PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: OCTOBER 02, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002379 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: OCTOBER 02, 2009 Summary: Reports on U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Feierstein's media roundtable dominated front pages in all newspapers on Friday. All major dailies quoted him as saying that "Taliban leader Mullah Omar was in Quetta while Usama was in FATA." Side by side, newspapers also ran Pakistan Foreign Office's denial terming the statement of the DCM as "baseless speculation." Also highlighted were remarks attributed to Interior Minister Malik that the "U.S. (had) raised Quetta Shura (issue) with President Zardari (as well)." Several major newspapers highlighted report that the "U.S. and Pakistan signed agreements worth 899 million dollar in the areas of health, education, governance, and reconstruction." Reports on the International Republican Institute's latest opinion poll that "an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis continues to reject the U.S. as partner in the country's fight against militancy" received extensive coverage. Also front-paged were reports that the ISI chief General Pasha met U.S. security officials in Washington to "make Pakistan's 'input' into the new U.S. strategy for the Pak-Afghanistan region." Senator Kerry's remarks expressing hope that the "U.S. aid package would ease widespread anti-Americanism in Pakistan" also figured prominently. Some major newspapers continued to run editorials and op-eds on the pros and cons of the Kerry-Lugar bill just passed by the U.S. Congress. The center-right national English daily "The Nation," observed that "backed by parliamentary support, the government could have told the U.S. Congress and the Obama administration that the Parliament was not prepared to accept the intrusive and destabilizing conditionalities." A prominent columnist Ayaz Amir opined in the English language daily, "The News," that the "Kerry-Lugar, in so far as it reads like a charter of dictations, demeans and diminishes the struggle we are engaged in." In contrast, the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan," maintained that "this could be said with full confidence that Kerry-Lugar Bill does not entail anything that could justify a uproar or which could be described as transgression of Pakistan's independence and sovereignty." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Omar, Usama In Pakistan: Diplomat; U.S. Demands Action In Quetta" "Dawn" (10/02) "The United States stepped up pressure on Pakistan on Thursday, asking it to dismantle what a U.S. Embassy official described as Taliban's command structure in Quetta, commonly known as the Quetta Shura, for the sake of securing peace in Afghanistan. The diplomat did not rule out use of drones against what he called Quetta Shura. 'In the first instance, we will like the government of Pakistan to move aggressively to prevent the use of Pakistan's soil (by Taliban) in this way ... we hope the GoP will take steps to arrest these individuals,' U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Gerald Feierstein told journalists in Islamabad." "Drone Hits In Quetta Unacceptable: FO" "The Post" (10/02) "Foreign Office spokesman strongly rejected the allegations of U.S. Embassy about the presence of Taliban leaders including Mullah Omar in Quetta and termed these allegations as baseless and fabricated. The spokesman in his remarks on western media reports and allegations leveled by U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Gerald Feierstein said that these allegations were baseless and if the United States had any information about presence of Taliban leadership in Quetta, then it should share this information with Pakistan." "U.S. Raised Quetta Shura With Zardari, Says Malik" "The Nation" (10/02) "Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad on Thursday confirmed to the Senate's Standing Committee that the American leadership in Washington had asked President Asif Ali Zardari about the presence of Al-Qaeda men in Quetta. 'We have asked them to provide us with any evidence in this regard,' he added." "Quetta Not On U.S. Hit List, Says Malik" "The News" (10/02) "Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Thursday rejected the news report that Quetta was on the U.S. hit list. 'I was with President Asif Ali Zardari during his meetings in the U.S. with Hillary Clinton, the director CIA, Holbrooke and other U.S. dignitaries. They said nothing like that, as there are only apprehensions that some Taliban and Mullah Omar might be in Quetta. We have categorically told them that they are not in Quetta and if they have real time information, they must give it to us and we will take action on it,' he said while talking to journalists in Islamabad." "U.S. Provides Pakistan With $920 Million For Development" "Daily Times" (10/02) "The Governments of United States and Pakistan on Thursday signed agreements worth $899 million in the areas of health, education, governance, and reconstruction from the 2005 earthquake. The agreements bring the total obligations to Pakistan through USAID this year to $920 million, a statement by the U.S. Embassy said." "Poll: Pakistanis Oppose Assisting U.S. Terror Fight" "Dawn," "The News" (10/02) "An overwhelming number of Pakistanis believe their leaders should not cooperate with the U.S. fight against terrorism, according to a poll released on Thursday, amid a spate of American missile strikes aimed at Islamist militants that have also killed civilians. Eighty per cent of people surveyed said 'no' when asked if Pakistan should assist the U.S. in the 'war on terror,' according to the poll by the International Republican Institute, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization." "ISI Chief Meets U.S. Security Officials" "Dawn" (10/02) "ISI Chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, who is currently on a trip to the United States, has met CIA Director Leon Panetta, President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor Gen. James L. Jones and U.S. National Intelligence Chief Dennis Blair in Washington to make Pakistan's 'input' into the new U.S. strategy for the Pak-Afghan region, diplomatic sources told 'Dawn.' 'They discussed the current security situation in the Pak-Afghan region,' said a diplomatic source aware of the talks. 'Gen. Pasha informed his U.S. counterparts how Pakistan views the new policy debate in Washington.'" "Threats To U.S. Emanate From South Asia: FBI" "Dawn" (10/02) "Top U.S. security officials have once again warned that the terrorists based in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas pose a serious threat to the United States and its interests. In testimony before the U.S. Senate, the officials said that despite recent arrests, they remained worried about Al Qaeda's intentions, FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Homeland Security Committee." "Kerry Hopes Aid Will Ease Hostility" "Dawn" (10/02) "Senator John Kerry voiced hope on Thursday that a giant US aid package would ease widespread anti-Americanism in Pakistan but admitted a long road lay ahead. Mr. Kerry, the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-author of the act, said the aid plan marked a turning point by responding to the needs of Pakistan's people rather than just the government. 'It's no secret that the relationship between our countries has suffered its share of strains. Many Pakistanis believe that the United States has exploited them for strategic goals,' Mr. Kerry said at a congressional hearing." "U.S. Bill Not to Hurt Pakistan's Interest Haqqani" "Dawn," "The News" (10/02) "There's nothing in the Kerry-Lugar Bill that contradicts Pakistan's stated policy, Ambassador Husain Haqqani told a briefing at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, while rejecting the criticism that the proposed legislation seriously undermined the country's sovereignty. The Ambassador noted that such criticism emanated from mutual mistrust and the bill was an effort to overcome this mistrust." "Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Plans Protest Drive" "Dawn" (10/02) "The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has decided to speed up its campaign against the Kerry-Lugar bill, alleged U.S. interference into internal affairs, price hike and load shedding and planned a three-month protest campaign. The campaign includes train marches, road caravans, rallies, demonstrations and a signature drive." "U.S. Defends Inter-Risk Security Agency" "The Nation" (10/02) "Deputy Chief of Mission, Gerald Feierstein, refused to accept Pakistan interior Minister's claim that Inter risk's license had been revoked and NOC cancelled - something that was also said on the record to 'The Nation' by Additional Secretary Interior, Raja Mohammed Ehsan a few days earlier. The U.S. diplomat, in an interaction with journalists on Thursday, asserted, 'We believe its (Inter Risk's) NOC is still valid and Inter Risk is a very professional security agency.' He claimed that no law or rules were violated by the U.S. Embassy in hiring the agency that deployed guards with 'licensed' weapons. So who is being truthful: the Interior Minister and his Ministry or the U.S. Embassy?" "Action Against Inter Risk For 'Possessing Illegal Arms': Malik" "Dawn" (10/02) "Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that action against Inter Risk, a private security company, has been taken because it allegedly possessed some illegal weapons and not because it provided security to American diplomats, the Minister said while talking to reporters after attending a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday." "U.S. Pullout Will Embolden Taliban To Turn On Islamabad: Qureshi" "The Nation" (10/10) "Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has warned the U.S. against withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan before the Taliban are defeated, saying that if the U.S. forces retreated from the war-torn country, the militant group would soon turn its sights again on Islamabad." "More U.S. Troops To Destabilize Pakistan" "The News" (10/02) "Testifying before a U.S. Senate Committee, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, former Pakistan Ambassador to the U.S. and U.K., has warned of the destabilizing effects on Pakistan if Washington opted for a strategy of more military escalation in Afghanistan." "U.S. Urges Stable Pak-India Bilateral Ties" "The News" (10/02) "Stressing linkages between Pakistan, India and Afghanistan with regard to durable peace and stability in South Asia, the United States on Wednesday said it encourages dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi for developing a stable bilateral relationship. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley said the U.S. is focused on the region and 'understands clearly the importance of Afghanistan, the importance of Pakistan, the importance of India, and the interaction among those countries.'" "Battle For Waziristan Looms" "Dawn" (10/02) "After fighting brief skirmishes against militants, the Pakistan Army plans to unfold in the next few days what military officials characterize as the mother of all battles in South Waziristan, senior military and security officials said on Thursday. 'If we don't take the battle to them, they will bring the battle to us,' a senior military official said of the militants. 'The epicenter of the behemoth called the Taliban lies in South Waziristan, and this is where we will be fighting the toughest of all battles.'" "Hakimullah Mehsud's Brother Killed" "The Nation" (10/10) "The brother of new Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has been killed in a clash with the military in North Waziristan, security officials said on Thursday." "More Militants Killed, More Areas Cleared" "The Nation" (10/10) "At least two militants were killed and six other arrested during search operation of the security forces in Ghari area of Tehsoil Shamozo of the restive Swat district while two personnel of the security forces were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in Topri area of Swat on Thursday." "3 Militants Killed In Malakand Agency" "The News" (10/02) "Three militants were killed in search operation by the security forces at Aladhand area in Malakand Agency on Thursday." "U.S. Sends 52 Pakistani Students On American Exchange Visit" "The Nation" (10/02) "U.S. Consul General Karachi, Stephen Fakan on Thursday honored 52 Pakistani high school students selected to go to Washington, DC, for a two-week science and technology exchange program. The students, including 26 girls and 26 boys, are making the trip as part of the Links to Learning (ED-Links) program, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Gilani's Confusions," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (10/02) "Prime Minister Gilani has once more revealed a rather confused mind, especially in the context of national issues. He has declared that it was premature to take the issue of the Kerry Lugar Bill to the Parliament. This is absurd because if anything it is already late in that an early discussion of this Bill, with the debilitating conditionalities, would have reinforced the Pakistani leadership's position to seek their retraction before the Bill became law. In other words, backed by parliamentary support, the government could have told the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration that the Parliament was not prepared to accept the intrusive and destabilizing conditionalities. Therefore, if the U.S. wanted to continue to seek Pakistan's support in the 'war on terror' it would have to remove these conditionalities." "Kerry-Lugar: Bill Or Document Of Surrender?," an op-ed Ayaz Amir in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/02) "The Kerry-Lugar bill, just passed by the U.S. Congress and expected to be signed soon by President Obama, leaves an odd taste in the mouth. After wading through tortuous prose, Pakistan seems less an ally than a rogue state straight out of the pages of science fiction.... Kerry-Lugar requires the U.S. President to 'develop a comprehensive interagency regional security strategy to eliminate terrorist threats and close safe havens in Pakistan, including by working with the government of Pakistan -- to best implement effective counterinsurgency and counterterrorism efforts in and near the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, including the FATA, the NWFP, parts of Balochistan and parts of Punjab.' Doesn't this language suggest that the U.S. President is also President of FATA, the NWFP, parts of Balochistan and parts of Punjab? This is not wounded sovereignty but ceded sovereignty. And for what? A few pieces of silver.... Kerry-Lugar, in so far as it reads like a charter of dictations, demeans and diminishes the struggle we are engaged in." "Why This Sloganeering Against The Kerry-Lugar Bill," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (10/02) "This could be said with full confidence that Kerry-Lugar Bill does not entail anything that could justify a uproar or which could be described as transgression of Pakistan's independence and sovereignty. Fact of the matter is that Pakistan has already established policies vis-`-vis the conditions under discussion and is implementing them. Pakistan has a clear and stated policy that its soil would not be used for terrorism against any other country and that Pakistan would continue to support nuclear non-proliferation. The extremist organizations mentioned in the bill had already been banned in Pakistan and some of their operatives have been arrested.... The bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is appropriate and is in accordance with the country's need. There is no justification for the hullabaloo that is going on.... Yes, if we don't need the aid, if we can do without this aid then the Parliament should hold a debate on the issue and refuse to take the assistance." "Kerry-Lugar Bill: This Is The Time To Take Parliament Into Confidence," an editorial in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (10/02) "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that it is premature to take the Parliament into confidence on Kerry-Lugar Bill.... Objection raised against the bill are not so much about the money being offered, but about the unjust conditions laid down in the bill for receiving the aid, which are against national honor and sovereignty.... One condition says that Pakistan should continue cooperation with America against illegal nuclear proliferation networks and if needed should give America access to any Pakistani individual involved with such a network. Another condition is that Pakistan will not allow Al-qaeda and Taliban or terrorist groups affiliated with them, for example Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Muhammad, to use Pakistani soil for launching attacks on neighboring countries. Moreover, those elements of Pakistan Army and intelligence agencies would not be supported who would be involved in giving direct or indirect assistance to the terrorists. How could such shameful conditions be acceptable?... In fact this is the time for taking the Parliament into confidence." "Kerry-Lugar Bill: Reservations And Importance," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (10/02) "This bill could bring about an outstanding change in the U.S. relationship with Pakistan's democratic government. The need of the hour is that this bill is once gain reviewed with an open mind and in keeping with Pakistan's interests. On the other hand, the government is responsible for responding to the objections raised against the bill." "Increasing Assistance To Pakistan," an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (10/02) "What was the U.S. Senate's objective in passing the bill? Senator Kerry advised his fellow Senators in the second quarter of 2009 that 'we must approach this endeavor (Kerry-Lugar bill) with a large dose of humility. Our leverage is limited. This bill aims to increase that leverage significantly.'... There is a consensus in Pakistan that U.S. leverage on our governments, past as well as present, has been significant.... One would have hoped that a cash-strapped government would have shifted the continued reliance on generating assistance from abroad, a strategy that has not paid dividends a year and a half after the government took over power, to slashing expenditure and imports." "Turning Pakistan Into A Client State," an op-ed by Dr. Muzaffar Iqbal in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/02) "With the passage of the 'Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009' in the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, Pakistan has formally entered the status of a client state. The term client state, understood in its broad meaning, is synonymous with terms such as 'satellite state,' 'puppet state,' 'neo-colony,' and 'vassal state.... Pakistani people now stand at real cross-road. If they take the road set by [The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009], they can look forward to handing over their children to the Americans in the years to come, to make them what they want to make in their own image. This road to Washington will clearly turn the Qibla of this nation and within one generation, all that has accumulated in the spiritual and intellectual realms through a millennium of slow and organic growth of a civilization, will be Americanized." "No Prizes for Guessing What Pakistan Will Do," an op-ed by Ejaz Haider in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (10/02) "As the conditionalities stand (in Kerry-Lugar Bill),far from the expressed sentiments of partnership and its enhancement, the legislation is likely to become a document that will continue to sour relations between the two in times to come. This was predictable because rarely are two states so diverse in interests put together in one bed by the compulsions of real politik. The U.S. wants to help Pakistan, which is the stated purpose of the legislation, and yet cannot bring itself round to trust Pakistan even on the central premise of this partnership - i.e., fighting terrorism. Pakistan wants the money, is forced to play ball but precisely because its strategic interests in the region diverge, more than they converge, with the U.S., it keeps chaffing even as it tags along." "Deciphering The U.S. Aid Bill," an op-ed by Cyril Almeida in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/02) "Frankly, the conditions themselves are arguably what the state should be doing in any case; we need to be rid of the curse of militancy and we need to do it for our own good. But in the present context, it matters who is asking us to do it and why. From a hard-nosed, real politik perspective - and you cannot ignore that in statecraft - the references amount to Indian security concerns inserting themselves into an American bill meant to provide democratic, economic and development assistance to Pakistan. So even if you ignore, and you should, the most outrageous bile of the bill's critics, the more subtle point is reinforced: we remain a tactical ally of the U.S., not a strategic partner. Going forward, what that really calls for is a serious, measured, thoughtful debate about our approach to the U.S. specifically and our grand, national security and national military strategies generally." "The U.S. Focus On Balochistan," an op-ed by Najmuddin A. Shaikh in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (10/02) "The passage in the Senate of the Kerry-Lugar proposed legislation for the provision of $1.5 billion annually for the next five years to Pakistan for economic development was initially hailed by the government.... The government did not at that time seem to have any idea of the sort of media storm that would arise with regard to the 'conditionalities' attached to the bill. The debate, which focused on the infringement on Pakistan's sovereignty that this bill was said to represent, did not seem to take account of the fact that much of what the bill requires the Secretary of State to certify is what the Government of Pakistan is by its declared policy endeavoring to do.... Admittedly all these certifications represent interference in Pakistan's internal affairs since all these are matters that Pakistan's leaders should be dealing with on their own. The Americans however have made no secret of the fact that their interest in Pakistan's well being, which the assistance package is designed for, flows from their battle against terrorism." "This Time Senator Kerry Is Right," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (10/02) "Senator Kerry, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has urged President Obama to conduct a sweeping review of the overall military mission in Afghanistan. He also demanded a national debate before committing more troops to deal with the surging Taliban. The views expressed by Senator Kerry deserve appreciation and due consideration by the White House. American public opinion is turning against the war in Afghanistan.... It would be in the greater interest of U.S. not to get bogged down in Afghanistan and listen the sane advice of Senator Kerry and others for an honorable exit." "U.S. Withdrawal," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/02) "There are two reasons why America has quickened the pace of troop withdrawal from Iraq. One reason is obvious: the top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, wants 40,000 more troops.... The second reason is the Pentagon's belief that Iraq's own security forces have reached a level where they can maintain peace when the American pullout is complete.... While security is no doubt better, Iraq's politics remains fractious, with its people, parties and leaders hopelessly divided along ethnic and sectarian lines.... While an American withdrawal deserves to be welcomed, Iraqi politicians have to prove they do not take controversies to a level where the country plunges into anarchy yet again." "Transit Trade Facility To India," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (10/02) "In the context of the current Indo-Pak deadlock over restarting the 'composite dialogue,' the MoU can be a good quid pro quo. It will show Pakistan's confidence in not being unduly shaken by India's presence in Afghanistan. It will also be a clever move by Pakistan to pre-empt the alternative Indian route to Afghanistan through Iran. And sitting astride a trade route is more empowering than a standing army." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson