PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY STATE'S VISIT,

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002692 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY STATE'S VISIT, TERRORISM/MILITARY, POLITICAL, ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS, IRAN - NOVEMBER 06, 2009 Summary: All dailies highlighted Secretary Clinton's statement made during her interview with National Public Radio (NPR) that "Pakistan must address U.S. concerns." Several newspapers highlighted U.S. Admiral Mullen's remarks at the National Press Club, urging "sustained ties with Pakistan." Commenting on the accomplishment of first phase of the military offensive in South Waziristan, the English language daily, "The News," described the lack of resistance put up by the militants "a tactic." "Dawn," said that "the arms the militants left behind betray a flight in panic rather than a tactical withdrawal." End Summary. SECRETARY STATE'S VISIT News Story: Pakistan Must Address U.S. Concerns: Hillary "The Nation" (11/06) "Describing the response to her candid engagement with the Pakistani civil society as 'overwhelmingly positive,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the U.S. is building a strong base for ties between the two nations, Clinton told National Public Radio while travelling in Cairo." (Story also covered by 'The News,' 'Daily Times,' 'Express,' 'Nawa-i-Waqt,' 'Ausaf,' 'Aaj-Kal') News Story: Clinton Points Out 'Advances' Notched In ME, Pakistan "The Post" (11/06) "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, wrapping up a weeklong mission to Pakistan and the Middle East, shrugged off criticism of her diplomatic tactics and said she made important 'advances' in her efforts to broker Arab-Israeli peace and promote stronger U.S. ties with the Islamic world." Editorial: Illegal Israeli Settlements, an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (11/06) "Speaking after talks with President Mubarak in Cairo, Clinton said that ending all settlement activity, current and future would be preferable, meaning that the U.S. would not pressurize the Jewish State to put a freeze. Her arguments conflict with Arab and Palestinian demands that all settlement activity be frozen before resumption of talks. Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat looked so frustrated over the comments of top American diplomat that he advised President Mahmoud Abbas to tell his people the truth, that with the continuation of settlement activities, the two-state solution is no longer an option." Editorial: Al Qaeda And The U.S., an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (11/06) "Talking to Fox TV Secretary Hillary Clinton has admitted that the U.S. was also responsible for allowing al Qaeda to enter Pakistan.... Now that al Qaeda is again under focus, there is a need to co-ordinate with Pakistan while preparing the new strategy to deal with the militants. It won't do to remind Islamabad, as Secretary Clinton has done, that it has to extend the ongoing military operation to al Qaeda also. What is needed is to invite inputs from Pakistan, which not only has a good knowledge of the people and the terrain, but also has accumulated rich experience during its fight against extremism and terrorism." Opinion: Hillary's Magic, an op-ed by Arif Nizami in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (11/06) "The most significant part of the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was her meeting with Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani and ISI chief Lt. General Shuja Pasha. Besides, appreciating its role in Swat and Waziristan, she also prodded the Pakistan army to do more. It seems that the U.S. plans to use the Pakistan army beyond Waziristan operation. Washington wants Islamabad to review latter's strategic priorities, normalize its relations with India, and focus on the western frontier. But the Pakistan army considers Al Qaeda and the Taliban as ephemeral problem for the United States. Despite bearing the brunt in the war against the Taliban, the Pakistan army does not want to tow the U.S. line, nor it wants to make a distinction between the 'good Taliban' and the 'bad Taliban'." Opinion: Hillary Clinton's Pakistan Visit, an op-ed by Lt. Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qayyum in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/06) "What Hillary Clinton did for the exchange of views with Pakistanis during Pakistan visit might have had some importance, but more important was safeguarding of Pakistan's interest by our government and the opposition. Hillary Clinton's irresponsible statement about al-Qaeda and India's threatening posture shows that at the diplomatic level we could not bring about the positive change in the U.S. attitude, which was needed to sort things out. It is unfortunate that our government takes a curse like Kerry-Lugar Bill as a boon and failures leading to IMF loans as its success." Opinion: Hillary Clinton and American Aid, an op-ed by Maj. (Retd) Muhammad Younus in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (11/06) "We should not accept charity and that too with such humiliating conditions. We are fighting their war inside Pakistan and providing airbases and logistical support for the war in Afghanistan. We don't need peanuts of $1.5 billion. We have a right to receive at least $25 billion from America. Compare U.S. expenses on the war in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere with what we get.... Instead of giving us lectures on relations with India, Hillary Clinton must tell India to implement U.N. resolutions on Kashmir, stop stealing our water and sponsoring terrorism at our western border.... We request our leadership to refuse taking assistance from America in the light of Clinton's utterances." Opinion: Clinton's Pakistan Visit, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (11/06) "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's three-day trip to Pakistan was timely and needed. In the face of a rising tide of anti-Americanism it was also an act of courage. While she may not be returning with settlement of all outstanding issues between Pakistan and the U.S., the visit seems to have helped in setting the priorities and expectations right." Opinion: The Secretary In Town, an op-ed by M.A. Niazi in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (11/06) "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to Pakistan. While the visit did have some significance, it was still less than when her husband had dropped in at the fag-end of a trip to India. Also, a secretary's visits are usually measured by the agreements signed either by her or in her presence, so by that measure, Secretary Clinton's visit was not a success.... To get her a good press, at a time when the U.S. was not very popular, and when it wanted to show that it was effective in making public opinion welcome her, it latched on to an issue that the Pakistani people felt deeply about, and which the U.S. had promised to solve, in other words, the energy crisis. However, Secretary Clinton had not made the trip solely to solve Pakistan's energy crisis." TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Mullen Urges Sustained Relationship With Pakistan "Daily Times" (11/06) "Admiral Mike Mullen, U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called for fostering a sustained relationship with Pakistan, saying Washington has an obligation to the security of the region it abandoned two decades ago. Mullen appreciated Islamabad's response to terrorism, adding the Pakistani leadership, military and its people recognized the terrorist threat." News Story: Pakistan Concerns About India Can't Be Wished Away: Mullen "Dawn" (11/06) "The U.S. Military Chief has praised Pakistan's commitment to fighting the militants but has conceded that to eradicate militancy from the region Afghanistan will have to set its house right. At a briefing at Washington's National Press Club, Admiral Mike Mullen recognized Pakistan's concerns towards India, acknowledging that such concerns 'cannot be wished away.'" (Story also covered by 'The News,' 'Aaj-Kal') News Story: Seven Killed In Texas Military Base Shooting "Daily Times" (11/06) "Armed gunmen on Thursday killed seven people and wounded at least 12 others in a rampage at Fort Hood military base in Texas, US media and officials said." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) News Story: Channels Frame Rules For Terrorism Coverage "Dawn" (11/06) "Top news managers from Pakistan's eight television channels have voluntarily evolved and agreed guidelines, governing terrorism coverage, says a press release. In a maiden initiative, the group comprising key news decision-makers in their respective organizations, recognized that the public's abiding trust in the media placed a heavy responsibility on news managers to further improve the quality of the news product." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) News Story: Army Captured Laddah Fort, 28 Militants Killed "Dawn" (11/06) "Troops captured the strategically located Laddah Fort in the Mehsud heartland on Thursday. 'It's a major success,' a security official told 'Dawn.' According to the official, 28 militants were killed on Wednesday and Thursday and five others were captured." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) News Story: Hakimullah Warns Taliban Fighters Against Fleeing "The News" (11/06) "Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud has urged his fighters to stand fast against the military offensive in South Waziristan, warning them in an intercepted message obtained on Thursday that cowards will go to hell, Hakimullah told his followers in a speech on Tuesday broadcast over a wireless radio network." News Story: UN Demands Safety For Pakistanis in Conflict Zone "Dawn" (11/06) "The United Nations urged Pakistan to ensure safety for civilians and aid workers during a major military offensive against Taliban militants in the northwestern tribal belt." News Story: Foreigners Barred From Visiting Sensitive Areas "The News" (11/06) "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the four provincial governments not to allow foreign diplomats, journalists and representatives of foreign-funded NGOs to visit any part of the country, especially sensitive areas, without getting prior permission from it. In a letter to the four provincial chief secretaries, the foreign ministry said in recent days, the frequency of visits of foreigners, including diplomats, journalists and members of foreign-funded NGOs, had increased in areas close to strategic sites and facilities." News Story: Anti-Terror Ordinance May Be Extended to Malakand "The News" (11/06) "The Federal Government is likely to extend the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Ordinance 2009 to Malakand Division in the next few days to investigate and punish detained militants under the special anti-terrorism laws, NWFP Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Arshad Abdullah told 'The News.'" News Story: U.S. Drone Kills Five Suspected Militants "Dawn" (11/06) "Missiles fired from a U.S. drone on a house in North Waziristan a little after Wednesday midnight killed five suspected militants. According to local people, two missiles were fired at the house of tribesman Musharraf Gul in the village of Nowrek, near Mirali." News Story: Security Forces Arrest 75 Suspects in Bajaur "The News" (11/06) "The security forces arrested 75 suspected persons during a search operation various areas in Khar tehsil while 21 illegal Afghan nationals were deported by political administration, official sources said on Thursday." (Story not available online) Editorial: End In Sight?, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/06) "Surprisingly quickly troops seem to have completed a rout of militants in South Waziristan.... But there have also been words of warning. Some suggest the lack of resistance put up by the militants is a tactic.... We continue to hope of course that the gains in South Waziristan mark a genuine end to Taliban control over the area and that they will result in a decline in terrorism and the instability it creates. But we must also be mentally prepared for the possibility that a longer, tougher fight still lies ahead. It is also important to think beyond military strategy." Editorial: The Task Ahead, an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (11/06) "While the first phase of the operation against what was supposed to be a redoubtable enemy in South Waziristan is apparently almost over, equally daunting tasks lie ahead. The tactics adopted by the army high command have beaten the Taliban on their own ground - descend from the ridges, command the heights and do not advance via roads. Four months of planning, with close coordination between the army and the air arm, has paid off, with many Taliban strongholds taken. The arms the militants left behind betray a flight in panic rather than a tactical withdrawal." Editorial: Supreme Court Concern Over Non-Recovery Of Missing Persons, an editorial in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/06) "These are the same missing persons who were picked up by dictator Musharraf's regime for appeasing America and handed over to it to get dollars in return. Musharraf himself admitted the fact in his book 'In the line of fire.'... These citizens of Pakistan are still missing and the sympathy expressed by the Supreme Court is no balm for the pain of their children. A daughter of the nation, Aafia Siddiqui is undergoing worst humiliation in the torture chambers of America.... It was expected that during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Pakistan visit the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and other Pakistani missing persons in the U.S. torture chambers will be taken up. However, no Pakistani official even mentioned the issue." Opinion: A Complex Romance, an op-ed by Zein Khan in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/06) "If the Pakistani military fails to destroy the Taliban strongholds' and re-establish the government's writ in South Waziristan before winter sets in, the lives of its citizens and those of its neighboring countries will have become endangered many times over. The prospect of the Taliban emerging more formidable from this campaign would cause irreparable damage to the morale of the military and also the Pakistani people who have to deal with suicide bombings in their cities. The U.S. would do well by visibly supporting the Pakistani people at this critical juncture." Opinion: Are We Ready For The Long War?, an op-ed by Shafqat Mahmood in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/06) "The South Waziristan operation seems to be going well. After tough fighting, major terror centers have been captured and the militants are on the run. This is a credit to the bravery and spirit of sacrifice among officers and men of the armed forces.... Militancy will also have to be taken on with determination in other parts of the country, which requires a strong political will.... However, within the structure of democracy it is critical for the political players to focus their energies and employ their talents of leadership towards combating militancy. If this requires expending some political capital, it would have to be done. Otherwise, this war cannot be won." Opinion: The Myth Of Quetta Shura, an op-ed by Momin Iftikhar in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/06) "But claiming that Quetta houses the top leadership of what is called the Quetta Shura Taliban is absurd. Most of the Afghan Commanders attributed under the rubric of the Shura are dead, as explained by the D.G. ISPR. In any case such unsubstantiated premises can't provide the justification for conducting drone strikes in Balochistan." ECON/BUSINESS News Story: Load Shedding To End By Next Summer: U.S. "Dawn," "The News" (11/06) "Pakistan can overcome the problem of load shedding by next summer, U.S. State Department's energy coordinator David Goldwyn said on Thursday. Mr. Goldwyn told a briefing in Washington that Pakistan also could bring its energy rate at the cost recovery level by next April." MISCELLANEOUS News Story: Blackwater Hires Ex-Army Men On Hefty Amounts "The Nation" (11/06) "In order to achieve desired results as early as possible, Blackwater is said to have hired retired officials of Pakistan's law-enforcement agencies at highest ever salary packages, 'The Nation' has learnt reliably. To the surprise of many, the agency is said to have hired Pakistani officials at the rate of astonishing $60,000 per month salary package. Most important thing is Blackwater has hired former CIA intelligence officer Steven Cash to operate as Commander In Charge of its operations in Peshawar." News Story: UN To Pull Out Foreign Staff From Afghanistan "Dawn" (11/06) "The United Nations announced on Thursday it would evacuate more than half its international staff based in Afghanistan after a deadly Taliban attack on a guesthouse for UN workers. However, the world body said it had no intention of abandoning Afghanistan. About 600 expatriate staff, from a total of 1,100 foreigners, would be temporarily relocated either within Afghanistan or abroad, UN spokesman Dan McNorton said." IRAN Editorial: U.S. Should Take Care of its Own People, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (11/06) "President Barack Obama has urged the Iranian people to get rid of the past, and support the United States if they want to achieve the goal of progress and prosperity. At a time when the American economy is experiencing a steady decline, it seems absurd for the U.S. to allure the Iranians with promises to help them in achieving the goal of prosperity. The economic condition of Iran is much better and it does not need any 'external savior'. However, it is time for Washington to take care of its own masses who are tasting the bitter fruits of the military adventures of their administrations in the form of a decline in the U.S. economy." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson