn" (08/27) "Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna has said the world must take notice of the Interpol alert against Hafiz Saeed of the Jamaatud Dawa." "U.S. Embassy Has Been Provided Land According To Appropriate Rules: Interior Minister Rehman Malik" "Jang" (08/27) "Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the government has provided a piece of land to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad according to the appropriate rules and regulations. In an interview rview with the Geo TV, Mr. Malik clarified vehemently that the U.S. Mission didn't grab the piece of land, in fact, the CDA has allotted this piece of land to the U.S. Mission on latter's formal request as some plots have been allotted to the China Embassy and other foreign missions." "US Refuses To Discuss Blackwater Mission In Pakistan" "The News" (08/27) ". . . US embassy spokesman Richard W Snelsire, however, when asked about the presence of Blackwater personnel in Pakistan, said, 'We don't discuss issues related to the security that include the contractors, who are assigned the security tasks.' Snelsire said that making public such details would endanger lives. He said that 95% of the security personnel doing security work with the US embassy and its officials are from the Pakistani security companies. Regarding Marines, he said that presently the US embassy has only eight Marines and when the expansion project of the embassy would complete in years to come, this strength would go up to 15-20 maximum." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Win People's Confidence, Global Credibility Will Be Restored," an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (08/27) "The Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) has so far failed to fully honor its commitments to provide $5.7 billion as financial assistance to Pakistan. Almost the entire world admits that, due to its pivotal role in the War on Terror, Pakistan is facing a number of crises and needs a helping hand from the international community. But donor countries have some reservations due to the alleged large-scale corruption of our politicians and bureaucrats and the misuse of economic aid in the past. According to reports, our friends want to know further details of the utilization of their money as Ambassador Richard Holbrooke has also pointed out during his recent visit. It is the need of the hour that our government must pay some heed to its shortcomings and set its own house in order." "Friends' Relutance," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (08/27) "Fiscal prudence, or even propriety, has not been the hallmark of successive Pakistani governments. Bloated bureaucracies and poor planning have combined over the years to squander both taxpayer rupees and donor dollarsl. . . it is not just the donors who are entitled to such information. The people of Pakistan also deserve to know how the funds that are being raised in their name will be utilised by the government. There can be no compromise on transparency or quality of work. . ." "Disappointment At Not Getting Expected Assistance From Friends Of Pakistan: Self-Reliance is in the National Interest," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (08/27) "Foreign Minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi has stressed upon the international community to disburse to Pakistan billions of dollars assistance it had announced with a reference to Swat operation.... The Foreign Minister talk in Istanbul shows that the expectations of assistance promised in Tokyo donor's conference could not materialize in Istanbul, although the guarantor of the promises, President Obama's envoy, Holbrooke was present in the conference.... According to the Foreign Minister, we have been given only $300 million, which is reflective of our foreign policy failure.... This is time for us to stop waiting for yet another donor's conference, shun the role of frontline U.S. ally and start the reconstruction work in the country independently." "Friends Of Pakistan Meeting And Demands Of Time," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (08/27) "It is encouraging that the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) have realized Pakistan's growing energy needs, and also the fact that the country is currently facing a grave energy crisis. Pakistan will be able to control many of its problems if the Friends help it in this regard. However the government must also ensure that any assistance from the FoDP is utilized in a transparent manner, and that it is not squandered away." "The N-Terrorism Threat," an op-ed by Amjed Jaaved in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/27) ". . . Foreign media continues to express doubts about security and safety of Pakistan's nuclear materials. . . Dr Shaun Gregory, in his article 'The terrorist threat to Pakistan's nuclear weapons', went as far as to claim that three attacks on Pakistan's nuclear facilities have already taken place... The truth about the attacks is that they are all figments of rotten imagination. . . The 'research work' by well-known scholars reflects visceral hatred against Pakistan. The findings in fresh 'magnum opuses' are a re-hash or amalgam of the presumptions and pretensions in earlier-published 'studies.' Will the Western press stop churning out reports about vulnerability of nuclear Pakistan? It is time that the West deflected its attention to India where movements of nuclear materials, under 123 expansion plan, would take place between nuclear-power plants sprawling across different states." "Buried At Last," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/27) ". . . it is also true that it (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) has been weakened. The rival claims to leadership heard over the past weeks underscore this. It is indeed still not clear if Hakimullah's leadership will be challenged or indeed how he has been chosen. The question now is whether the TTP will be allowed to re-build and reassemble itself around a new leader or whether it will be delivered a death blow now that some of its weaknesses have been exposed." "Post Baitullah," an editorial note in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (08/27) ". . . The TTP as a fighting force has certainly been degraded after military operations in Swat and Bajaur, the two major strongholds of the TTP outside the Waziristan agencies. And the myth of the Taliban as an omnipotent force that could usurp the state's writ over huge swathes of northwest Pakistan has certainly been dented. But the TTP still has the capacity to launch suicide attacks and destabilise the country. So while cautious optimism may be warranted, unbridled glee is not - at least not yet." "We Should Exploit the Taliban Split," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (08/27) "The post-Baitullah confusion in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not expected to go away soon.... How can Pakistan exploit this situation? The initial opinion seems to be divided between those who recommend a forward policy and those who 'caution against too much interference in the fiercely independent tribal areas.' If the fear is that going into South Waziristan will trigger some kind of tribal reaction that Pakistan cannot deal with, why not think of moving in areas outside South Waziristan, placing a wedge between Waliur Rehman and Hakimullah?" "Rifts Within TTP," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/27) ". . . Momentum of [the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan] at one time, when every other day they were beheading civilians, flogging women for stepping out of their homes, blowing up girls' schools in Swat and staging deadly bomb attacks, was going too fast for the security forces to stop. But the death of the man who was at the helm of the movement has made considerable difference and the saga of terror he had unleashed finally seems to be subsiding.... This is a godsent opportunity for the Army to benefit from the rifts and infighting that is going on in the outfit and to dismember the network once and for all." "Successor of Baitullah Mehsud and Tehrik-e-Taliban," an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (08/27) "The election of the new chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shows that the Taliban, though to some extent, have overcome their internal differences. The Pakistan government adopted a very bizarre policy after the killing of Baitullah and deliberately provided the Taliban breathing space to choose their new chief. The government could fully exploit the interim period for stoking serious differences among various extremist groups in order to further weaken the Taliban movement. This strategy gives rise to certain doubts as if the government has reached a compromise with the Taliban." "Obama's Summer Of Discontent," an op-ed by Tariq Fatemi in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (08/27)far from being dead, as claimed in some quar- ters, hakeemullah meh- sud is the new chief of the tehrik-i-taliban pakistan and has seemingly buried the hatchet with his rival waliur rehman. at least that is the gist of the inter- view given to the asso- ciated press by the two militant leaders on tues- day. in truth, however, lit- tle is clear about the ttp's future. the attempt by mehsud and rehman to paper over the cracks in their relationship has not convinced many observ- ers. it is believed that the afghan taliban and al qaeda intervened in the succession issue and brokered the new arrange- ment, but only time will tell if the ttp will hold together in the wake of baitullah meh- sud's killing. there is certainly ten- sion within the ranks of the ttp leadership and earlier reports of fighting between mehsud and rehman are believed to be true. unity has not been threatened by one is- sue: all ttp leaders agree that the foreign forces in afghanistan must be fought. however, the con- sensus has broken down on two other critical is- sues. one, should the ttp continue to attack the pakistani state and other targets inside the country? two, who should lead the ttp? while baitullah mehsud was alive, the answer to the latter ques- tion was never in doubt while baitullah's answer to the former was an un- equivocal yes. but now that he is dead, there is no clear answer to either question yet. does that mean though the state should pat itself on the back for a job well done? not quite. the ttp as a fighting force has cer- tainly been degraded after military operations in swat and bajaur, the two major strongholds of the ttp outside the waziris- tan agencies. and the myth of the taliban as an omnipotent force that could usurp the state's writ over huge swathes of northwest pakistan has certainly been dented. but the ttp still has the ca- pacity to launch suicide at- tacks and destabilise the country. so while cautious optimism may be warran- ted, unbridled glee is not - at least not yet. ". . . It is Obama's desire to resolve the Middle East conflict that has galvanised the opposition. . . Obama even chose to take on this issue so early and with so much resolve is a testimony to both his courage and conviction that without its early resolution, the Muslim world would continue to harbour serious misgivings about the US. . . Many Israelis are also uncomfortable with the administration's policy of 'outreach and engagement', especially with states like Syria, North Korea and Iran. There is also the fear that engaging with the Muslim world, an avowed aim of the president - will inevitably result in a distancing from Israel, especially if Obama wants to appear more even-handed to Arab states. . . To the Israelis, this approach sounds not only naove but even dangerous. Israel fears that at the end of the day, its options will narrow down to two: live with an Iranian bomb or strike Iran to destroy or delay its nuclear programme. And now, with public support for the Afghan war eroding as well, Obama's summer holidays are unlikely to give him much time to relax and recoup." Patterson