PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, TERRORISM/MILITARY,

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002571 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, TERRORISM/MILITARY, POLITICAL, ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS - OCTOBER 22, 2009 Summary: Pakistan's decision to avail of the U.S. aid package dominated the headlines, along with reports that the U.S. Congress may approve new restrictions on military aid to Pakistan. Reports that security forces had secured the hometown of Pakistani Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsud received wide coverage. Also front-paged were reports that twelve Arab, Pakistani and Afghan militants, were killed in N. Waziristan. Prime Minister Gilani's assurance that Pak nuclear assets were safe, was highlighted. Major newspapers reported that the United States has provided $150,000 for bomb disposal equipment to the NWFP police. Commenting on the suicide bombing by the Tehrik-e-Taliban at the International Islamic University, the liberal English language newspaper, "Daily Times," called it an act of desperation. "The News" however saw it as a more sophisticated method of business conducted by the TTP. All news channels highlighted the shooting in Islamabad today of two Pakistani Army personnel. End Summary. TOP STORIES News Story: "Cabinet Formally Accepts The Kerry-Lugar Bill" "Dawn" (10/22) "The federal cabinet formally accepted on Wednesday the Kerry-Lugar Bill (Enhanced Partnership Act with Pakistan Bill of 2009). Briefing the media after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira said there were no differences of opinions about accepting the assistance under a law which applied to the American executive." (Story also front paged in: The News, Daily Times, Jang, Ausaf, Nawa-i-Waqt, Express) News Story: "U.S. To Set New Curbs On Pak Military Aid" "The Nation" (10/220 "The U.S. Congress this week may approve tough new restrictions on military aid to Pakistan, which has decried similar curbs on economic assistance as undermining its sovereignty, aides said Wednesday. The fresh limits include efforts to track where U.S. military hardware sent to Pakistan ends up, as well as a warning that U.S. aid to Pakistan must not upset "the balance of power in the region" - a reference to tensions with India." (Story also front paged in: Dawn, The News, The Nation, Jang, Express) News Story: "Troops Advance To Clear Heights Around Hakimullah's Hometown" "Dawn" (10/22) "Security forces gained some ground as they advanced to clear heights surrounding Kotkai, the home town of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud and his deputy Qari Hussain. An official told Dawn that the security forces were clearing surrounding heights and caves after securing Tor Ghundai, east of Kotkai." (Story also front paged in: Daily Times, The News, the Nation, Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt, Express, Khabrain) TERRORISM/MILITARY News Story: "12 Die As Blast Rocks North Waziristan Agency" "The News" (10/22) "Twelve people, including Arab, Pakistani and Afghan militants, were killed and several others injured, some of them women and children, in a mysterious blast in Surkot village, five kilometers east of Miramshah, regional headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, on Wednesday evening. Among the dead, the name of al-Qaeda operative Abu Musa al-Misri was also circulating." News Story: "Nation Deeply Committed To Eradicate Terrorism; Declares Nuclear Assets Absolutely Safe: PM" "The News" (10/22) "Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured the nation that cowardly acts of terrorists will not go unpunished and we are even more resolute in our commitment to eradicate the evil of militancy from our country. Speaking on Wednesday at a cabinet meeting that he chaired at the PM Secretariat, the prime minister assured the nation and the international community that Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure was totally safe and secure and these terrorists pose no threat to our nuclear assets." News Story: "U.S. Gives $150,000 Bomb Disposal Equipment To NWFP" "Daily Times" (10/22) "As part of its continuing collaboration with Pakistani authorities to protect people in Pakistan from terrorist bombings, the United States government on Wednesday provided $150,000 in bomb disposal equipment to the NWFP police. This contribution is in addition to the $1.6 million in ATA training and equipment furnished to the NWFP Bomb Disposal Squad previously this year." (Story also covered in: The News, The Nation, The Frontier Post, Jang, Express, Aaj Kal, Jinnah) News Story: "Army Hoists National Flag In Shingwari" "Daily Times" (10/22) "Fighter jets pounded Taliban hideouts in South Waziristan on Wednesday, as the army hoisted the national flag in the Shingwari area on the fifth day of Operation Rah-e-Nijat. Shingwari's capture has been seen as a major success for the military, tribal analysts said, as this would allow ground forces to advance towards the Chalwashti, Kanniguram and Sam areas." News Story: "Al Qaeda Operative Abu Musa Killed" "Daily Times" (10/22) "Top Al Qaeda leader Abu Musa al-Misri, expert at preparing suicide vehicles, was killed in North Waziristan, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday. According to the channel a security official said." News Story: "Five Foreigners Killed In North Waziristan" "Dawn" (10/22) "Five foreign terrorists, one of them an Arab who reportedly trained suicide bombers, were killed and four others injured when their explosives-laden vehicle exploded in Spilga village in North Waziristan on Wednesday, officials said." News Story: "Waziristan Operation Aims To Destroy Terror Source" "Daily Times" (10/22) "The Pakistan Army's push against the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists in the Mehsud tribal stronghold of South Waziristan has one paramount objective - to destroy the source of terror attacks in the country, the BBC reported on Wednesday." News Story: "Finish Off Taliban Once And For All" "Daily Times" (10/22) "The government needs to finish off the Taliban once and for all in an offensive on their South Waziristan stronghold or risk them returning stronger and in greater numbers, internally displaced persons (IDPs) from South Waziristan say." News Story: "UN Closes Food Centers In Northwest Pakistan" "The News" (10/22) "The UN World Food Program on Wednesday closed distribution centers serving more than two million people in northwest Pakistan over security fears, a spokesman for the agency said. 'We have closed all our food distribution centers in Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan, Swat, Buner, Dir and Bajaur, which are the humanitarian hubs for internally displaced people in the region,' said Amjad Jamal, a spokesman for WFP in Islamabad." News Story: "India Behind Most Terror Attacks, Says Malik" "Dawn" (10/22) "Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, saying Delhi itself would be responsible for any terrorist attack if carried out in future on its soil." News Story: "Malik Wants U.S. Presence With High Explosives Hushed Up; Defends U.S. Interests, Warns Durrani" "The Nation" (10/22) "The Interior Ministry is browbeating the Commandant Police Training College Sihala as to why he has written a letter to the Punjab, Inspector General of Police (IGP),expressing his concerns over the presence of U.S. security officials in the premises of the institute, the sources told 'The Nation.' Sources privy to the developments said that the Ministry was annoyed with Nasir Khan Durrani, Commandant Police Training College Sihala as to why he had written a letter to IGP seeking clarification from the Interior Ministry and Foreign Office about the terms and conditions of U.S. security officials' presence as well as the duration of their stay in the college premises." News Story: "Pak Assures Iran Of Help In Nabbing Bomb Culprits" "Dawn" (10/22) "Pakistan will support Iran in tracking down those responsible for a suicide bomb attack in southeastern Iran, Pakistan's foreign minister said on Wednesday, as calls in Iran grew for the perpetrators to be punished.... Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi declined to comment on the television report and said an Iranian delegation was due in Pakistan for talks." Editorial: "Striking Islamic University In Islamabad," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (10/22) "The attack on the university reveals the changing temperament of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its increasing desperation.... The terrorists have gradually abandoned the broad support they had among the largely conservative majority of Pakistan's population. By doing what they did in Swat they proved that it was a deliberate act. From a majority of those who accepted the 'cause' of the Taliban, the country now has a minority that would still support the so-called "Islamic enterprise" their leader Hakimullah has announced from South Waziristan. This is the moment when the resolve to face up to the challenge of terrorism should become even stronger." Editorial: "A State Of war," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/22) "The bombers are adapting to the need of the hour and becoming ever more sophisticated in the way they go about their business. Many are now clean-shaven and fair-skinned, they are sometimes dressing in modern casual clothing or the all-concealing burqa (and the most diligent security guard is going to think twice about demanding to search a person wearing a burqa) and have learned to blend with the environment they seek to attack." Editorial: "The Wrong Target?," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/22) "If the military campaign in Waziristan succeeds this time round, and the Taliban are genuinely defeated, the need will arise to win back the loyalty of these [displaced] people. This will not be easy. Militants have held sway here for years. Alongside the secret negotiations with Mehsud tribesmen and the other efforts to break up backing for the TTP, ordinary people too need to be persuaded that state forces have respect for them and are willing to help them. This can play a key role in deciding which side they take - and their support will be a vital one in winning this war which will not end with the destruction of militant bases." Editorial: "A Confused Government," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (10/22) "With an ongoing military operation and rampant terrorism across the country, the first priority for the government should have been to establish clarity of purpose and strategy. Unfortunately, that is still missing and this weakness stands exposed today as never before. A mere glance at the babble of statements coming forth from government personnel, shows the confusion and panic gripping those who should be allaying people's fears and providing credible leadership." Editorial: "Terrorism: Nation Has To Pay Price," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (10/22) "Tuesday's dastardly suicide bombing of the International Islamic University (IIU) has exposed hollowness of the claims of the militants that they were pursuing a religious cause.... But the development also indicates how critical the situation is and that there is a dire need to take a decisive action against terrorists and their backers, as this is the only way to avert a catastrophe.... Now we have reached a stage where we have two options - surrender before foreign-aided terrorists and let them establish their own writ/control of the administration or fight back with courage and determination. The second option is the only way forward as every segment of the society is now convinced that the menace of terrorism was playing havoc with the country and is backing the Government and the armed forces in their bid to reestablish the writ of the state." Editorial: "Suicide Attacks In Islamic University And The Closure Of Educational Institutions," an editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ. 25000) (10/22) "For the first time in the country's history, all four provinces have closed down educational institutions due to the increasing terrorist activities. Even before this latest wave of terrorism, the federal and provincial governments were aware that educational institutions could be the next target. We would not have surrendered to terrorists like this had proper and timely security arrangements been in place.... The terrorists will have a field day if our rulers continue sitting idle. There is a need to give a befitting response to the terrorists otherwise they will continue to grow in strength. Instead of waiting for the terrorists' next act, it is important to crush their heinous designs before they are implemented." Editorial: "U.S. Control Of Sihala College?," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (10/22) "Sihala Police Training College Commandant's letter and subsequent American Embassy's clarification do not bring to fore any cause for concern. We will request the government of Punjab to hold a high level enquiry vis-`-vis the letter. A clarification should be sought from the U.S. Embassy if the Commandant's complaint is correct and if the complaint is incorrect and unfounded then the department should take disciplinary action against the officer." Editorial: "Terrorism And Indian War Preparations: The Enemy Is At Our Door," an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (10/22) "India has started deploying more troops on the Line of Control.... While fighting the war of American interests our Army's attention is focused on South Waziristan operation. Taking advantage of the situation our cunning enemy, India has opened fronts against our security.... Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said before Indian Commanders annual meeting in New Delhi that the security situation of our neighboring country is falling apart and is posing a threat to the security of South Asia including India.... If the enemy is preparing for a decisive war against our security then we have the right to defend our security, independence and sovereignty. We did not make nuclear bombs to put in a showcase." Editorial: "Pak-Iran Tensions," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/22) "In the wake of Sunday's attack by Jundullah in Sistan-Baluchestan, senior Iranian officials have issued blunt statements against Pakistan.... For its part, the Pakistani government has strenuously denied any link to Jundullah and promised to extend all cooperation possible to the Iranian authorities. What are we to make of all this? First, the issue of Jundullah and its presence inside Pakistan. In the shadowy world of militancy very little is known for certain, but it does seem likely that Jundullah exists in some form in Balochistan and perhaps even FATA.... So while the state must clamp down on such forms of militancy harder, our neighbors should avoid falling into the militants' trap." Opinion: "Common Pain?," an op-ed by Tanweer Qaiser Shahid in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ. 25000) (10/22) "The snake we fed under state supervision to defeat Russian infidels in Afghanistan has now come home to kill us. What could be more tragic and discouraging than the fact that just when our courageous soldiers and officers are descending into Waziristan to take on the enemies of Islam, some amongst us are still making sympathetic statements in favor of those who slaughter innocent human beings in the name of jihad?... One such [phone] call - by a person who does politics in the name of religion - was intercepted yesterday where he was telling terrorists in Waziristan: My importance in Islamabad will increase only when you do something, only then will I be able to offer mediation. This is how our trust is being betrayed. Ever since President Zardari and PM Gillani's government took over, the Tehrik-i-Taliban have carried out 121 attacks in different cities of Pakistan, killing 1896 innocent persons and destroying as many families. These are the so called 'Mujahideen of Islam' about whom Maulana Fazlur Rehman says: 'it is unfair to use force against them.' These are the 'assets' for whom Jamaat-i-Islami chief Munawar Hasan feels deep and abiding love and says: 'there should be a dialogue with them." Dear sir, how can there be dialogue with a ruthless killer who enters your home and puts a knife to your loved one's throat?" Opinion: "KLB (Kerry-Lugar Bill) Is Not The Issue," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/22) "Pakistan joined this war at someone else's behest and with someone else's money. But right now, the entire country is the battleground and the entire population a potential target as underlined by the despicable attack on the Islamic University in Islamabad. We cannot win it with a half-hearted anti-'Jihadi' stance that sees fit to use 'good Taliban' against 'bad Taliban' - and unless the 'establishment' (army-bureaucracy-intelligence agencies) removes its traditional anti-India blinkers." POLITICAL ISSUES News Story: "Joint Session Of Parliament Summoned On 26th" "Daily Times" 10/22) "A joint session of parliament has been summoned on October 26. According to official sources, Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyab Erdogan, scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on a two-day visit, would also address the joint sitting of both Houses." News Story: "Zardari, Nawaz To Meet Next Week" "Daily Times" (10/22) "President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif next week, in a bid to strengthen RELATIONS with the country's POLITICAL leadership, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday. According to the channel, President Zardari told a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) delegation from Sargodha that he would meet Nawaz next week. The president will discuss the country's POLITICAL and security situation, with a focus on the military operation in South Waziristan. He will also discuss the government's anti-terror policy." ECON/BUSINESS News Story: "Peshawar Hotel Deal With U.S. In Jeopardy" "Dawn" (10/22) "A deal for purchase of Peshawar's sole five-star hotel, bombed in June, by the US administration for housing its consulate in the provincial capital is in jeopardy after reservations expressed by different quarters, it is learnt. 'The deal seems over now because of many ifs and buts attached to it,' a well-placed source told 'Dawn' here on Wednesday. The United States diplomatic mission in Islamabad and Peshawar had been in contact with different parties to purchase a new and comparatively safe place for housing its consulate in Peshawar. The management of Pearl Continental Hotel was one of such parties approached for the purpose, the source said. According to the source, negotiations are still in progress for purchasing a suitable place, including the Pearl Continental Hotel, but no deal has been finalized." News Story: "U.S. Refuses To Invest In Public Power Sector" ""The News" (10/22) "In a blunt show of its absolute absence of confidence, Washington has declined to pump investment in public sector power projects and has instead declared its willingness to bailout Pakistan from the crippling energy crisis through private sector projects. 'This impression was inferred during dialogue between the U.S. officials and private stakeholders in energy sector of Pakistan,' 'The News' has learned through reliable sources." MISCELLANEOUS News Story: "1,200 U.S. Military Officials Issued Visas" "The Nation" (10/220 "Pakistan's embassy in United States has issued 26 diplomatic visas to American diplomats, 1200 to U.S. army officials and 2500 to U.S. citizens travelling for Afghanistan during last 15 months. Embassy Spokesman told this news agency that since last June to September this year, 12000 to 13000 Pakistani Americans were issued visas. In response to a question regarding security background, the spokesman said that Foreign Office approved issuance of diplomatic visas while Defence Department issue clearance for visas to persons related to Defence department. These visas are issued on the request of U.S. State Department." News Story: "University-Based 'Incubation Center' To Help Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs Compete" "Ausaf" (10/22) "Minister of Finance Shaukat Tarin today underscored the importance of agriculture in strengthening Pakistan's economy at the inauguration of a new academic facility to fast-track growth of agricultural businesses. At a ceremony today inaugurating a new Business Incubation Center, Minister Tarin was joined by Ambassador Robin L. Raphel, Coordinator for Economic and Development Assistance at the U.S. Embassy and officials from the Competitive Support Fund (CSF),a joint initiative of the Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Mission in Pakistan." News Story: "U.S. Congressman Snubs PML-N Senator" "The News" (10/22) "A situation was created at the Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon when Republican Congressman from 10th District of Virginia Frank Wolf snubbed PML-N Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah who had come here to express the party's point of view over the Kerry-Lugar Bill. 'I know why are you here, if you don't like the bill don't take the money,' said an angry Frank Wolf when he saw Syed Zafar Ali Shah in his chamber. However, the PML-N senator did not lose his patience and tried to explain the situation but Frank Wolf was not in a mood to listen to any argument." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson