PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 09, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002173 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 09, 2009 Summary: Reports on national political themes dominated front pages in all newspapers on Wednesday. Prime Minister Gilani's remarks refuting yet again that "Blackwater is not working in the country" received front page coverage in several major newspapers. Newspapers highlighted reports that "10 militants were killed in a U.S. drone attack in North Waziristan." Reports that "Taliban shot dead four schoolchildren in Orakzai Agency" also received prominent display. All dailies also reported that the "suspected Taliban torched eight NATO oil tankers near Quetta." Several major newspapers highlighted reports that some unidentified masked men "kidnapped a Greek volunteer in Chitral." Most major newspapers ran editorials on local political subjects including the judiciary's role in Pakistani society, the renaming of the NWFP province, the Balochistan issue and so forth. End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "No Black-Water Working In Country: PM" "The Nation" (09/09) "... To a question about the presence of Black-water organisation in the country, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said, 'This is disinformation, no such organisation with the name of Black-water is working in the country.' He was talking to media men in Peshawar at Civil Secretariat after chairing a high-level briefing on Malakand Division on Tuesday." "U.S. Drone Hit Kills 10" "The Nation" (09/09) "A U.S. missile strike from a drone aircraft on Tuesday killed at least 10 militants in a tribal area of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, Pakistani officials said. The strike targeted a Taliban compound in Dargamandi village of North Waziristan, a senior security official told AFP." "Taliban Kill Four Schoolchildren" "Dawn" (09/09) "The Taliban on Tuesday shot dead four schoolchildren and wounded six others in the remote tribal town of Atmankhel in Orakzai Agency, local administration official Asmatullah Khan said." "Eight NATO Oil Tankers Gutted" "Dawn" (09/09) "Eight oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan were set on fire by four masked men near the Western Bypass on the outskirts of Quetta on Tuesday." "Pak-Afghan Border At Chaman Closed Again" "The News" (09/09) "Pak-Afghan Border was once again closed in less than two weeks as fresh dispute over checking process emerged again on Tuesday. Supplies to NATO and American forces in Afghanistan were stopped due to closure of border." "Greek Volunteer Kidnapped In Chitral" "The News" (09/09) "Unidentified masked men kidnapped a Greek volunteer and a schoolteacher after killing their police security guard in Bumboret Valley, some 35 kilometers off Chitral, late Monday night." "24 Killed In Bara Operation" "Dawn" (09/09) "The security forces claimed on Tuesday to have killed 24 more militants on the eighth day of the ongoing military operation in Bara. The media cell of the Frontier Corps in Jamrud said in a statement that two 'headquarters,' two hideouts and two vehicles of militants were destroyed by helicopter shelling in Kamarkhel and Zawah areas." "Training Camp Destroyed" "Dawn" (09/09) "Nine militants were killed and three others injured when fighter jets destroyed a large camp of the proscribed Tehriki-Taliban Pakistan in lower Orakzai Agency on Tuesday, according to officials." "Taliban Commander Killed In Khar" "Dawn" (09/09) "A key Taliban commander was killed in a clash with security forces in the Khar bazaar and another commander and five militants were arrested in the Bajaur Agency on Tuesday." "12 surrender, 13 Houses Destroyed In Swat" "The News" (09/09) "Twelve more militants surrendered to the security forces in Galoch area in Kabal tehsil while 13 houses of militants were blown up elsewhere in the Valley. The security forces also recovered a cache of arms in Sarsanai during the search and clearing operation." "No More Cantonments In Balochistan: ISPR" "The News" (09/09) "Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas has said that the political leadership has taken the decision not to set up army cantonments in Balochistan and the army would abide by the decision." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Bloodshed In NWFP And FATA," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (09/09) "The mass killings of innocent people, dubbed as militants, of the NWFP and FATA in the military operation launched by the Pakistan Army, on the one hand, and the U.S. drone attacks, on the other, on daily-basis may foment sentiments of a rebellion in these areas. Such a situation will have the potential to jeopardize the security of the country. The government must stop the ongoing military operation in tribal areas and also adopt a robust strategy to counter the drone attacks." "Endless Drone Attacks," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (09/09) "It is quite ironic that the sovereignty of Pakistan, a hardcore U.S. ally in its war on terror, is being threatened by the U.S. itself. On several occasions, Pakistan has made it clear that only the Pakistani troops will operate on our side of the territory and rejected the notion that it would allow U.S. to challenge its sovereignty, but has it been the case?... This is not only humiliating, but quite worrisome as well.... The posture of the U.S. has become downright interventionist now, which is quite alarming." "Grappling With disbursement Issue," an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (09/09) "In order to overcome the suspicion of wastage through government-managed bodies, the U.S. government could route the funding through certified NGOs, which have been pre-assessed and pre-qualified by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP). PCP can also provide help in monitoring and oversight, at a much lower fee, and ensure that the benefits reach genuine recipients. President Obama has rightly said that 'there should be no blank cheques.' However, he needs to recognize that the co-branding 'U.S. Aid' in some key projects in targeted areas may not be possible, as they could become potential targets for terrorist acts. Thus, the rules governing unsolicited project grants need to be differentiated from solicited project grants. The same flexibility needs to be incorporated in the present 'straight jacket format' to overcome the U.S. Aid logo restriction on projects earmarked in the troubled region, to overcome local resistance." "A Piecemeal And Voluntary Ceding Of Sovereignty," an op-ed by Shireen M. Mazari in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/09) "Now, even if one were to ignore the massive purchases of land by the U.S., the questionable manner in which the expansion of the U.S. embassy is taking place and the threatening covert activities of the U.S. and its 'partner in crime' Black-water; the unregistered comings and goings of U.S. personnel on chartered flights; we would still find it difficult to see the whole aid disbursement issue as anything other than a sign of U.S. gradual occupation. It is no wonder we have the term Af-Pak: Afghanistan they control through direct occupation loosely premised on a UN resolution; Pakistan they are occupying as a result of willingly ceded sovereignty by the past and present leadership.... So we are ready to surrender partial sovereignty in any case to the U.S. for the trickle of assistance that may eventually come." "Post-Baitullah TTP," an op-ed by Saleem Safi in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/09) "The U.S. and Afghan forces are gearing up to wage a final battle to eliminate Al Qaeda and the Taliban. This makes the Pakistani tribal areas as the most significant refuge for the Taliban. Sensing this possibility, the U.S. has put pressure on Pakistan to flush out militants from its tribal belt. The U.S. is monitoring all the offensives launched by the Pakistani forces against the Taliban. The frequent visits of U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrook to Pakistan and his reduced focus on Afghanistan are also reflective of this strategy. Even if we repudiate the notion of the presence of US Marines on Pakistani soil, we could easily assess the increasing direct contacts of U.S. officials with Pakistani media persons, civil society organizations, politicians, which are mainly meant to collect information and assess the situation on the ground in Pakistan." "Pakistan Afghanistanized," an op-ed by Mosharraf Zaidi in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/09) "When it comes to making use of foreign assistance, Pakistan has shot itself in the feet too many times. Calling out the Americans on administrative expenditure is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Arguing with any donor, American or not, about knowing development better than they do, is a case of selling fairytales.... Moreover, by choosing to constantly beg donors for money, Pakistan has turned itself into a state that cannot choose what donors give it. Its entire argument for getting more money is that it is a weak state. Now it turns around and says, weak shmeak, give us the money, we know what to do with it, and how to do it right. It all seems ridiculously audacious for one reason. It really is." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson