PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, VISITING U.S.

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002718 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, VISITING U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, TERRORISM/MILITARY, POLITICAL, ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS - NOVEMBER 12, 2009 Summary: Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani's statement that "terror cannot cow down the nation" dominated headlines in several major newspapers on Thursday. The visit by Codel Tierney with senior Pakistani officials received extensive coverage in all dailies on Thursday. Prime Minister Gilani's remarks, made in his meeting with the visiting Codel, urging the U.S. to "channel aid through government agencies" were also highlighted. President Obama's interview with ABC TV, seeking "effective partnership with Pakistan" received prominent coverage. Newspapers reported that U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones will arrive in Islamabad today (Thursday). Commenting on the concerns about internal security and growing religiosity in the Pakistan army, as expressed in the 'New Yorker' article, "Dawn," said that "these concerns should not automatically be brushed aside just because they are voiced primarily from outside the country." End Summary. TOP STORIES News Story: Terror Can't Cow Down The Nation: Kayani "The News" (11/12) "Terming terrorist attacks on civilians acts of cowardice, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday dubbed terrorists as incapable of confronting the military operation. 'Since terrorists were incapable of confronting the military operation, they were targeting innocent civilians,' said Army chief General Kayani in his address to the 123rd Corps Commanders Conference." VISITING U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News Story: PM Asks U.S. To Channel Aid Through Govt. Agencies "The News" 11/12) "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called upon the U.S. to channel its economic assistance through such government agencies as the Trust Fund established for Malakand, Higher Education Commission, National Commission for Human Development and the Benazir Income Support Program. The prime minister said this while talking to a U.S. Congressional delegation headed by John Tierney, which called on him at the PM House in Islamabad on Wednesday." News Story: U.S. Troop Surge Should Not Affect Balochistan: PM "The Nation," "The Statesman" (11/12) "Pakistan on Wednesday asked the United States to take it into confidence on its Afghan policy and ensure that a military buildup in Afghanistan does not have any 'effect' on Balochistan and other areas, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, said while talking to a U.S. Congressional delegation led by John Tierney at the PM House." News Story: U.S. Congressmen Meets Qureshi "The News," "The Nation," "Nawa-i-Waqt, "Jang" (11/12) "A delegation of U.S. Congressmen led by Congressman John Tierney called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad at the Foreign Office on Wednesday. Matters of mutual interest including Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relation as well as regional issues were discussed in the meeting." News Story: U.S. Delegation Calls on NA Opposition Leader "Pakistan Observer," "Daily Times," "The News," "Jang" (11/12) "Parliament has to be strengthened to achieve stability of democracy and all democratic institutions, said leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while talking to a high level delegation from the United States, which was headed by Mr. John F. Tierney, member of the U.S. Congress who called on him in Islamabad on Wednesday." Kerry-Lugar Aid Should Be Spent On Education, Health, Says Governor "Daily Times" (11/12) "A five-member U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defence Paul A. Brinkley, on Wednesday met Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the Governor praised the U.S. for its confidence-building measures, adding that the funding through the Kerry-Lugar law should be spent on the education and health sectors and the eradication of poverty." TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Obama Wants Effective ties With Pakistan "The News" (11/12) "President Barack Obama has said his administration -seeking a viable way forward in conflict-hit Afghanistan - wants an effective partnership with Pakistan that works towards achieving peace and stability in the region. In an interview with ABC news channel, the U.S. President stressed that the Afghans must share the burden of their own security and made it clear that Washington is not looking at an indefinite stay in Afghanistan." News Story: Obama Thinks Pak Army Not Targeting Afghan Groups "The News" (11/12) "U.S. President Barack Obama is still skeptical about Pakistan's willingness to attack Taliban groups allegedly operating out of Quetta, who are involved in attacks across the border inside Afghanistan, Pakistan's military operation against the Taliban militants in Waziristan notwithstanding. Top U.S. officials familiar with the situation room discussions on Pakistan and Afghanistan in the White House say: 'Though Pakistan has mounted military operations in FATA, they are focused on the Taliban who are targeting the Pakistani government, not those who are running operations inside Afghanistan.' News Story: U.S. Security Adviser Gen Jones Due Today "Dawn," "Daily times" (11/12) "U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones is expected in Islamabad on Thursday for taking Pakistan into confidence on the Af-Pak policy review. "The ongoing review of the Af-Pak strategy would be fairly high on the agenda when Mr. Jones meets his interlocutors in Islamabad on Friday," a senior diplomat said on Wednesday." News Story: Report On Command Authority Bill Tabled In NA "Dawn" (11/12) "A report of the standing committee on defence on the National Command Authority bill, 2007, was laid before the National Assembly on Wednesday. Apparently, the bill has been laid before parliament to satisfy the international community on the steps being introduced on safety of Pakistan's nuclear facility and non-proliferation." News Story: Ten Soldiers Killed, Nine Missing In Mohmand "Dawn" (11/12) "At least 10 soldiers were killed and several others injured in a landmine explosion and an ambush by militants in Mohmand Agency, sources said on Wednesday." News Story: Seven Soldiers Killed In Roadside Blast "The News" (11/12) "Eight people, including seven personnel of Mohmand Rifles, were killed and two others sustained injuries when a roadside bomb went off in Safi Tehsil in the Mohmand Agency, officials said on Wednesday." 25 Arrested In Bajaur Agency "The News" (11/12) "The security forces arrested 23 suspected persons and two unidentified militant commanders during search operation in various areas of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday, official sources told 'The News.'" Editorial: Nuclear Issues, an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (11/12) "As the dust begins to settle after an article in 'The New Yorker' questioned the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons and suggested that the U.S. is negotiating a possible role for Americans in protecting the Pakistani arsenal in the event of a crisis, some observations are in order.... But these concerns, echoed in Seymour Hersh's article, should not automatically be brushed aside just because they are voiced primarily from outside the country.... The government's decision to formally enact the National Command Authority Ordinance, 2007 is a welcome development.... While enactment by Parliament of that ordinance will not change anything on the ground - the nuclear command structure is already in place and functioning - it will send a positive signal to the world that Pakistan takes its responsibilities as a nuclear power seriously. Parliament must now play its part and ensure that the bill is passed at the earliest." Editorial: Charsadda Carnage, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/12) "It is becoming apparent that the final frontier of the battle we are fighting does not lie in South Waziristan. The militants operate from many places. The monster we fight is a Hydra-headed one. It is essential that we keep this in mind and go after all its heads, whether they lie in Balochistan, the southern Punjab or elsewhere. Until this happens we cannot end the rapid destruction of life in our towns." Editorial: Beyond Rhetoric, an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (11/12) "Richard Holbrooke has, in a recent interview, once again reiterated the periodic U.S. statement on the need for a lowering of tensions between Pakistan and India and for seeking a resolution of the Kashmir dispute.... All the U.S. seems capable of doing is to make the regular statement on the need for Pakistan and India to dialogue and resolve their conflicts, especially Kashmir. But these words are ringing hollow and have little worth when the U.S. is not prepared to move and translate its words into action. After all, there is a dialogue process framework that the U.S. can push India into restarting." Editorial: U.S. Seriousness In Resolving Kashmir Issue And Our National Interests, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/12) "President Obama's Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has disclosed in an interview to a U.S. magazine that present tension between Pakistan and India poses danger of a conflict in the subcontinent.... According to Holbrooke, President Obama has taken the issue very seriously and deputed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to work on restarting the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India.... Being a nuclear state we are capable of responding to any possible aggression by India. If America wants to establish global and regional peace then it should work on bringing India to terms with holding a plebiscite in Kashmir." Editorial: U.S. Interest To Solve Kashmir Issue And Some Ground Realities, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (11/12) "The Pakistani masses have always been ignored during the history of Pak-U.S. relationship. At present, Pakistan is rendering great sacrifices in the U.S.-led war against terror. But Washington's reciprocity is not commensurate with the losses we are suffering in this war, which is essentially a problem for the U.S. We think that the Obama administration must also do more other than providing meager financial assistance to Pakistan. If the U.S. helps in the resolution of Kashmir issue, Pakistan can emerge as an economic power." Editorial: The Al Qaeda Connection?, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/12) "The military is trying to eliminate the militants from the tribal region but it seems as if the country does not have enough funds for the purpose. This can be gauged from Interior Minister Rehman Malik's statement that the government is now using development funds for the capacity building of law-enforcement agencies in a bid to improve security. If Al Qaeda is actually helping the local Taliban, it is not only alarming for our country but for the whole world. Fighting the militants on this scale requires heavy-duty finances; it is time the international community, especially the U.S., rises to the occasion and helps Pakistan in this common cause. Peace and stability in this region, once achieved, will translate into peace all over the world." Editorial: Who Will Provide Unconditional Aid Sans Good Governance?, an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (11/12) "At a time when Washington is showing a tilt towards holding dialogue with some Taliban groups, the U.S. must stop drone attacks, and transfer the drone technology to Pakistan army instead of shifting the war to our country. The Obama administration must also help in strengthening the democratic government in Pakistan which enjoys popular support in the war against terrorism. Due to our frontline status in this war, the entire world, including the United States and other friendly countries, is focusing on Pakistan and wants to help us. But to reap the benefits of our present position, we will have to ensure transparency, good governance and financial discipline in our institutions. This goal will remain elusive unless we take practical steps in this direction." Editorial: Iraqi Style Terrible Car Bomb Blasts, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (11/12) "Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Toor Jan has said that his organization is fighting the U.S. because the latter has invaded their country. He rejected any link between his organization and the Taliban movement in Pakistan. Ironically, the style of terror incidents in our countries is also different from that adopted by the Pakistani Taliban. It resembles with the devastating car bombings in Iraq. The current situation of Pakistan is the direct result of increasing U.S. interference and the slavish policies of our rulers. We think that after being defeated in Afghanistan, the U.S. is planning to target Pakistan with the help of India and Israel." Editorial: Shoddy Journalism, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/12) "Journalists lead dangerous lives in Pakistan. They are targeted by the terrorists whose actions they report and by politicians and bureaucrats whose failings and indiscretions they expose. All this is to be expected. What a working journalist may not expect, however, is to be stabbed in the back by one of his own, as has recently happened to Matthew Rosenberg, a journalist working for the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Rosenberg has been accused in a local newspaper of having links to the CIA and Mossad and of acting in some undefined way as an agent of Blackwater. As if this were not enough to blight his life and career, he is further accused of having 'secret' meetings with Secretary Law and Order FATA Secretariat, Tariq Hayat Khan, and Additional Chief Secretary FATA, Habib Khan. Both are said to have 'fed' documents to Mr. Rosenberg, thereby implicating them in his alleged espionage activities. The story is based upon information from a nameless source and has no supporting evidence. Mr. Rosenberg has had to leave the country and is unlikely to be working here in the foreseeable future." Editorial: Jihadi Literature, an op-ed by Hameed Akhtar in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (11/12) "As an average Muslim, I can say that the efforts our religious and other political circles have started to turn jihad into the only identity of Islam, while ignoring all basic Islamic teachings, is wrong. There are actually some other motives behind such efforts. After 9/11, the publication of some Jihadi magazines and newspapers was banned, but soon after they started their publication under different names. During their period of proscription, the main aim of all Jihadi propaganda was to present jihad as the only solution to the Muslim world's problems. The question is: where does the money come from to print this Jihadi literature, and what are its real objectives?" Opinion: Beyond The Clinton Visit, an op-ed by Talat Masood in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/12) "The positive momentum generated by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit has to be sustained and enhanced to take it to its logical end of placing the Pakistan-U.S. relationship on a mature and mutually beneficial basis. This is vital in the long-term interests of both countries. Pakistan's security, economic growth, global image and relations with the western world and India are greatly influenced by how it relates with the U.S. For America, Pakistan is a pivotal country for its security, geo-strategic position, Islamic character and nuclear prowess.... A major trust-building move would be if the U.S. would truly reconcile with Pakistan as a nuclear weapons state. This could take a form similar to the U.S.-India nuclear deal at least in principle, for it is understandable that the A. Q. Khan legacy is still too fresh to be set aside. The constant flow of speculation that emanates from western sources of nuclear assets falling in the hands of militants has given rise to a state bordering on paranoia in the Pakistani psyche. Finally, we have to remind ourselves what Hillary Clinton said: 'relations with Pakistan are two-way traffic' and that we cannot have the cake and eat it too." Opinion: Views Are Not News, an op-ed by Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/12) "The U.S. as a superpower has interests in all regions of the world. But the question the US has to ask is what will be the driving force of its foreign policy to maintain and safeguard its interests around the world. During the cold war, the most favored approach was containment. It seems in this new era, to fight the rising tide of non-state actors, the most favored weapon is the drone. But the problem with a drone is that it might achieve a short-term objective but in the long term it creates more recruits for the nameless enemy.... The U.S. cannot win hearts and minds through its drones and technologically superior soldiers. It should rather promote its values of equal opportunity, freedom of expression, and liberty. This is a more powerful message, which was deployed to good effect during the struggle against communism." ECON/BUSINESS News Story: NGOs Press U.S. On Aid Package "Dawn" (11/12) "The $1.5 billion a year U.S. aid package proposed for Pakistan has raised hackles among many U.S. aid groups who worry that channeling big amounts of money through the country's fragile government will backfire. U.S.-based groups with projects in Pakistan have met several times in recent weeks with Obama administration officials to voice concern over the handling of the five-year package, which will be tackled differently from previous aid. 'We have highlighted the risk of running large amounts of money through the government of Pakistan and that this would end up biting them,' said one aid group executive." News Story: U.S. Restores Pakistan's Budget Support "Dawn," "Daily Times," "The News" (11/12) "Pakistan has received $174 million after the United States restored budgetary support after three years of suspension, according to Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar. She told reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday that the budgetary support was part of the U.S. pledge made at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum." MISCELLANEOUS News Story: Blasphemer Gets Death Sentence "Dawn" (11/12) "Gojra Additional district and sessions judge Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah on Wednesday handed down death sentence and fined Rs100,000 to a blasphemy accused. Convict Muhammad Aslam of Shahabad Colony had been arrested on the complaint of Haji Umer Hayat of the same locality for using blasphemous language publicly on Oct 5, 2008." Editorial: Failure Of Obama-Netanyahu Talks: What Should Be Done Now, an editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ. 25,000) (11/12) "Closed-door talks between President Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu have failed as the U.S. President stressed on the Israeli leader to completely stop Jewish settlements on the West Bank while the Israeli premier flatly refused by saying that he cannot stop the construction.... This deadlock shows that there will be tension in the Middle East once again as the continuation of settlements would provoke the Palestinians, giving the Israelis a chance to turn their helicopter gunships, tanks and guns on them... It is now the United Nations' responsibility to end this deadlock." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson