PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002278

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

Summary: President Obama's decision to "shelve U.S. missile defense
shield plan in Eastern Europe" received extensive coverage in all
newspapers on Friday. Several Urdu language newspapers highlighted
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman's remarks that the "U.S. would not
be allowed to expand its military operations into Pakistani
territory" and that the infamous security agency, "Blackwater did
not operate in Pakistan." Foreign Minister Qureshi's statement that
"if India thought that it could suppress Pakistan with aggressive
statements, it was living in a fool's paradise" received prominent
display. The prevailing sugar crisis in the country continued to
garner media attention today.

Editorializing U.S. Admiral Mullen's recent statement, made at the
hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, the
prestigious English language daily, "Dawn," observed that "setting
aside the issue of apportioning blame for the mess of militancy for
a minute and taking a hard look at the overall security environment
of this region, Admiral Mullen's frank call for 'realism' is the
right one. Pakistan has serious and legitimate interests to defend
vis-`-vis India." Commenting on the recent statement attributed to
Usama Bin Laden, the populist, often sensational national English
daily "The News," noted that the "message from both sides remains
essentially unchanged and Obama is doing little different to that
which his predecessor did in terms of foreign policy; and Usama bin
Laden continues to fantasize about a worldwide caliphate and return
to the golden age of Islam." In its editorial, the pro-Taliban
Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam," asserted that "President Obama's support
for the plan of additional troops for Afghanistan demonstrates that
he has come under pressure of the Republicans." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"Obama Scraps Bush's Missile Defense Plan" "Dawn" (09/18)

"In a major shift based on a reassessment of the threat from Iran,
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday shelved plans for a missile
shield in Eastern Europe, the cause of a Cold War-style row with
Russia. Mr. Obama decided to replace the shield, the brainchild of
former U.S. President George W. Bush, with a more mobile system
targeting Iranian short-range and medium-range missiles, initially
using sea-based interceptors. 'Our new missile defence architecture
in Europe will provide stronger, smarter, and swifter defenses of
American forces and America's allies,' Mr. Obama said at the White
House."

"FO Denies Presence Of Blackwater" "The News" (09/18)

"Pakistan on Thursday said there is no presence of Blackwater in
Pakistan. Addressing a weekly briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office
spokesman Abdul Basit said Pakistan would not allow any foreign
troops to launch any operation against terrorists inside Pakistan."


"India Can't Cower Pakistan Down: Qureshi" "The News" (09/18)

"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday again made it
clear if India thought that it could suppress Pakistan with
aggressive statements, it was living in a fools' paradise. Foreign
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed these views while talking to
the journalists on Thursday."

"Pakistan Rejects Precondition For India Talks" "Dawn" (09/18)

"Pakistan renewed on Thursday its call for unconditional resumption
of composite dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues,
including Kashmir. 'If they (Indians) refuse to engage in composite
dialogue they should understand that it will have consequences. Are
they aware of those consequences? If not, I would like to explain
those consequences to them,' Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi
said at a press conference before leaving for the United States."

"Obama To Co-Host Friends Of Pakistan Summit" "Dawn" (09/18)

"The first summit-level meeting of the Friends of Democratic
Pakistan (FoDP) will be held on Sept 24 in New York, says an
official document released here on Thursday. The summit will be
co-hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown and President Asif Ali Zardari."

"10 Militants Killed In Swat" "The news" (09/18)

"Security forces on Thursday claimed to have killed 10 militants on
the bank of River Swat near Nawan Killay after an exchange of fire
while scores of others were arrested in search operations in various
parts of Swat Valley, official sources said."

"Two Killed In Bajaur" "The news" (09/18)

"Two militants were killed and three others, including two soldiers,
sustained injuries during a clash with the security forces in
Charmang Valley of Nawagai sub-division in Bajaur Agency on
Thursday,"

"Unexploded Mines Serious threat To Civilians: ICRC" "The news"
(09/18)

"the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed
concern over the unexploded weapons and mines in the war-affected
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and NWFP."

"Forces' Firing Kills Two Women In North Waziristan Agency" "The
News" (09/18)

"Two women were killed and five others, including three minors,
sustained injuries when a vehicle came under fire by the security
forces for violating curfew on Thursday."

"Militants' Attempt To Enter Mingora Foiled" "Dawn" (09/18)

"Security forces foiled an attempt by militants to enter Mingora and
carry out terrorist acts, according to the Swat Media Centre."

"Afghanistan Should Not Destabilize Pakistan: Kerry" "The news"
(09/18)

"Describing Pakistan's stability as a vital U.S. national interest,
top American Senator John Kerry has advocated that Afghanistan
should not be allowed to destabilize its neighbor and the region.
Chairing a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on strategy
for Afghanistan, Kerry called for setting realistic goals in the
insurgency-hit country."

"Haqqani Urges U.S. Not To Walk Away From Region Again" "The News"
website (09/18)

"Sounding a note of caution, Islamabad's envoy to Washington has
said the United States suffered serious consequences as a result of
walking away from Afghanistan and Pakistan after the Soviet pullout
in 1989 and urged that the mistake should not be repeated.
Ambassador Husain Haqqani was a speaker at the U.S. Senate on a
discussion on 'Fighting Insurgencies with Laptops' organized on
Wednesday by the OLPC (One Laptop per Child, a non-profit
organization)."

"Pakistan Firm On Nuclear Non-Proliferation" "The news" (09/18)

"Pakistan is committed to nuclear non-proliferation, has an
immaculate safe-guards record and believes that the global
non-proliferation regime must be strengthened on the basis of moral,
political and international commitments. This was stated by Dr.
Ansar Parvez, Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission while
addressing the 53rd International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
General Conference in Vienna on Thursday."

"Pakistan Ordered Arms Worth $4.5 Billion From U.S." "Dawn," "The
Nation" (09/18)

"Pakistan placed its largest ever arms purchase orders worth $4.5
billion with AMERICA between 2005 and 2008 and its weapons shopping
list included more F-16 fighters and over hundred 155 MM artillery
guns, a latest Congressional report has said."

"Americans Take Over Parts Of Peshawar PC" "The news" (09/18)

"In connection with the U.S. Embassy and consulates expansion plan,
Americans have taken over parts of Peshawar PC after sealing a
purchase deal with the previous administration of the hotel and the
government of Pakistan, according to sources. The U.s. authorities
say with an increase in aid to Pakistan, they will have to hire more
staff here in this country. The U.S. consulate in Karachi is being
expanded on a fast pace, while the Peshawar PC purchase deal has
also been finalized."

"Firm Guarding U.S. Diplomats Gets 80 Arms Licenses" "Dawn" (09/18)

"A private Pakistani security agency being operated by a retired
army captain, and providing security and protection to American
embassy officials in the country, has imported over 80 sophisticated
automatic prohibited bore weapons, following special permission
granted by the prime minister. The retired captain, who was picked
up by a Pakistani intelligence agency a day earlier but soon
released on the production of valid documents, acquired these
licenses for prohibited bore guns for Inter Risk, a company which
has the contract to provide trained security guards for the
Americans, highly informed sources told 'Dawn.'"

"SC To Be Moved On Sugar Price" "Dawn" (09/18)

"The federal government and the four provinces decided on Thursday
to jointly approach the Supreme Court to explain the 'ground
realities' about determination of the sugar price."

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

"Pakistan's Perspective," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(09/18)

"Admiral Mullen has accurately summarized Pakistan's approach by
stating that our strategy for dealing with militancy is affected by
the 'principal' and 'existential' threat from India, though the army
is seriously concerned about the threat of militancy and is
addressing the problem to an extent. Setting aside the issue of
apportioning blame for the mess of militancy for a minute and taking
a hard look at the overall security environment of this region,
Admiral Mullen's frank call for 'realism' is the right one.
Pakistan has serious and legitimate interests to defend vis-`-vis
India.... Second, Admiral Mullen has correctly pointed out that
there is real uncertainty in Afghanistan and Pakistan over whether
the Americans remain committed to the region. Part of that
uncertainty, which breeds fear and perhaps causes the Pakistani and
Afghan governments to baulk at full cooperation with the U.S., is
created by the way the U.S. has defined its goal in the region i.e.
eliminating safe havens for Al Qaeda. Suppose the Americans do
achieve that goal, will that mean cutting and running like they did
two decades ago? Notwithstanding long-term aid commitments, the
U.S. needs to do more to reassure Pakistan and Afghanistan of its
commitment to the region."

"Also The Third Threat!," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/18)

"The top U.S. military commander, Admiral Michael Mullen, fails to
read Pakistan's present predicament fully when he tells the Senate
Committee on Armed Services that it faces threat from two fronts,
one from the Indian side and the other from the militants....
Clearly, the idea is to avoid ruffling its feathers. And it seems
that he grudgingly accepts that the U.S. strategy would have to
accommodate these perceptions, including the pace at which Pakistan
is tackling the militant phenomenon.... One would expect that that
should serve as a lesson to the huge U.S. and NATO force that has
been operating in Afghanistan for nearly eight years against an
enemy that shows no signs of wilting. No doubt, the use of
firepower has its merits and demerits, as it almost inevitably
entails the loss of innocent lives, but excessive concern, to the
point of cowardliness, about the safety of the life of soldiers
cannot win wars."

"Pakistan: Threats On The Eastern And Western Borders," an editorial
in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (circ. 10,000) (09/18)

"It is encouraging that U.S. defense and political circles are
acknowledging Pakistan army's superb performance in the war on
terror. American political circles should also pay attention to
Admiral Mullen's statement that Pakistan army faces threats from
India on the eastern border and Afghanistan on the western border.
American and NATO forces are facing a threat from Afghanistan as
well and are combating it, but Pakistan alone has to face the threat
[from India] on its eastern border.... It now remains to be seen
what measures the U.S. government takes to meet Pakistan's military
needs, especially what steps it takes to stop Indian interference in
Balochistan. American government must also note the change in
Indian attitude so that the Foreign Minister-level talks at UNGA are
productive and pave the way for composite dialogue."

"On Message," an editorial in the populist, often sensational
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/18)

"The message from both sides remains essentially unchanged and Obama
is doing little different to that which hQ predecessor did in terms
of foreign policy; and Usama bin-Laden continues to fantasize about
a world-wide caliphate and a return to the Golden Age of Islam.
Moderation has yet to enter the equation, despite Obama 'reaching
out' to the Muslim world, and about the only thing the messages from
either side have in common is that they are written in blood.
Neither side has the killer punch that would decide the contest and
both are content to spend lives in an unwinnable war."

"U.S. Moving Towards End Of Soviet Union," an editorial in the
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000)
(09/18)

"President Obama's support for the plan of additional troops for
Afghanistan demonstrates that he has come under pressure of the
Republican Congressmen. And now he is making a decision that may
not be very popular in his own country either, as a recent survey
conducted by the CNN established that the support for Afghan war is
declining even in the United States."

"U.S. Aid Controversy," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/18)

"The U.S. aid package to Pakistan has spawned a heated debate. It
all started when U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson remarked
that the U.S. has given a sum of $3 billion in economic, security
and development assistance since President Zardari came to power.
The statement however met with a firm rebuttal by Minister for
Finance Shaukat Tarin who maintained that the U.S. has provided only
$970 million since the PPP-led government took office.... It
becomes hard to tell who is telling the truth.... People after all
must be wondering whether $3 billion did come, and if so, where did
it go? Therefore it is of utmost importance that the public should
be shown the true picture.... Keeping public in the dark in matters
of foreign aid flowing into Pakistan should be made a thing of the
past."

'Contradictory Claims By U.S. Ambassador And Finance Minister On
U.S. Aid To Pakistan," an editorial note in the second largest,
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (09/18)

"Ambassador Anne W. Paterson is one of the responsible U.S.
officials and her coming out with an unconfirmed statement on U.S.
assistance to Pakistan seems implausible. In this connection,
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin's statement is also meaningful, who
did not clearly contradict the U.S. Ambassador's statement. What he
said was that he is aware of U.S. assistance of only $970
million.... If American Ambassador's statement on $3 billion aid to
Pakistan is based on facts then this entire matter should be
investigated. Where did the aid go, who received and utilized it,
did it go to the personal account of any individual? This is a
serious matter."

"U.S. Assistance To People Or To Government?," an editorial in the
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir.
25,000) (09/18)

"The United States Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson, in a
written statement issued by the Embassy, claimed that 'the U.S.
government has already provided 3 billion dollars since President
Zardari was elected and will continue to deliver assistance to
Pakistan through a variety of longstanding vectors as required by
American law to ensure transparency and accountability, and is not
depriving Pakistani government of any degree of direct funding as a
result of a lack of confidence or trust.'... Patterson's target
audience, it appears, was the government and not the people of this
country. Her assertion that accountability and transparency will be
ensured as per the American law would, without doubt, be supported
by the people of this country as the perception of weak governance
is pervasive at present.... If winning the hearts and minds of the
people of Pakistan is indeed the U.S. administration's priority as
stated by Paul Jones, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan
and Pakistan, then the focus must remain on transparency and
accountability in assistance."

"Another Head," an editorial in the populist, often sensational
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/18)

"The Chief of the Taliban's beheading squad (Sher Muhammad Qasab)
becomes the latest key militant to be held.... His capture, along
with 17 other militants further weakens the Swat Taliban.... The
time has come too to assess the impact of the terror. The regular
beheadings in the central square at Mingora, the gory display of
heads atop stakes, the floggings and beatings which were a norm of
life under the Taliban and the fear which stalked every street have
left behind many effects.... The time has come to reclaim Swat and
our society as a whole. Counseling is required for those who have
lived through the nightmare.... We also need laws to be put in
place against the distribution of material that promotes violence."


"What Next For Taliban Leaders?," an op-ed by Dr. Masooda Bano in
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (09/18)

"Now that the government has had some success in capturing alive
some senior leaders of the Taliban resistance in Swat, the question
is, what will the government do with them? Are they going to be put
on trial? If yes, how accessible will the proceedings be to the
public? There is no denying that bringing these elements to court
is the most acceptable way to proceed.... The fact remains that
these Taliban, whoever they are, could not have reached the scale
they did in Swat without some systematic support from influential
actors within or outside the country. It is logically very
difficult to see how people who have very rudimentary levels of
education, have very limited exposure to modern technologies, and
belong to the economically less privileged groups can arm and
organize themselves to a level where they could virtually take over
the entire administration of Swat."

"Blasphemy Law Guarantees Protection To Minorities," an editorial
note in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt"
(09/18)

"Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer should dissociate himself from his
statement on the repeal of blasphemy law. If contempt of court law
is necessary then why can't we have blasphemy law? Not defending
the blasphemy law is manifestation of weak faith."

"Pakistan's Turn," and op-ed by Dr. Inayatullah Faizi in the
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (09/18)

"Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI),Syed Munawwar Hasan, has claimed
that the U.S.is planning to invade Pakistan after occupying
Afghanistan.... But I think the JI leader is deliberately ignoring
the history. The U.S. had started its full interference in
Afghanistan in 1978 after already subduing Pakistan in connivance
with its local allies, including religious parties and the then
military junta of our ill-fated country. The present multiple
crises Pakistan is passing through are the fruits of that unholy
alliance between the U.S. and our ruling political and religious
elites."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson