PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, SECRETARY CLINTON'S

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002640

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, SECRETARY CLINTON'S
VISIT, TERRORISM/MILITARY, ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS - OCTOBER
30, 2009

Summary: Secretary Clinton's ongoing visit to Pakistan continued to
garner extensive coverage in all newspapers on Friday. Reports and
photographs of her meetings with senior provincial officials of
Punjab, PML-N leaders, civil society members, students and senior
editors in Lahore, on the second day of her visit to Pakistan, were
highlighted on the front-pages of all major dailies. The leading
mass circulation populist Urdu daily "Jang," and the Lahore-based
liberal English language newspaper, "Daily Times," published special
supplements to mark the Secretary Clinton's Pakistan trip. Her
remarks that the "Al Qaeda leadership is in Pakistan" and that
"Pakistan's economy will take off, if ties with India normalize"
made front-page headlines in almost all major newspapers. Also
highlighted by all newspapers was Secretary Clinton's meeting with
Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani, and her visit to the Shrine of
Sufi Saint Bari Imam near Islamabad. In its editorial on the
Secretary of State's visit, the prestigious English language
newspaper, "Dawn," observed that Secretary Clinton is on a mission
to "mend fences with the Pakistani public, media and opposition."
Likewise, another daily, "The News," also termed her efforts to
reach out and interact with ordinary people "a good omen." End
Summary.

TOP STORIES

News Story: "Passport Of 9/11 Suspect Found In Militant Base" "Dawn"
(10/30)

"A prominent member of the so-called Hamburg cell linked with 9/11
attacks was believed to be among senior Al Qaeda leaders involved
with the Taliban fighting the Pakistani troops in South Waziristan.
A green German passport belonging to Said Bahaji, a close associate
of Mohammed Atta, the leader of the 9/11 hijackers, was among
several documents which were found by Pakistani forces in a mud
compound in Sherawangi village which was used by Taliban as their
command and control base. There were also documents which showed
presence of some other European nationals in the area." (Story also
front paged in all newspapers)

News Story: "Al Qaeda Leadership In Pakistan: Hillary Clinton"
"Daily Times" (10/30)

"The leadership of Al Qaeda is in Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said on Thursday. 'I find it hard to believe that
nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn't get them
if they really wanted to,' she added. 'Maybe that's the case; maybe
they're not gettable. I don't know... As far as we know, they are in
Pakistan,' Clinton told senior Pakistani newspaper editors in
Lahore." (Story also front paged in all newspapers)

News Story: "Hit Terror More Aggressively, Says Hillary" "The News"
(10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Thursday
that Pakistan had little choice but to take a more aggressive
approach to combating the Taliban and other insurgents that threaten
to destabilize the country. With the country reeling from
Wednesday's devastating bombing in Peshawar, Clinton engaged in an
intense give-and-take with students at the Government College of
Lahore, insisting that inaction by the government would have ceded
ground to terrorists.... 'Though the terror war is being fought on
your (Pakistan) land, but it is not Pakistan's war alone; Pakistan
is fighting on the front and the U.S. stands by it.' She observed if
peace was restored between Pakistan and India and their mutual
disputes were resolved, Pakistan would take off as a rocket in terms
of economic development." (Story also front paged in all
newspapers)

SECRETARY CLINTON'S VISIT

News Story: "Nawaz Urges Hillary To Remove Reservations Over Aid
Bill" "The News" (10/30)

"PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton on Thursday, stressed the need for
establishing Pak-U.S. ties on the basis of mutual trust. He said
that Pakistan had been an important ally of the U.S. and the two
countries had cooperated on many key global issues. The U.S.
secretary of state tried to do away PML-N leaders' reservations over


the Kerry-Lugar Law, saying the U.S. realized the reservations of
the people of Pakistan. 'That was why the U.S. government had issued
an explanatory note on it,' she added." (Story also front paged in
all newspapers)

News Story: "Hillary Meets Kayani, Assures Boosting Defence,
Strategic Ties" "Pakistan Observer" (10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Chief of Army
Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here at GHQ on Thursday evening.
During meeting, issues pertaining to Pak-U.S. strategic relations
including Pak-U.S. cooperation in war on terror, Operation
Rah-e-Nijat and situation of Afghanistan were discussed in length."


News Story: "Clinton Visits Bari Imam Shrine" "Daily Times" (10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited shrine of Saint
Bari Imam Thursday morning. On arrival, children presented the U.S.
state secretary bouquet. She later laid floral wreath on the saint's
grave and distributed food among devotees."

News Story: "Clinton Pledges $289.5m For Four Sectors" "Daily Times"
(10/30)

"During a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $289.5 million support in
four different sectors. According to a press release issued by the
U.S. Embassy on Thursday, the four sectors included law enforcement
and border security programs which would receive $103.5 million, the
Benazir Income Support Program would get $85 million, $56 million
for the rehabilitation of displaced persons and the Higher Education
Commission would receive $45 million. Clinton also announced the
delivery of five additional Huey II helicopters to the Air Wing of
the Ministry of Interior and a new funding for operations and
maintenance support for the expanded fleet."

News Story: "We Will Keep Assisting Pakistan Against Terror:
Hillary" "Dawn" (10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton answered critical questions
on U.S. policy at a town hall meeting in Pakistan on Thursday,
unveiling cash for universities and calling for peace with India....
Following previous announcements of cash for poverty, border
security and energy development, she pledged a 45-million-dollar
investment for higher education in Pakistan.... Clinton, who says
the United States wants to 'turn the page' on its relationship with
Pakistan, is devoting significant energy to public diplomacy to
counter rising Pakistani criticism of the alliance with
Washington.... Clinton has already committed 85 million dollars to
countering poverty, 125 million dollars to improving Pakistan's
woefully inadequate electricity supply and 104 million dollars to
law enforcement and border security assistance."

News Story: "Kerry-Lugar Aid Will Improve People's Living Standard:
Hillary" "Daily Times" (10/30)

"The Kerry-Lugar legislation will improve the living standard of the
people of Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on
Thursday, adding the aid package will not address sovereignty and
national security issues."

News Story: "Clinton All Praise For Gilani" "The News" (10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton termed Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani the magician of politics when she heard that he
was unanimously elected as the leader of the house in parliament
last year and was running the house with consensus since then with
the confidence of the establishment and the masses alike."

News Story: "Hillary Clinton To Meet Parliamentarians Today" "Daily
Times" (10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet Parliamentarians
and a delegation from the NWFP today (Friday)."

Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Visit" an editorial in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"


(cir. 55,000) (10/30)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan on a
mission, it seems, to mend fences with the Pakistani public, media
and opposition. Ms. Clinton is the highest-ranking official of the
Obama administration to have visited Pakistan in an attempt to
mollify detractors here who have been aggrieved by the strictures
contained in the Kerry-Lugar bill and the army and the government's
role in the 'U.S. war on terror'."

Editorial: "Bridging The Gap" an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/30)

"Hillary Clinton is clearly on a mission in Pakistan. She is
obviously eager to set Pakistan-U.S. relations on the right footing
after the angst created by the Kerry-Lugar Bill.... Ms Clinton's
challenge to extremists, to come forward and let the Pakistani
people decide, brought out the degree to which the U.S. is aware
that extremism is not favored by people. In this context the
efforts made by the U.S. Secretary of State, despite immense
security concerns, to reach out and interact with ordinary people
are a good omen.... Hillary Clinton spoke several times of winning
over hearts. Perhaps she and her staff, for her next visit, should
also keep in mind that the blocking of roads and the consequent
problems imposed on people are one way to lose goodwill rapidly!...
These may be minor considerations, but they all play a part in
winning over people and persuading them to see friends where at
present many see enemies."

Editorial: "Hillary's Visit" an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (10/30)

"One reading of the U.S. foreign policy says that as far as Pakistan
is concerned, the broad contours of U.S. engagement with Pakistan
remain the same, no matter who occupies the oval office. This
perception has to change. Hillary visit will be seen as successful
if she is able to show to the government and people of Pakistan that
the U.S. understands the critical situation Pakistan finds itself
in. If the U.S. government realizes that Pakistan is in deep waters
and has to be helped out if the terrorists are to be eliminated, it
should be treated as an equal partner in the war against
terrorism.... The U.S. administration will have to reverse the
policies that proved harmful to the interests of the U.S. as well as
Pakistan and open up both in political and economic terms."

Editorial: "Pointless Symbolism" an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (10/30)

"When asked about the illegal activities of U.S. diplomats in the
Capital she simply declared she did not know anything of this. Now
given that all U.S. diplomats come under the State Department and
Ms. Clinton is the Secretary of State, it is astonishing to find
that she was ignorant on what has become a major diplomatic issue in
Pakistan. All in all, if Ms Clinton really wants to win over the
Pakistani nation to thinking positively about the U.S., she will
have to tackle these contentious issues as well as stop the
diatribes and warnings regarding our nukes. The time for beguiling
the people of Pakistan with symbolism is long over; it is time to
show intent through actions."

Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Visit To Pakistan And Its
Implications; We Need National Dignity Today More Than Ever" an
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (10/30)

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's meaningful silence vis-`-vis
Peshawar blast strengthens the impression about American and Indian
intelligence agencies involvement in such incidents.... The
al-Qaeda and Taliban have announced dissociation from the Peshawar
blast, which creates the impression that a deep conspiracy was
present behind the Peshawar blast on the occasion of Hillary
Clinton's Pakistan trip.... National pride demands that we ask
American Secretary of State to take the American aid and U.S.
military back to America. She should be told that we cannot sell
our freedom and independence for American aid."

Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Remarks And Pakistan's Reservations"
an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000)


(10/30)

"We welcome Secretary of State Clinton's statement that AMERICA
wants to end misunderstanding and open up a new of Pakistan-U.S.
relations. AMERICA should take practical steps to end Pakistan's
reservations.... America's recent steps include removal of American
check posts at Pak-Afghan border and it must end the apprehensions
created by the step.... If America's imposing attitude, actions and
partiality did not end then Pakistanis would be right to look at
'new chapter' talk as mere noisemaking."

Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Visit To Pakistan And Pak-U.S.
Relations" an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir.
25,000) (10/30)

"America should compensate for all the losses Pakistan incurred in
the war against terrorism.... The Secretary of State has announced
to help Pakistan in combating the energy crisis, but it seems that
Pakistan's other needs have been ignored. American Secretary of
State did not talk about Pakistani products access to American
markets, which has been a demand by Pakistan."

Editorial: "U.S. Secretary of State's Visit To Pakistan" an
editorial note in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (10/30)

"Looking at the difficulties people faced the other day due to the
visit we are constrained to ask as to what was the need for her
Pakistan visit if she felt threatened to this extent.... When asked
she evaded the question about American's illegal activities in
Pakistan. Pakistanis are right to raise questions about our freedom
and sovereignty in the backdrop of the drone attacks and American
armed troops patrol on Islamabad streets."

Editorial: "Clinton Hints At Talks With Taliban" an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (10/30)

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has given an indication that the
United States is willing to talk with those Taliban who give up
armed struggle and agree to adopt peaceful and democratic path. This
reflects a change in the thinking of Washington in the wake of
domestic pressure and ever increasing losses in fighting.... A deal
could be reached with the Taliban if AMERICA gives a firm commitment
to withdraw from Afghanistan and in return seeks a guarantee that
Al-Qaeda would not be allowed to operate or launch attacks against
any country from the Afghan soil."

News Analysis: "Just Say No" an op-ed by Ikram Sehgal in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (10/30)

"Hillary Clinton's ongoing visit to Pakistan must be seen in the
context of a awareness in the Obama administration that there was
something fundamentally wrong in the U.S. treatment of Pakistan,
that 'turning a new page' was necessary to lay out the parameters of
our future relationship.... During the course of the discussions,
Hilary Clinton at one time said that if we did not want the aid it
was not compulsory for us to accept it, nobody was forcing us to
take the financial support being offered. One is aware about her
'war against drugs' during the time Bill Clinton was President and
she the First Lady. The catch-phrase she used was 'Just Say No'.
Pakistan should indeed be really grateful for the economic aid and
with the utmost gratitude accept Title I of the KLB without
reservations. As far as the 'Security Assistance' being offered
under Title II of the KLB, we should 'Just Say No'."

TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES

News Story: "11 Militants Killed As Troops Surround Kaniguram" "The
News" (10/30)

"Continuing their advance towards Srarogha, the stronghold of
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) head Hakimullah Mehsud, security
forces said they had killed 11 militants and lost one soldier with
two others injured on Thursday, the 13th day of the operation
Rah-e-Nijat. However, reporters and cameramen of television channels
flown to South Waziristan and taken on a guided visit to several


points quoted the security forces as claiming that 82 militants were
killed in the fighting."

News Story: "Forces Repel Simultaneous Attacks In Bajaur" "The News"
(10/30)

"Official sources said that militants in groups simultaneously
attacked the security forces' check-posts in various areas of Bajaur
Agency on Thursday. The security forces claimed killing several
militants during clashes."

News Story" "Bombing Toll Hits 116" "The News" (10/30)

"The death toll from the Meena Bazaar bombing reached 116 while over
20 people were still missing and believed buried under the rubble
that could not be removed due to lack of sophisticated equipment....
TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsud, in an interview with media, had
accused the Americans and U.S. private army Xe or Blackwater for the
terrorist act."


News Story" "New U.S. Policy To Raise Aid For Pakistan" "Dawn"
(10/30)

"The new U.S. policy for the Pak-Afghan region will be a combination
of continued military presence in Afghanistan and an increase in
military and economic assistance to Pakistan, officials and
lawmakers say. U.S. President Barack Obama holds his final meeting
with his senior military advisers on Friday to finalize the
policy."

Editorial: "Pakistan's War For Survival" an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (10/30)

"The root cause of war is in fact clear and present: the terrorists
are killing our women and children. They are damaging our economy by
scaring away domestic and international investment. They want
Pakistan to collapse into a 'state of nature' to serve them as the
hub of their global terror. Pakistan has to fight them and see to it
that the international community is lined up behind it with every
kind of support and sympathy."

Editorial: "After The Bombings" an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/30)

"The death toll from the blast that ripped through a crowded bazaar
in Peshawar has risen to over 100.... The fact is that there is no
guarantee at all that we will be able to swiftly overcome the
monster of terrorism that is destroying society.... The situation
we face today suggests we would do well to acquire it as fast as we
can, with foreign help where necessary.... It is time to adopt
other measures to cope with the bloodshed that takes place almost
every day."

Editorial" "Peshawar Tragedy: For How Long We Will Continue to Pay
This Price?" an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist,
often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (10/30)

"The synchronization of the Peshawar bomb blast with the visit of
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would have dawned upon her
that Pakistan is paying a very high price for its participation in
the war on terror. A nation that has jeopardized its very existence
in order to save its friends from illusory dangers reserves the
right to take its allies into confidence regarding the negative
effects of drone attacks, Kerry-Lugar Bill and the removal of the
NATO check-posts on the Pak-Afghan border. The difference between
the U.S. aid for Pakistan - which has rendered meritorious services
in the war on terror and, resultantly, paid a very high price for
this policy in terms of human and financial losses - and that for
Kirgizstan for providing a single military base for this purpose
speaks volumes about the sincerity of our old friends. On their
part, our present and previous governments are also responsible for
pushing the country into this grave situation because they failed to
convey their point of view regarding the negative impacts of the
U.S. policies in the region and the Indian conspiracies against
Pakistan."


"U.S. Will Quit After Plunging Us Into War," an editorial in the
popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (10/30)

"Nowadays, the U.S. is considering to divide the Taliban between two
groups; good Taliban and bad Taliban. Washington wants to negotiate
with the 'good Taliban' in order to rid itself of the Afghan
quagmire. In the past, whenever Pakistan struck some deal with the
Taliban, the U.S. forced it to breach all such agreements. The
Americans has planned to get the Pakistan army entangled in a battle
against terrorists, which would result in a civil war in the entire
Pushtun belt transcending the Pak-Afghan border, and then isolate
themselves from this hell. It was well-conceived conspiracy to break
up the state of Pakistan but our rulers failed to understand it. It
would be better for us to negotiate with the Taliban before
Washington begins to allure them."

Opinion: "War And Politics" an op-ed Shafqat Mahmood by in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (10/30)

"The U.S. could indeed help us to fight this home-grown insurgency
better by making its attitude towards Pakistan clearer. It is not
just a question of giving us money and arms, although given the
state of our economy and the militancy challenge it is not something
to sneer at. It could go further by giving greater respect to our
sovereignty and not appear to assist our adversaries."

Opinion: "The Higher Direction Of War: Where Is It?" an op-ed Ayaz
Amir by in the populist, often sensational national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/30)

"Pakistan and the U.S. engaging in a dialogue of equals? Well,
adversity is a great equalizer. What the U.S. is now beginning to
undergo in Afghanistan is a trauma. We may be a cash-strapped
country with a perpetual begging bowl in our hands but AMERICA is
stuck in a quagmire. Between a begging bowl and a quagmire there is
not much to choose.... The Americans are telling us what to do,
which is strange given that they are not doing too well in
Afghanistan. They should be listening rather than giving sermons.
Being their allies, and taking more hits than they are, it is now
time for us to tell them that their occupation can't last much
longer. Sooner than they now think possible, it will have to be
rolled back and other options examined. When they depart we will
still be here. Bolstering Pakistan and its military should not be
seen thus as a favor. From America's point of view it should be a
strategic necessity."

ECON/BUSINESS

News Story: "Economy To Grow By 2.5-3.5 pc In 2009-10: SBP" "The
News" (10/30)

"The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday said that Pakistan's
GDP growth is projected to remain between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per
cent during 2009-10 if the manufacturing and agricultural sectors
performed well."



MISCELLANEOUS

News Story: "No Pre-Conditions For Talks: Singh" "Dawn" (10/30)

"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Srinagar on Thursday
that there were no pre-conditions for talks with Pakistan but
cautioned they could make headway without 'effective control' of the
terror groups operating across the border."

News Story: "Pakistan Welcomes India's Readiness To Resume Dialogue:
FO" "Dawn" (10/30)

"Commenting on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent
statement expressing readiness to discuss with Pakistan all issues,
including Jammu and Kashmir, a Foreign Office spokesman said this
was a welcome reiteration of the understanding reached at the
Sharm-El Sheikh summit between Pakistan and India."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)


Patterson