PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TERRORISM, KERRY-LUGAR BILL,

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002534 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TERRORISM, KERRY-LUGAR BILL, MISCELLANEOUS, INDIA-PAKISTAN - OCTOBER 19, 2009 Summary: Reports on the "steady gains in military's assaults on militants' strongholds in South Waziristan," and "killing of 60 militants" dominated headlines in several newspapers on Monday. The closure of the private and armed forces' schools and colleges across the country "due to security reasons" received extensive coverage. Pegged to this story, newspapers front-paged reports that the government "launched a crackdown" on some religious seminaries in Islamabad to check for the presence of foreigners there. In its editorial, the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf," urged that "besides the military operation in Waziristan, it is also the need of the hour to expose the real but covert enemies engaged in destabilizing Pakistan." Some major dailies highlighted reports that "49 people were killed in a suicide attack in southeastern Iran, including top commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guards." Iranian President Nejad's allegation that the "attack had been plotted from Pakistan" received prominent display. Newspapers reported that President Zardari and the Pakistani Foreign Office "condemned" the suicide attack in Iran. Commenting on the bombing in Iran, the prestigious English language newspaper, "Dawn," noted that "suspicion has immediately fallen on Jandullah, though Iranian officials have also accused the U.S. of instigating the bombings, a claim denied by the Americans." All newspapers also reported the arrival in Islamabad of Senator Kerry and U.S. CENTCOM chief General Petraeus. Senator Kerry's remarks warning that "it would be 'entirely irresponsible' to send more troops to Afghanistan and it would also have destabilizing effect on Pakistan" were highlighted. Also underscored were reports that "Jamaat-i-Islami held demonstration against the Kerry-Lugar Bill and alleged activities of the U.S. private army in the country." Underlining the "Pakistani interests" the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" reiterated in its editorial that "there is no justification to attach insulting strings to such aid package." End Summary. -------------- Terrorism -------------- News Story: "Troops Make Steady Gains In South Waziristan - 60 Taliban, Five Troops Killed" "Dawn" (10/19) "Security forces claimed on Sunday to have made steady gains in their assaults on militants' strongholds in South Waziristan and army officials said they were surprised by low level of resistance. The area has been heavily mined. There are a lot of improvised explosive devices and mines. A military spokesman said five security personnel were killed and 11 wounded during 24 hours of operation Rah-i-Nijat. He put the Taliban's fatalities at 60." News Story: "Terror Threats Lead To Closure Of Schools, Colleges Countrywide" "Daily Times" (10/19) "All educational institutions run by the federal government and the armed forces and some top-ranking private sector institutions will remain closed for up to a week in Islamabad, cantonments, all major cities, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir, reported a private TV channel late on Sunday." News Story: "Madressahs In Capital Searched For Militants" "Dawn" (10/19) "The government launched a crackdown on some madressahs in the federal capital with a view on Sunday to looking into their activities and to ensure that terrorists are not hiding there in the guise of students. However, no arrest was made from any of the seminaries but their management was told that stern action would be taken if they were found to be providing refuge to terrorists." News Story: "Suicide Blast Hits Iran's Elite Force, Seven Commanders Among 49 Killed - Ahmadinejad Seeks Pakistan's Action" "Dawn" (10/19) "A suicide bomber killed seven commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and up to 42 other people on Sunday in an attack that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged had been plotted from Pakistan." News Story: "Foreign Office, Zardari Condemn Terror Attack" "Dawn" (10/19) "President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit have condemned Sunday's suicide attack in Iran. According to a TV channel, Mr. Basit said that Pakistan enjoyed brotherly relations with Iran 'and we condemn the sad event.' He refuted allegations about presence of Jandullah in Pakistan. Mr. Basit assured Iran of Pakistan's full cooperation in this critical situation." News Story: "Petraeus Arriving To Assess SWA Operation?" "The Nation" (10/19) "Chief of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus is due in Islamabad today (Monday) to discuss with Pakistan's military leadership the ongoing operation against militants in South Waziristan. U.S. diplomatic sources say Pentagon was rushing in equipment that would help the Pakistani security forces with mobility, night fighting and precision bombing. They said that Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also spoken to Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to emphasize continued U.S. support." News Story: "U.S. Urged To Deal With Pakistan Carefully" "Dawn" (10/19) "John Kerry, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, warned on Sunday that it would be "entirely irresponsible" to send more troops to Afghanistan and it would also have destabilizing affect on Pakistan. Senator Kerry was among half a dozen prominent U.S. lawmakers and officials who participated in debates on various U.S. channels on Sunday, which focused on the Pakistani military offensive in South Waziristan and how it would impact the rest of the region." News Story: "Over 100,000 Flee Fighting: Officials" "Dawn" (10/19) "More than 100,000 people have fled South Waziristan where the government has launched a major ground assault against the Taliban, officials said on Sunday. They are settling in neighboring Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts, Colonel Waseem Shahid from an army support group said." News Story: "NATO Fails To Block Arms' Supply Into SWA" "The Nation" (10/19) "Lack of credible intelligence about reinforcements and supplies from neighboring Afghanistan into Waziristan, has puzzled security experts in evaluating actual strength of the besieged militants in South Waziristan. Background discussions and interviews by 'The Nation' has revealed that security experts were divided over the actual strength of insurgents' fighting force and sources of their supplies. Some of them were of the view that TTP's late commander Baitullah Mehsud and his terror networks in South Waziristan had sufficient stocks of weapons and explosives to stand the offensive launched by Pakistani security forces. However, others believed that reinforcements and supplies from Afghanistan into Waziristan continue unabated." News Story: "Taliban Launch Fund-Raising Campaign" "Dawn" (10/19) "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has started a fund-raising campaign in the Orakzai Agency and parts of the Kurram Agency and Hangu. Sources said the TTP men were asking tribesmen to donate generously because the conflict in South Waziristan was likely to be a long one." News Story: "SWA Operation Gets Ample Space In U.S. Media" "The Nation" (10/19) "Pakistan's 'most ambitious' military operation against militants in South Waziristan was featured prominently in American print and electronic media, which underscored its importance in the process aimed at putting an end to the insurgency in the country. In Washington, Obama administration officials were quoted as saying in Sunday's New York times that they were pleased Pakistan at least decided to go ahead with the offensive. Senior American military officials said they were closely monitoring the long-awaited offensive." News Story: "On Whose Side Is U.S. Anyway?" "The News" (10/19) "The U.S.-led NATO forces vacated more than half a dozen key security check-posts on the Afghan side of the Pak-Afghan border just ahead of the major Pakistan Army ground offensive (code named: Rah-e-Nijat) against Taliban-led militants in the volatile tribal area of South Waziristan, it is learnt. It is feared that the American decision will facilitate Afghan Taliban in crossing over to Pakistan and support militants in striking back at the Pakistani security forces in the troubled tribal area. Latest reports indicate that the Americans have also removed some posts close to North Waziristan, which could encourage even more Afghan Taliban fighters to cross over to the Pakistan side. This has raised many eyebrows in government and military circles with points being made about 'conflicting interests' and dubious American designs." News Story: "Govt. To Overcome Militancy Soon, Says Owais" "The News" (10/19) "NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani on Sunday hoped the government would overcome the insurgency-like situation in parts of NWFP and FATA within the next few months." News Story: "Hizb-ut-Tahrir Safe House Raided In Islamabad" "Dawn" (10/19) "Police raided a 'safe house' of the proscribed student organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir on Saturday and took into custody over two dozen activists. Six activists of the group managed to escape despite a siege of the house in sector F-8/3, Islamabad. According to a senior police officer, the activists were suspected of helping militants." News Story: "Agencies Fear New Wave Of Terrorism" "The Nation" (10/19) "The intelligence agencies on Sunday feared a new wave of terrorist attacks in near future on important government installations in major cities of the country." News Story: "Red Zone Could Be The Next Terrorist Target" "The News" (10/19) "Next target of terrorists could be the high security Red Zone of the federal capital with militants attempting to capture some sensitive buildings including the Foreign Office, National Assembly, President House, Prime Minister House, Supreme Court, PTV, Privatization and Housing buildings in the Constitution Avenue, intelligence agencies warned the relevant authorities." News Story: "Nine Taliban Arrested In Swat" "Daily Times" (10/19) "Security forces arrested nine Taliban from different areas of Swat during a cleanup operation on Sunday, sources said. They said two Taliban were held in the Palai area of Malakand while violating curfew. Security forces arrested the remaining seven from the Charbagh, Fizaghat and Saidu Sharif areas, they added. The Swat Media Centre has announced a curfew in Malakand and Swat from 10pm to 6am." Editorial: "Waziristan Operation: Elimination Of Real Enemies Also Necessary," an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (10/19) "Besides the military operation in Waziristan, it is also the need of the hour to expose the real but covert enemies engaged in destabilizing Pakistan. This enemy remains in the background and uses its Pakistani agents to achieve this goal. In fact, the actual power behind this conspiracy is the United States which is destabilizing Pakistan in connivance with India and Israel. It is imperative to conduct the Waziristan operation with utmost care and farsightedness as our forces will have to face the combined might of terrorists and their real patrons there." Editorial: "Waziristan Operation, And Civilians Safe Transfer," an editorial in the Lahore-based Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir.5000) (10/19) "The army needs to take on the extremists with full vigor and courage, and continue Operation Rah-i-Nijat with the cooperation of the civilians. It is not unjustified to expect that the U.S. authorities will provide military equipment to the army at the earliest so that terrorism can be uprooted completely." Editorial: "Operation Rah-i-Nijat Has To Be Result-Oriented," an editorial in the liberal national Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25000) (10/19) "Operation Rah-i-Nijat has begun. The nation is fully supportive of the brave army in this war. It is not difficult for anyone to understand that the army is fighting a war for the nation and country's existence. We strongly believe that our courageous troops will be successful in this mission. The operation should continue until final deliverance from the terrorists." Editorial: "Dos And Don'ts Of SWA Operation," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (10/19) "Finally the much awaited operation against militants of outlawed Tehrik-I-Taliban Pakistan has been launched in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) to destroy their safe havens, command structure and ammunition dumps.... Now that a full-fledged operation is in progress, we hope that it would be taken to logical conclusion with complete elimination of the enemies of the country and the humanity." Editorial: "Finally, A Go-Ahead For Waziristan Operation," an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (10/19) "The terrorists are challenging the integrity of the Pakistani State from their hideouts in the tribal areas. Any dithering or delay to take them on can be disastrous for the country. What is needed is a full-scale military operation aimed at the elimination of the terrorist hideouts, training centers and facilities that help them remain in business. Attempts should be made to isolate the terrorists from the rest of the population by winning over as many tribal elders and rival commanders as possible. This alone can guarantee that the conflict zone does not extend to the area inhabited by the Waziri tribe or to the neighboring North Waziristan Agency. All necessary measures should be taken to reduce collateral damage." Special Editorial: "Attack On A Nuclear Establishment," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (10/19) "While the foreign trained, foreign funded and foreign armed terrorists have started launching multiple orchestrated attacks on different cities of Pakistan, a critical sabotage in one of the country's nuclear establishments now appears to be on the agenda of perpetrators of terror in Pakistan and their masterminds abroad.... this is because following unsuccessful attempts to strike at highly guarded sensitive installations including the GHQ, Intelligence agencies and police premises, there is mounting evidence that foreign inspired terrorists would, as a last resort, go far more coordinated and precision attacks at the sites of our strategic assets. Their backers and planners are fully aware of the difficulties that Pakistan would face at the international level if they succeed in reaching near to any of the nuclear missile sites. I have reasons to apprehend that the final target of these terrorists and their handlers is to create a scene somewhere in or around a nuclear installation so that Pakistan may be dubbed as a failed State." Editorial: "Bombings In Iran," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/19) "Two attacks, including a suicide bombing, in Iran's volatile Sistan-Baluchistan province on Sunday have killed over 30 people, including senior officials of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Suspicion has immediately fallen on Jandullah, though Iranian officials have also accused the U.S. of instigating the bombings, a claim denied by the Americans.... Jandullah has been linked to, variously, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, South Waziristan and even Al Qaeda - claims which have been buttressed since the introduction of suicide bombings in Iran by Jandullah last December. Add to this the decades-old animosity between the U.S. and Iran and the American presence in Afghanistan, and an even murkier picture emerges in which Jandullah may be using a series of shifting, tactical alliances with regional players to further its own agenda.... Supporting Jandullah in any way is to play with fire, and all the players in the region must understand that such support can have dangerous, unpredictable consequences for regional stability." -------------- KERRY-LUGAR BILL -------------- News Story: "Kerry Reaches Islamabad" "Daily Times" (10/19) "A private TV channel reported on Sunday that Senator Kerry had come to Pakistan to meet the country's political leadership and remove misconceptions concerning the Kerry-Lugar legislation. He is also expected to discuss the bill with opposition leaders." News Story: "Jamaat-e-Islami Holds Demo against U.S. Aid" "Dawn" (10/19) "The Jamaat-e-Islami demonstrated on Sunday against the Kerry-Lugar Bill and alleged activities of the U.S. private army in the country. The demonstrators raised slogans against the ongoing army operation in Malakand division and South Waziristan as well as against the United States." News Story: "Kaira At Pains To Defend KLB, NRO" "The News" (10/19) "Admitting that the explanation annexed to the Kerry-Lugar Bill (KLB) is not part of the law, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Sunday said that heads of two committees had to file their interpretation and the U.S. President had endorsed it.... When asked as to what emerged from the parliamentary discussion on the KLB because a huge majority of parliamentarians was opposed to the KLB but the foreign minister delivered a speech and the National Assembly session was prorogued, Kaira said it was not Pakistan's bill that a 'yes' or 'no' was to be said in the Pakistani Parliament." News Story: "Govt. Now Takes Credit of KLB Fiasco" "The News" (10/19) "In a Machiavellian twist to the massive outburst of public scorn over the Kerry-Lugar Bill, the publicists of the PPP government are now taking the credit for the universal hue and cry in Pakistan and have officially told the Pakistan embassies around the world to use it 'as a positive sign of democratic pluralism,' whatever that means." News Story: "U.S. May Allow $250 Million To Help Lifeline Power Consumers" "The News" (10/19) "The Obama administration has given positive indications to Pakistan for allowing utilization of around $250 million assistance under the Kerry-Lugar Bill for protecting electricity consumers using first 100 units from the upcoming tariff hike in the vicinity of around 20 per cent till August 2010. 'We have received 'positive indications' from U.S. authorities on utilizing some portion of $874 million in the ongoing fiscal 2009-10 under the Kerry-Lugar Bill to protect the poorest segments from the upcoming power tariff hike," Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin confirmed to 'The News' on Sunday." News Story: "Stocks React Favorably to Kerry-Lugar Bill Act" "The Nation" (10/19) "Pakistan's capital market, while disregarding the terror strikes across the country, is most likely to celebrate enactment of the Kerry-Lugar Act (KLA) of the U.S. that would enable $1.5 billion annual assistance to Pakistan in addition to defence aid. The foreign players continued with special interest in the local stocks, as the U.S. legislation sailed through the enactment process." News Story: "Kerry-Lugar Bill Act (KLA) A Recipe Of Disaster" "The Nation" (10/19) "Renowned economist Dr. Shahid Hassan Siddiqui has described Kerry-Lugar Act (KLA) as disastrous from the financial point of view and therefore it must be rejected, as the explanatory note attached to the Act has no meaning. In an exclusive interview with 'The Nation' on Saturday, he said, it must be understood clearly that Pakistan was already suffering losses of 8 billion dollars per year due to war on terror whereas the total U.S. aid likely to be received by Pakistan is 3 billion dollars per year that includes $1.5 billion under KLA, therefore the country suffers a loss of $ 5 billion annually." News Story: "PML-N Rejects Kerry-Lugar Bill, Says Chaudhry Nisar" "Dawn" (10/19) "The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) does not accept the Kerry-Lugar bill despite its having been signed and approved, opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Sunday. Nisar said the PML-N has a categorical stance against the Kerry-Lugar Bill as the bill goes against Pakistan's national interests, while addressing the media in Karachi." Editorial: "Pakistan's Interests Superior To Everything," an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (10/19) "The reservations expressed by the Pak Army on some strings attached to the Kerry-Lugar Bill have not been addressed during Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi visit to Washington and are still part of this legislation. The government should convey the concerns of the Pakistani nation to Washington through the prime mover of this bill, Senator John Kerry, who is in Pakistan on an official visit. It should make it clear to the Obama Administration that Pakistan is not the sole beneficiary of this aid package rather it is a bilateral issue. Terrorism is not a threat only to Pakistan rather the entire world has fallen victim to this menace. Pakistan rendered meritorious sacrifices in the war on terror and, as a result, has suffered huge losses. Hence it reserves the right to seek assistance from its allies countries. There is no justification to attach insulting strings to such aid packages." Opinion: "KLB - A Perspective," an op-ed by Senator Salim Saifullah Khan in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/19) "Senator John Kerry will visit Islamabad early next week and this opportunity must be exploited to clear the air and downplay the differences. The government lost the opportunity to negotiate the terms in early March when the draft bill was discussed. Reports indicate that Zardari gave the green signal to the proposed draft. The visit of Senator Kerry should be availed to get a more formal and authentic version of the explanatory note attached to the bill.... My concern on this bill is the strains it is likely to create, both domestically and with the U.S. to the detriment of our national interest. The controversy must now stop. The debate is likely to create a rift in civil military relationship with have disastrous consequences. The negative Pakistani reaction to the bill has created a similar harsh reaction on the Hill. The statements by influential congressmen and Senator John Kerry show their frustration and resentment, and unless Pakistan demonstrates caution and moderation in its approach towards the U.S. intention and policy it could ruin the goodwill and friendly sentiment so painstakingly cultivated." Opinion: "The Kerry-Lugar Bill Fiasco," an op-ed by Shamshad Ahmad in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/19) "The Kerry-Lugar Bill was supposed to bring a 'larger conceptual framework' and mutuality content to the 'transactional' U.S.-Pakistan relationship. It has done just the opposite. There has been a serious backlash in Pakistan over the intrusive conditionalities attached to U.S. military aid which are seen by the people at large and major civil and military stakeholders in the country's power structure as compromising national sovereignty.... All this notwithstanding, the amount involved in this aid package is not really big money. We can do without it.... Instead of giving our country as ransom, we should be fixing the fundamentals of our governance and choosing to live our own lives as an independent ans self-reliance nation." Opinion: "Points To Ponder!," an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (10/19) "The Kerry-Lugar Bill (KLB) could have accrued the Americans a lot of goodwill provided it was not torpedoed by the curiosity-oriented stipulations aimed at micro-managing Pakistan's internal affairs.... Pakistan squeezing would not bring any dividends; it will only curtail American leverage. Allies must work in an atmosphere of trust and harmony for a win-win finale. All the options for Afghanistan need Pakistan's endorsement, as indeed its active participation. The eyewash of attaching a Congressional explanatory appendage to KLB is not enough. There is a need to put in place a credible damage reduction mechanism to curtail the mounting trust deficit. Opinion: "The Problem With Aid," an op-ed by S. Akbar Zaidi in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/19) "With donors determining the type of aid and its intended purposes, domestic priorities are often compromised by governments whose eyes sparkle at the offer of apparently 'free' monies. Building infrastructure in remote areas or supporting health programs which have few users may sound beneficial but such efforts can be wasted. Often governments don't want such projects, often the supposed beneficiaries are not consulted and do not use these facilities, resulting in a global landscape littered with unused or half-built donor-funded schools, roads and hospitals. Donor assistance ends at the end of the project, leaving infrastructure and social capital to waste away. Quick-fix solutions often come undone just as swiftly.... Since Pakistan is highly dependent on aid, it is aid dependence which is the real problem. The conditionalities are not the problem." Opinion: "Kerry-Lugar Bill: Myths And Facts," an op-ed by Shahzad Chaudhry in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (10/19) "The Bill (Kerry-Lugar) and its language in certain clauses are a manifest failure of Pakistani institutions to protect their vital interests. What the Foreign Minister and the Pakistani Embassy in Washington seem to be doing now should have been done over the last six months.... It is learnt, very reliably, though with some apparent generalization, that every third employee in U.S. State Department is an Indian-American; most of them along with their native colleagues are enjoined the task to draft these Bills. Any surprise, then, on what we get as an end product? Perhaps the only question left to ask is: are the Pakistanis too encouraged or tracked to make their mark in U.S. institutions?" -------------- Miscellaneous -------------- News Story: Hillary To Head Visiting U.S. Energy Delegation" "Daily Times" (10/19) "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will head the delegation of energy experts due to visit Pakistan this month for discussions on how to fulfill the country's future energy requirements, sources told 'Daily Times.' -------------- India-Pakistan -------------- Editorial: "Indian Atrocities In Occupied Kashmir, And Pakistan" an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (10/19) "American magazine Time writes in its latest edition that India should change its stance on Kashmir in order to resolve the dispute.... American hypocrisy on Kashmir became evident when President did not even once cite the Kashmir dispute after assuming the office; notwithstanding his mentioning of the dispute in his electoral speeches whereby he said that the war against terrorism could not be won without resolving the dispute.... We should tell America that unless it forces India to resolve the Kashmir dispute we cannot play an effective role in its war against terrorism." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson