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. -------------- News Stories -------------- "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." -------------- 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