PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 03, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002111

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK

SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 03, 2009

Summary: Reports and photographs of an assassination bid on a
Federal Minister in Islamabad dominated front pages in all
newspapers on Thursday. Also highlighted were reports that the
Lahore High Court "suspended its earlier decision lifting
restrictions on the movement of nuclear scientist Dr. Khan." Also
prominently displayed by all newspapers were reports that U.S.
President Obama hosted a dinner at the White House. His reiteration
that "engaging Muslims is one of his fundamental commitments" also
received prominent display. The English language daily "The
Nation," reported that President Zardari directed the relevant
ministries to "prepare a strong case to be put before the U.S.
President Obama-headed summit meeting of Friends of Democratic
Pakistan" scheduled for later this month in New York.

Most major newspapers ran editorials on the much-debated issue of
former military President Musharraf's trial and the Saudis' stepping
in to "rescue" him from any prosecution. However, some newspapers
editorialized the "audacious attack" on Federal Minister Kazmi the
other day. The second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" advised the government to "stop the military operation
during Ramadan so that it does not have to face yet another
terrorism incident." Whereas, the liberal Urdu daily "Express"
propounded that "everyone knows that it is very difficult to break
up [terror] outfits as long as their leadership is free." End
Summary.


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News Stories
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"Audacious Attack On Minister In Capital; Driver Killed" "Dawn"
(09/03)

"Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi was injured in a
brazen attack in Islamabad on Wednesday. His driver was killed and a
police guard injured. The assailants attacked the minister's car
when he was leaving his ministry."

"Order Lifting Curbs On A.Q. Khan Suspended" "Dawn" (09/03)

"The Lahore High Court suspended on Wednesday its earlier decision
lifting restrictions on the movement of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul
Qadeer Khan."

"U.S. Monitoring The Situation After Dr Khan's Release" "The News"
(09/03)

"Expressing concern over the release of Pakistani nuclear scientist
Dr. AQ Khan, the U.S. State Department has said that they were
monitoring the situation very closely because U.S. still believes
that Dr. Khan poses a threat of nuclear proliferation. In a regular
press briefing at the State department, Spokesman Ian Kelly said
that Pakistani Government was fully aware of the U.S. concerns over
this development. He said the United States believes that Dr. A.Q
Khan has the potential of nuclear proliferation because of his past
activities."

"Obama Hosts Iftar Dinner At White House" "The News" (09/03)

"Stating that all religions of the world call for peace and dignity
of human beings, U.S. President Barack Obama has said that it was
his fundamental commitment to foster engagement grounded in mutual
interest and mutual respect between the United States and Muslims
around the world."

"Engaging Muslims A Fundamental Commitment: Obama" "Dawn" (09/03)

"U.S. President Barack Obama has said that engaging Muslims is one
of his fundamental commitments and he wants this engagement to be
based on mutual interests and mutual respect."

"U.S. Cuts Pak Aid To A Trickle" "The News" (09/03)

"The Obama administration has conveyed to Islamabad that it will
provide only $174 million for the budgetary support during 2009-10
out of $1.5 billion annual assistance under the Kerry-Lugar bill.
But Pakistan is objecting to such preposition because the government
will have no direct say in the spending of remaining $1.326 billion,
which will be done by the U.S. with the help of its own
institutional mechanism. In an exclusive talk with The News,
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin told this scribe that the government
prepared its 2009-10 budget on the assumption of $500 million
budgetary support from the U.S. and if this money was not coming
then how would this gap going to be plugged."

"Foreign Ministry, Security Agencies Enter A Row" "The Nation"
(09/03)

"A serious row has erupted between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
the country's security agencies over the return of Craig Davis, a
Peshawar-based US citizen, believed to be an ex-mercenary of
Blackwater, The Nation reliably learnt on Wednesday. According to
sources, Craig Davis, who was found involved in illegal activities
in Peshawar last month and eventually left Pakistan, has returned
again and resumed his mysterious job raising eyebrows of many,
including the country's spy agencies. When Foreign Office spokesman
was contacted in this regard, he was not available for comments. The
sources said that Davis is associated with Creative Associates
International, Inc, a Washington based firm operating out from
Peshawar, which is suspected to be a wing of the U.S. private
security agency, the Blackwater, headed by the U.S. former vice
president Dick Cheney."

"Blackwater Starts Providing Security To U.S. Officials" "Business
Recorder" (09/03)

"Blackwater World-wide, (new name Xe) has started providing security
to U.S. officials in Pakistan particularly in Islamabad and Peshawar
and have rented many houses in the federal capital. The private
security company Blackwater has started its work in Islamabad and
has converted several houses on main Margalla Road into
mini-fortresses by erecting sand walls for protection, sources told
Business Recorder on Tuesday."

"U.S. Base Being Built At Gharo: Shireen Mazari" "Business Recorder"
(09/03)

"Dr.Shirin Mazari spokesperson on foreign affairs, Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf, on Wednesday claimed that a US base is being built
at Gharo, Sindh and Washington is putting pressure on Pakistan Navy
to give a go ahead to the request."

"16 Militants Killed In Bara" "Dawn" (09/03)

"At least 16 suspected militants were killed and 35 others arrested
on the second day of a military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber
Agency on Wednesday. Commander of the operation Brigadier Fayyaz
told journalists in Jamrud that security forces had faced stiff
resistance in Akkakhel and Kohi localities, but cleared the areas
after a clash which left several militants dead."

"Two Militants Killed In Swat" "Dawn" (09/03)

"Two militants were killed in a clash with security forces in
Jambail, 27 were arrested and 13 more surrendered before the forces
in the Swat valley on Wednesday."

"TNSM Leader Dies In Custody" "The News" (09/03)

"Maulana Rahim Gul, one of the founding leaders of banned Tanzim
Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) and a prominent religious scholar,
died in the security forces' custody on Wednesday. Maulana Rahim Gul
had been picked up by security forces some three weeks ago and was
being interrogated in connection with Taliban activities in Shangla
district."

"LHC Grants Bail To 11 Jud Activists" "Dawn" (09/03)

"A division bench of the Lahore High Court comprising Chief Justice
Khwaja Muhammad Sharif and Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Wednesday
allowed bail to 11 Jamatud Dawa activists who had been in jail since
the imposition of UN sanctions on the Jamaat."

"Security Forces Kill 16 Taliban, Arrest 25" "Daily Times" (09/03)

"Security forces on Wednesday killed 16 militants and arrested 25
from Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, officials said. Khyber Agency
Political Agent Captain (r) Tariq Hayat Khan and Brigadier Fayyaz,
incharge of the military offensive, said security forces had
destroyed two explosives-laden vehicles and seized a huge cache of
arms and jihadi literature from them.

"U.S. Helicopters Violate Pak Airspace" "The News" (09/03)

"U.S. helicopter gunships violated Pakistan's air space on
Wednesday. Tribesmen saw the helicopter obviously belonging to the
U.S. army, flying over Landikotal near Torkham in Khyber Agency and
then going back to Afghanistan. The Chopper didn't attack any
target in the Pakistani territory."

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Editorials/Op-eds
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"Terrorism Against Allama Hamid Saeed Kazmi," an editorial note in
the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (09/03)

"The attack on Minister Allama Hamid Saeed Kazmi could be a result
of enmity or it could be a target killing attempt. It is also
possible that the attack was a reaction of forces action against
Lashkar-i-Islam in Kabal, Swat in which 40 extremists were
killed.... Allama Hamid Saeed Kazmi had been an open opponent of
suicide attacks and other terror activities. The Taliban might have
included his name in their hit list.... This is regrettable that
our security forces are continuing with their operation in the
sacred month of Ramazan while the Taliban had announced a ceasefire
in reverence for the month. Resultantly, we saw a suicide attack in
Mingora two days ago and this attack on Minister Kazmi. The
government should ponder as to what good it is achieving by killing
Muslim brothers.... The government should stop the military
operation during Ramazan so that it does not have to face yet
another terrorism incident."

"Murder Attempt On The Religious Affairs Minister; And The Start Of
The Bara Operation," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express"
(Cir. 25,000)

"Everyone knows that it is very difficult to break up [terror]
outfits as long as their leadership is free. Hence it is important
that the leadership of all these groups be apprehended; once this
happens, it would only be a matter of days before extremism dies its
own death. It is also important to arrest those who attacked the
Religious Affairs Minister; arresting the perpetrators of this crime
would also lead to the arrest and elimination of more terrorists."

"Strange Alliance," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/03)

"It is a poor reflection on the American strategy that it has failed
to equip Pakistan Army with the right type of weapons essential to
take on militants in terrains like Swat and Waziristan. Though the
U.S. could have greatly helped in the War on Terror, had they
ensured that it was equipped with Cobra and Apache helicopters, but
somehow they are reluctant to provide them . . . the damage to the
civilian life in Swat could have been avoided to a great extent, had
the Army been equipped with state-of-the-art weapons used by the
U.S. forces just on the other side of the border. As things stand,
the Pakistan Army busy in a military operation to root out terror
from its soil ought to be backed by the U.S. in terms of provision
of modern weapons, particularly Cobra and Apache helicopters."

"U.S. Must Release CSF," an editorial in the country's premier
business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (09/03)

"President Asif Ali Zardari exhorted the United States to meet its
financial obligations to Pakistan during a meeting with a
three-member US congressional delegation. These obligations include
the release of 1.6 billion dollars under the Coalition Support Fund
(CSF),an early passage of the Kerry-Lugar bill and the passage of
legislation to establish reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) in
Pakistan's war affected areas. The CSF and ROZs are not a part of
the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) pledges made by the U.S.
on 17 April 2009. This newspaper fully endorses the President's
plea to the US to release the CSF on an emergent basis, as it will
help in meeting the heavy costs of the ongoing military operations
that this hapless country is fighting. It must not be overlooked
that military action is lowering the incidence of terrorist attacks
on the rest of the world in general and the U.S., in particular, by
keeping Taliban/al Qaeda, which has openly declared the U.S. as its
primary target, engaged militarily in this country."

"Targeting Pakistan And Silencing The Critics," an op-ed by Shireen
M Mazari in the populist, often sensational national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/03)

"While U.S. diplomats target their critics in Pakistan with a new
ferocity, the U.S. media and politicians target the Pakistan's
nuclear and military capability. . . Now, once again, this scribe as
well as some electronic media hosts all of whom have been exposing
the increasing muscle flexing by the growing number of
non-diplomatic Americans now in Pakistan (especially Blackwater -
now re-christened Xe Worldwide) are being targeted. .Just for the
record, whatever has appeared in these columns regarding this group
and the dubious Creative Associates International Inc (CAII) has
been gleaned from Western media sources including the Deutsche
Presse-Agentur (DPA),but then verified from reliable local sources.
.Especially with the Blackwater issue refusing to die down in the
media despite a strange silence in Parliament and in spite of
threats of multiple types from the yet-to-be-expanded U.S. embassy
in Islamabad; new revelations are made on a daily basis about U.S.
shenanigans in Pakistan. Here in Pakistan it has got to the stage
where one is not sure who is an 'official' American and who is not.
. . "

"Our American Mess," an op-ed by Ahmed Quraishi in the populist,
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000)
(09/03)

"The Americans are back to their favorite arm-twisting practice:
Diplomacy through calculated media leaks. The New York Times story
on alleged Pakistani modifications to old-tech US missiles is a
reminder that American interests do not overlap with those of
Pakistan's, despite the best efforts of the pro-American lobby
within the Pakistani government. This lobby has been quite active
recently - through a PR campaign - in defending U.S. position and
counseling fellow citizens to stop opposing Washington because
Pakistan needs American aid. . . Two things stand out: unwarranted
U.S. spying on Pakistan's strategic weaponisation programs and -
more importantly - the preposterous U.S. accusation that Pakistan's
defensive capability risks attracting an arms race with India.
There is only one explanation for the mounting American frustration:
Despite seven years of intense pressures on Pakistan, Washington is
nowhere close to putting a leash on the Pakistani military and its
intelligence agencies. It does not know yet the exact location of
Pakistan's nuclear bombs and warheads. It is no closer to
neutralizing Pakistan's nuclear button despite the wild campaign to
convince the world that Pakistan was incapable of protecting its
weapons. Pakistan managed to deflect pressures and refused to turn
itself into a walkway for American and Indian boots."

"The Saudi Card," an editorial in the populist, often sensational
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/03)

". . . It is true the Saudis have in the past been good allies.
They have come to Pakistan's aid in times of need more than once.
But should we allow anyone to act as our masters? Are we not
capable of taking the fortunes of our country into our own hands?
Perhaps the time has come to ensure that events that take place
within the frontiers of Pakistan are determined by our laws, our
wishes and by the ordinary people who live within the country and
whose fortunes are tied in to political happenings within it."

"Saudi Arabia Must Avoid Defending Musharraf," an editorial in the
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000)
(09/03)

"It appears that the ongoing high-profile activities in Jeddah would
eventually put an end to the political pep talk in Pakistan
regarding the trial of former military president Musharraf.
According to some analysts it is Washington that is calling all the
shots from behind the scenes. They argue that the U.S. does not want
to see its former ally becoming a 'bad example' for the new ones to
learn from. Saudi rulers must keep in mind that any support for a
notorious dictator at this critical juncture may result in
irreparable damage to their goodwill in the eyes of the Pakistani
masses."

"Saudi Arabia To The Rescue," an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (09/03)

"Everyone, however, knows that the Pakistan Army doesn't want to be
distracted from its job of fighting the Taliban by a treason case
against General Musharraf in which many of its serving and retired
officers could be named as accessories. The Saudis, who, more
accurately, have a special relationship with the Pakistan Army, also
know that it is still the most powerful entity in the country which
wishes to remain out of the political melee. Therefore the message
from the army, not absorbed inside Pakistan, may be about to be
driven home in Saudi Arabia. . . What is going on is politics of
revenge all over again. The adding of General Musharraf to the
primitive fires burning in the hearts of our leaders will do
Pakistan the kind of damage that can't be grasped at this stage.
This is the wisdom that is easily understood if you are abroad and
not a Pakistani."
Patterson